Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1937, The Far East, Volume III

693.002/395b: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)

Washington, November 24, 1937—7 p.m.

316. The Department has received two aide-mémoires from the British Embassy⁹⁸ here, in which there are put forth suggestions as to temporary arrangements for handling Chinese Customs funds at Shanghai and possibly at other places under Japanese control. The Department has not completed its study in regard to the details involved in the various British suggestions.

You are authorized, however, to discuss the matter with your British colleague and when you are informed that he is prepared to approach the Japanese Government, to make, acting separately, appropriate informal representations to the Japanese Government. In such approach you should express to the Japanese Government this Government’s very real interest in the preservation of the integrity of the Chinese Customs and its administrative functions, including the safeguarding of the Customs revenues. You should not support any particular plan or arrangement, but should confine your approach to a broad statement of our position as indicated above.⁹⁹

Hull

98. Dated November 19, and November 22; neither printed.
99. Repeated to the Consul General at Shanghai as No. 577, with instructions “to discuss the matter fully with your British colleague and to take action along the lines which the Embassy at Tokyo has been authorized to take.” (693.002/395a)