600.939/211: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the First Secretary of Embassy in China (Salisbury), at Peiping
Washington, July 16, 1938—3
p.m.
191. Your 442, July 14, 1 p.m., and 440, July 13, 4 p.m., and the Department’s 240, July 13, 4 p.m., to Tokyo, in regard to the north China embargo on hides and skins.
- 1.
- You may say to the representative of the Japanese Embassy that the American Government has made emphatic requests of the Japanese Government that (1) the embargo be removed and that (2) pending the consideration of our general representations against the embargo the Japanese Government take steps to effect the immediate removal of the embargo in so far as it affects hides and skins covered by purchase contracts, and that the American Government awaits a reply to these representations. You may say further that the American Government is not disposed to raise objection should the American dealers in north China agree to sell to the Japanese military authorities stocks of hides and skins but that information in regard to those stocks should be obtained directly from the dealers concerned and purchase proposals should be made directly to those dealers. Add, however, that the American Government’s interest in the removal of the embargo arises from its desire to protect not only American dealers in China but also large interests in the United States, namely, [Page 29] those of American consumers and of American industry and trade generally (see Department’s 176, July 2, 7 p.m., to Tokyo).
- 2.
- In case the Japanese military authorities should make offers to American dealers and the latter should approach you for advice, you may inform them of the efforts of the Department to effect the removal of the embargo but tell them that they alone must decide whether or not to bargain with the Japanese.
Please repeat to Tokyo and keep Tokyo and the Department fully informed of your actions.
Hull