693.002/451: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 17—7 a.m.]
36. Department’s 6, January 11, 7 p.m.,38 importation of kerosene to China from Japan duty free and placed on the market.
Full representations were made by me to the Minister for Foreign Affairs this morning in which I emphasized the discriminatory character of the importation as well as the damaging effect upon the Customs Administration. I pointed out that this was another flagrant act of discrimination inconsistent with the repeated assurances of the Japanese Government and stated that my Government expects the Japanese Government to take appropriate and prompt steps to assure the carrying out of those assurances. The Minister said that he would promptly take the matter up with the proper authorities.
I previously discussed the matter with my British colleague who stated that the question had been taken up at Tientsin with the local authorities on January 11th and that he would find an opportunity to refer to the question orally here.
Repeated to Peiping for Tientsin and Shanghai.