611.939/199: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Swatow (Young)
11. Your October 20, noon, to Peiping.19 A Japanese Embassy statement to the press of October 2319 gives details of the second linen shipment from Swatow and continues
“The exporters thus benefited donated 175,000 Chinese dollars to the local Welfare Committee as an expression of their appreciation of the efforts of the Japanese authorities in affording the export facilities. The donation will be used for the general welfare and for the maintenance of peace and order in the locality. Furthermore, the Japanese authorities there promised to consider facilitating future transportation and importation of materials.”
The Department would appreciate receiving your comment on this statement and any information discreetly obtainable in regard to the “donation”.
Sent to Swatow. Repeated to Peiping and Shanghai.