711.008 North Pacific/429: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
Washington, December 28, 1938—7
p.m.
427. Your 792, December 19, 3 p.m.
- 1.
- With regard to your paragraph 2, the chief purpose of the Department was to emphasize the importance of acquainting the Japanese Government with the viewpoint which is developing in this country and of reminding that Government of the possibility of legislative action. A further object of course was to afford the Japanese Government the fullest opportunity to continue its collaboration with the American Government toward a solution of the Alaska salmon fishery problem which would serve to remove the problem more definitely from the field of public controversy and agitation than has resulted from the understanding of March 25. In view of the uncertainty surrounding the possibility of the enactment of legislation at the next session of Congress affecting the status of off-short fisheries, you will of course appreciate the importance of keeping our record clear with the Japanese Government in regard to this aspect of the situation.
- 2.
- The Department has given careful consideration to those paragraphs of your telegram which deal with the relationship between the course of action suggested in the Department’s 421, December 16, 7 p.m., and Japan’s political situation in the Far East, including Japan’s current fishery negotiations with the Soviet Union. We appreciate the difficulties which you mention, especially those which grow out of Japanese policies toward China and the undetermined state of the Japanese-Soviet fishery negotiations, but have reached the conclusion that the advantages and reasons for the procedure we have outlined, and which you accurately describe in paragraphs 4 and 5 of your telegram under reference, are sufficiently substantial to warrant the carrying out of that procedure. However, you may in your [Page 205] discretion delay your approach until such time within the next 3 or 4 weeks as may, from the standpoint of Japan’s fishery relations with the Soviet Union and of our general relations with Japan, appear to you most opportune. Further, when making the approach you are authorized, should there be any occasion to do so, to say that the action of the American Government in again bringing the salmon fishery situation to the attention of the Japanese Government is prompted by developments in the United States related specifically to the salmon fishery situation and that, therefore, this Government’s action has no connection with any other problem or problems elsewhere underlying Japanese-American relations.
- 3.
- With regard to the last sentence of your paragraph 5, the Department desires to leave entirely to your discretion the form of your approach to the Foreign Office. However, your paragraph 6 prompts us to suggest, for your consideration, that an approach made by Dooman might, because of its necessarily less formal character, possibly reduce the likelihood of adverse repercussions.
Welles