894.628/142

Memorandum by Mr. Roy Veatch of the Office of the Economic Adviser

Conversation: Mr. Seijiro Yoshizawa, Counselor of the Japanese Embassy;
Mr. Sayre;67
Mr. Turner;68
Mr. Veatch.
[Page 1080]

Mr. Yoshizawa said that he was instructed by his Government to give essentially the same reply to the American suggestion as had been given earlier to the United States Chargé in Tokyo. His Government had referred the suggestion of this Government, presented through the Japanese Embassy in Washington, to the proper authority of the Japanese Government (Mr. Yoshizawa thought this was the Minister of Agriculture) and this authority had intimated that it had no intention of entering negotiations on this matter and could think of no quid pro quo which would lead it to be interested in such negotiations. At the same time this authority continues to discourage salmon fishing in the waters mentioned in the suggestion placed before the Japanese Government.

Mr. Sayre said that he had understood all along that the Japanese Government issued no licenses for salmon fishing in this area and that he personally had no expectation that this policy would be changed. The idea in suggesting a formal treaty commitment based upon the existing policy of the Japanese Government was to allay the unnecessary fears of the American salmon fishing industry.

Mr. Yoshizawa said that he fully understood our position and that this had been explained in full in the despatch of the Embassy to Tokyo.

Mr. Sayre accepted the response of the Japanese Government as final and as definitely closing the matter.69

  1. Francis B. Sayre, Assistant Secretary of State.
  2. William T. Turner of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs.
  3. The Department in its instruction No. 921, January 11, 1936, to the Ambassador in Japan stated: “Although it appears that the conclusion of an agreement of the kind envisaged is precluded at present by the attitude of the Japanese authorities, the Department would appreciate any further suggestion or comment which your study of the matter may lead you to offer.”