693.002/428a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
366. There may now have arisen the situation envisaged in the Department’s telegram No. 339, December 12, 3 p.m., with special reference to the statement that it would be desirable to obtain from the Japanese an additional assurance to the effect that the release of foreign and indemnity quotas shall not now or later be made contingent upon possible future developments, with the understanding that the Japanese will not support or countenance any subsequent arrangement which might render ineffectual such assurance.
With reference to the situation which is developing in North China the Department feels that every effort should be made to prevent the development of a situation similar to that existing with respect to the servicing of foreign loans and indemnities from the Manchurian customs revenues. Accordingly the Department desires that you make insistent representations as outlined in the Department’s 339, placing special emphasis on the assurance referred to in the preceding paragraph.
The Department has now received and studied Shanghai’s 1176, December 18, 10 a.m., but still inclines to the view that you should follow the course of action outlined above.23
Repeated to Hankow and Shanghai.
- See note of December 23 from the Ambassador in Japan to the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 733.↩