693.002/415: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
328. Your 594, December 4, 7 p.m., paragraph 3. Department desires that you address a further letter to Hirota and suggests that letter include points as follows:
The American Government has noted with gratification that according to reports from the American Consul General at Shanghai (see Shanghai’s 1058, December 1, 11 p.m.) the American Consul General there is having friendly and frank discussions with his Japanese colleague in regard to the customs situation at Shanghai and that the Japanese Consul General during these discussions asked the American Consul General whether he had any suggestions or plan to put forward, in reply to which the American Consul General stated that it was our view that any arrangement under contemplation should adequately protect both the administration of the Customs Service and the American interests therein. In view of our very real interest in this matter and our definite belief that that interest entitles us to be consulted in regard to any arrangement under contemplation and as to whether such arrangement constitutes adequate safeguarding of the interests of the United States, particularly in the preservation of the integrity of the customs, it would be very much appreciated if the Japanese Government would be so good as to ensure that no arrangement will be reached with regard to the Customs Administration without prior consultation with the American Consul General at Shanghai.17
- Repeated as No. 614 to the Consul General at Shanghai. For note of December 5 from the Ambassador in Japan to the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 732.↩