611.946 Rag Rugs/189
Mr. Eugene H. Dooman of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs to the Second Secretary of the Japanese Embassy ( Okazaki )
Dear Mr. Okazaki: I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of April 2, 1937,98 in which it is stated that a quota agreement on cotton rugs has been reached between the Japanese Association of Exporters of Cotton Rugs and the Cotton Rug Manufacturers Association of America. You refer to the fact that American consuls in Japan have cooperated with the exporters in effecting control over the exportation of cotton rugs by checking consular invoices and reporting to the Department the quantity of rugs exported each month to the United States, and you inquire whether such cooperation may be expected to continue.
The American consular officers in Japan were recently informed that the Department desires that they cooperate with the Japanese Association concerned in such manner as may be practical and appropriate, such as furnishing the Japanese with figures with regard to [Page 795] quantities of cotton rugs covered by consular invoices. I wish, however, to make it clear that the consular officers would not be warranted in declining to authenticate consular invoices covering shipments of cotton rugs effected in circumstances not contemplated in the agreement under reference, or warranted in divulging any confidential information contained in consular invoices.
Sincerely yours,
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