393.115 Standard Vacuum Oil Company/62: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss)
Following for Tokyo:
“352. October 12, 8 p.m., Amoy’s October 3, 4 p.m., and Chungking’s 482, October 7, 10 a.m.,10 in regard to Japanese interference with shipment of gasoline from Amoy to Swatow.
[Page 494]The Department, upon the basis of information before it, is of the opinion that there may be a real military consideration involved in the refusal of the Japanese to permit the shipment of the gasoline in question. Under the circumstances, and without any implication that the Japanese can properly interfere with the movement of American merchandise, the Department is of the opinion that no useful purpose would be served by making a specific approach to the Japanese Foreign Office in regard to this matter. The Department suggests, however, that in your discretion you bring the case to the attention of the Japanese Foreign Office in connection with other cases of interference with the movement of American cargo.”
Repeat to Chungking and Amoy with the statement that the Department desires Amoy to continue to take the matter up locally as opportunity offers.
- Neither printed.↩