893.5151/447: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan ( Grew ) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 12—7:05 a.m.]
240. Department’s 121, April 6, 4 p.m., currency exchange control in North China. An oral approach was made to the Minister for Foreign Affairs by me today supported by an aide-mémoire.19 The British Ambassador took similar action yesterday and I am informed that the French Ambassador will do so today. I appealed to the Minister on the basis of the principle of equal opportunity and the Open Door whose support in China the Japanese Government has frequently enunciated. Our aide-mémoire furthermore made full reservation in regard to American rights and interests.
The Minister said he understands that the authorities in North China are now discussing the currency question with the foreign banks [Page 13] in Tientsin and he hopes that these discussions will lead to an arrangement acceptable to all. He said that he would have to refer our aide-mémoire to his experts before replying but he stated that the Japanese Government will continue to support the principle of equal opportunity and the Open Door in China.
Repeated to Peiping and Shanghai for Hankow.