Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1936, General, British Commonwealth, Volume I

500.A15A3/1857

Memorandum by Messrs. William T. Turner and Eugene H. Dooman, of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs

[Washington,] December 17, 1936.

Mr. Kawahara⁴² called at 12:30 p.m. and stated that the Embassy had received an urgent telegram from his Government instructing that the Department be informed as follows:

In view of the suggestion by the American Government that the Japanese Government invoke Article 21 of the London Naval Treaty of 1930 and in view of the decision of the British Government to invoke Article 21 in connection with the conversion of four Hawkins class cruisers, the Japanese Government is prepared to invoke Article 21 in order to retain excess tonnage in submarine categories. The Japanese Government desires to make sure, before it makes formal notification to the American Government, whether the American Government has any objection to the following two points:

(1) The Japanese Government is desirous of retaining excess tonnage in submarine categories for the reason that the requirements of national defense in the present international situation make it necessary to do so.

(2) The Japanese Government perceives no reason to change or to withdraw the opinion concerning the retention of excess tonnage in submarine categories which has previously been communicated to the American Government. However, in view of the suggestion of the American Government that Article 21 be invoked and in view of the requirements of national defense, the Japanese Government is now prepared to invoke Article 21.

At this point Mr. Dooman entered the room and Mr. Turner explained to him the object of Mr. Kawahara’s call.

After consultation with Mr. Dunn and Mr. Pell of WE,⁴³ Mr. Dooman handed Mr. Kawahara an informal statement drafted by Mr. Pell (copy attached). Mr. Dooman also stated that we appreciated the forthcoming action of the Japanese Government in invoking the escalator clause in respect of submarines and thus resolving in a manner satisfactory to all concerned the question of retention of overage submarines.

[Annex]

Informal Statement

[Washington,] December 17, 1936.

This Government does not question the right of the Japanese Government to make a proposed increase in the submarine category in excess of the tonnage specified in the London Naval Treaty, 1930, as not to be exceeded on December 31, 1936, nor the right of the Japanese Government to be the sole judge in determining whether its security has been affected to such an extent that the retention of this excess tonnage in the submarine category becomes a necessity, on the condition that the Japanese Government has recourse to Article 21 of the Treaty which is the only method provided by the Treaty for raising the tonnage limits of the Treaty.

42. Second Secretary of the Japanese Embassy.
43. Division of Western European Affairs.