793.94112/96: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the United Kingdom (Johnson)
402. Your 621, September 29, 5 p.m. The Department suggests that you reply to the Foreign Office’s note, either orally or in writing, substantially as follows:
On the basis of the considerations communicated to Embassy in the Department’s No. 374 of September 1, 7 p.m., this Government has made no approach to the Japanese Government on the subject of visits, for verification purposes, by Japanese naval vessels to American merchant ships in Chinese waters. Our Embassy at Tokyo has been informed by the Japanese Foreign Office that, although copies of the Foreign Office’s statement of September 18 regarding Japanese non-recognition of transfers of vessels to [from?] Chinese registry made subsequent to August 25, 1937, were sent to the British, French and several other missions at Tokyo, none was sent to the American Embassy for the reason that no case had arisen of Chinese vessels acquiring American nationality after the date mentioned. Consequently no occasion has arisen for discussion of this subject by this Government with the Japanese Government.
The courtesy of the British Foreign Office in informing this Government of its action in reference to this matter is appreciated.