Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1938, The Far East, Volume IV

611.939/51: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)

Washington, October 28, 1938—5 p.m.

369. Tientsin’s 196, October 22, 10 a.m.,¹⁵ in regard to the customs notification of date October 18, 1938, prohibiting the exportation of sheep and slink wool and hemp as from that date. The Department desires that you approach the Japanese Foreign Office in such manner as you may consider appropriate and express the surprise of the American Government that the Japanese Government should allow the imposition in north China of an embargo on an important Chinese export to the United States at a time when, according to assurances given to you, it is giving consideration to the extensive and general representations made in your note of October 6¹⁶ in regard to Japanese violations of equality of opportunity or the open door in China.

Point out also that for many years prior to the outbreak of hostilities between China and Japan sheep wool was one of the most important exports from north China to the United States; that the wool produced in north China and Inner Mongolia is chiefly carpet wool in demand in the United States; and that the embargo affects contracts of American firms involving more than 1,000,000 United States dollars. Say that the wool embargo will not only cause financial loss and embarrassment to American dealers in China and American consumers in the United States but that, in as much as foreign exchange is available for imports into north China from the United States and other non-Japanese areas only as it accrues from exports from north China to the United States and other non-Japanese areas, it will tend to restrict the market in north China for American exports and is therefore detrimental to the general interests of the United States.

In conclusion please state that the American Government requests that the Japanese Government take prompt and effective measures to cause the removal of the embargo on wool and hemp.¹⁷

Hull

15. Not printed.
16. Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 785.
17. In compliance with these instructions, the Counselor of Embassy in Japan, Dooman, held a conversation and left an aide-mémoire with the Director of the American Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Office, Yoshizawa, on November 2 (611.939/60).