611.006 Fish/15
The Japanese Chargé (Taketomi) to the Secretary of State
In view of the recent movement in some parts of Southern California against the importation of Japanese frozen and canned tuna, Japanese Interests thought it advisable, upon the recommendation of the Government, to send their representatives to California to acquaint themselves, through personal contact, with the main causes of complaint on the part of American Interests and to enter, if possible, into an agreement by which the quantity of exports of tuna from Japan can be regulated to the mutual benefit of those engaged in the tuna industry on both sides of the Pacific. It is reported that the representatives of the Japanese tuna industry are to leave Japan about the first of February for the United States.
In this connection, the Japanese Embassy is informed further to the effect that it is the intention of the Japanese Government to render every possible assistance in the promotion of trade with the United States and to take the necessary supervisory steps to permit manufacturers and business men in Japan to cooperate with those of the United States, and that the Japanese authorities concerned have recently taken steps which would allow the tuna industry to organize on a nationwide scale in order that they may be able to enter into agreements with foreign interests concerning the export of their goods and other marketing conditions.
Under the circumstances, the Japanese Chargé d’Affaires ventures to state that it is his Government’s sincere wish that the American Government be good enough to cooperate with the Japanese Government and consider the matter with a view to bringing about an understanding between the American and Japanese tuna Interests.