611.939/163
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton)
During a call by Mr. Suma he referred to the inability of the American Silk Spinning Company of Providence, Rhode Island, to obtain supplies of silk waste from Canton, with regard to which I had previously spoken to Mr. Suma. Mr. Suma said that the Embassy had received a cable from the Japanese Foreign Office to the effect that the Japanese Government was giving special study to the situation at Canton and to the effects of that situation on American commerce. He said that according to the message which the Embassy had received from the Foreign Office the Japanese Government was looking into the whole matter with a view to expediting the opening of the Pearl River. I said that I hoped that this further consideration of the matter by the Japanese Government would show early and effective results from the point of view of removing the causes of complaint.