894.628/132: Telegram
The Chargé in Japan (Neville) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 7—6:08 a.m.]
163. Department’s 119, August 3, 2 p.m. I called on the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs64 today and took up with him informally the question of a convention for the control of salmon fishing in Alaskan waters. He asked me if I would put the conversation in writing and I gave him a written statement as follows:
“Would the Japanese Government be prepared to enter into discussions with the American Government with a view to the conclusion of a convention whereby Japanese nationals would undertake not to engage in salmon packing east of a line drawn from Cape Avinof to Cape Sarichef, Alaska?
In this connection, the American Government would be prepared to give sympathetic consideration to proposals in regard to crab fishing by Japanese interests in these waters recalling informal suggestions which have been made by Japanese crab canning interests at different times during the past few years.”
Mr. Shigemitsu then asked me if, assuming his reply would be in the affirmative, the American Government would then make formal proposals. I said that I assumed so but that I would communicate with my Government and confirm this later. He then said that he would send for me as soon as he had consulted the Department concerned. I said that we were anxious to go ahead as fast as possible and he promised to expedite the matter to the best of his ability.
- Mamoru Shigemitsu.↩