600.939/211: Telegram
The First Secretary of Embassy in China (Salisbury) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 14—7 a.m.]
442. Embassy’s 440, July 13, 4 p.m. Without this Embassy’s having supplied the information requested, a representative of the Japanese Embassy called late yesterday and stated that Japanese military propose: (1) The Japanese military shall purchase from American Export Company such stocks of hides and skins as may have been contracted for, insofar as those goods can be used by the Japanese Army, and (2) arrangements shall be made for the release for export by the American company of such cargo as is of too fine a quality for the army’s requirements (see paragraph 2, Tientsin’s 121, July 11, 2 p.m.47). In the event of acceptance of such arrangement, American authorities are to supply the Japanese Embassy four lists of the American company’s holding stocks for export, giving exact figures for the several categories.
As acceptance of the proposal would be tantamount to acquiescence in the embargo, the Embassy recommends that it be authorized to refuse the offer and to urge that the embargo be completely cancelled. The Embassy will not supply the information desired by the Japanese Embassy unless instructed to do so.
Repeated to Tokyo, the Ambassador and Tientsin.
- Not printed.↩