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The Japanese Ambassador ( Saito ) to the Secretary of State
The Japanese Ambassador presents his compliments to the Honorable the Secretary of State and has the honor to refer to the Secretary’s note of May 22, 1937, in which it is stated that the American Government has no information on record to indicate that fur seals of the Pribilof Islands may be found in the vicinity of Chichagof Harbor, Constantine Harbor and Nazan Bay mentioned in the Ambassador’s note No. 93 of April 24, 1937;56 that there is no evidence that any of these harbors are ever visited by seals migrating to or from Komandorski Islands, or to and from Robben Island or any other Asiatic Island; and that, in view of these facts, the American Government finds it difficult to construe the proposed visit by the Hakuho Maru to those harbors as falling within the purview of the Fur Seals Treaty of 1911, and is therefore constrained to withhold permission for the proposed visit mentioned above.
As to the question whether fur seals of the Pribilof Islands may be found in the vicinity of Chichagof Harbor, Constantine Harbor and Nazan Bay, this Embassy is informed by the home Government that the investigations made by the proper authorities of the Japanese Government since 1924 show facts contrary to the views entertained by the American Government mentioned in the Secretary’s note above referred to. The Japanese Government has also several evidences that fur seals of the Pribilof Islands migrate to the waters near the Japanese territories, but so far their route of migration is not known to it. It is for the purpose of ascertaining the route of migration of these fur seals that the Japanese Government wishes to obtain permission for the Hakuho Maru to visit the Attu, Amchitka and Atka Islands. In this connection, the Ambassador takes the liberty to point out that the said investigation may be the more useful in view of the fact that the two Governments appear to entertain different views concerning the migration of the fur seals in the vicinity of those islands.
In placing these facts at the Secretary’s disposal, the Japanese Ambassador would be happy if the American Government, through the good offices of the Secretary, would reconsider the matter to the end that the proposed visit by the Hakuho Maru to the harbors mentioned above may be permitted.
If, however, there are circumstances which make it difficult for the American Government to give the permission requested, the Hakuho [Page 751] Maru will, as far as her cruise for this year is concerned, change her schedule and will visit Dutch Harbor around June 30, 1937, and Mr. Saito would like to be informed whether the said visit will be agreeable to the American Government and the usual courtesies and facilities extended to the vessel.
- Not printed.↩