611.946/306
The Department of State to the Japanese Embassy59
A press despatch under a Washington date line suggesting that the American Government has taken tariff action on Japanese goods, or is giving consideration to the taking of further action affecting Japanese goods, because of an economic and political situation external to the United States, is entirely without basis in fact.
The article under reference states that “steps were being considered looking toward cooperation with the Philippines and closing the Philippine textile market to Japan”, and that “reports from Manila that transshipments of textiles, particularly from Hong Kong, have exceeded the provisions of the gentlemen’s agreements are held to give the United States a lever for further action”. As the most recent authoritative figures from the Philippine Islands indicate that imports of Japanese cotton textiles have not reached a quantity in excess of the terms of the gentlemen’s agreement with Japan, no occasion has arisen for giving consideration to any action designed to exclude Japanese textiles from the Philippine Islands.
It may be stated in general that any action taken by the American Government to restrict imports from any foreign country has been based solely upon economic considerations and only after a careful collection and examination of factual data. Each case (or situation) is dealt with on its own merits.
- Handed to the Counselor of the Japanese Embassy, May 26; released to the press by the Department the same day.↩