894.6363/316: Telegram

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

73. Reference your 136, May 24, 7 p.m. The Standard-Vacuum Oil Company has informed the Department that, in the event that the company does not receive an answer from the Foreign Office this week in regard to the Korean oil quota problem, the company and the interested British oil company plan to submit a statement of their position to the Foreign Office for reference to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The company has asked the Department to authorize the Embassy to make representations to the Japanese Foreign Office in regard to settlement of the Korean oil quota question in the light of the assurances given by the Foreign Office in January of this year.

Inasmuch as you state in paragraph 2 of your telegram under reference that the Embassy perceives no reason why such representations should not be made, the Department authorizes you to make representations and leaves to your discretion the form and manner in which they shall be made.

This authorization is of course contingent upon the British Embassy being prepared to make similar and concurrent representations on behalf of the interested British oil company.

Please keep the Department informed by telegraph with regard to action you may take in the matter.

Welles