693.94244/38: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Germany (Mayer)
Washington, May 29, 1936—5
p.m.
64. Your 163, May 29, noon.
- 1.
- The Department approves your discussing orally and informally with the appropriate official of the Foreign Office the smuggling situation in North China. You should do so as on your own initiative and not as under instruction from the Department. You should not make any request that the German Government make representations in Tokyo on this subject.
- 2.
- For your information in discussing this subject with the Foreign Office. Several months ago the diplomatic representatives in China of several governments, including the American and British, made representations to the Chinese Government. During the early part of this month the American and British Governments made representations to the Japanese Government. The American Government’s representations took the form of an oral and informal approach by the American Ambassador to the Japanese Foreign Office, wherein the American Ambassador pointed out that the extensive smuggling operations in North China have created a serious situation in that area; that it has been reported, with substantial supporting evidence, that Japanese subjects have taken a prominent part in these operations; that Japanese authorities in China have placed obstacles in the way of the enforcement of Chinese preventive measures; that these conditions are leading to extensive disorganization of the Chinese import trade; and that the American Government is concerned not only with the [Page 176] adverse effect of this situation on American import trade but with the impairment of the Chinese Government’s income from customs revenue which impairment tends to jeopardize the capacity of the Chinese Government to meet its outstanding financial obligations to American citizens.
- 3.
- In the light of the facts that this Government has received from no government an official request that this Government approach other governments with a view to the making by them of representations in Tokyo on this subject and that this Government has made no such approach to any other government, it seems advisable to the Department that you not make such an approach to the German Government.
- 4.
- Please continue to keep Department informed by telegraph of developments.
Hull