Office of the Historian

711.942/393: Telegram

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

Washington, December 21, 1939—7 p.m.

410. Continuing Department’s 405, December 20, 7 p.m.,44 as per last paragraph thereof.

1. Unless you perceive objection, in which case I should of course welcome a statement of your views, together with an indication of [Page 626] your reasoning, I desire that you call upon the Minister for Foreign Affairs and make to him orally a statement substantially as follows:

The Government of the United States sincerely appreciates the efforts of the Japanese Government to remedy conditions adversely affecting relations between the United States and Japan and the indication of intent to persist in those efforts.

With regard to the statement made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs concerning the question of entering into negotiations looking toward the conclusion of a new treaty, the Government of the United States has prepared a statement of its position on this matter for the information and consideration of the Japanese Government. (It is suggested that you then hand the Minister for Foreign Affairs, as suggested by you, the statement quoted in the Department’s telegram no. 402, December 18, 2 p.m.45).

With regard to the question of concluding a modus Vivendi, the Government of the United States suggests that this question remain open for the time being.

The Government of the United States believes that at this time it would be appropriate for there to be continued the discussions which have been going on between the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs and the American Ambassador to Japan in regard to the considerations bearing on the question of concluding a new commercial treaty or agreement between the United States and Japan.

2. In the course of the same conversation but as a separate statement please impart to the Minister for Foreign Affairs information as follows:

The United States Treasury Department is shortly issuing a communication to collectors of customs and others concerned in which it is stated that upon expiration of the treaty the 10 percent ad valorem discriminating duties for which provision is made in the Tariff Act of 191346 are not to be collected on goods entering the United States in Japanese ships unless and until further instructions are issued. A decision similar in effect has been reached by the Department of Commerce in regard to discriminating tonnage duties on ships.

Hull
  1. Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, Vol. ii, p. 193; instruction approved by President Roosevelt.↩
  2. Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, Vol. ii, p. 190.↩
  3. Approved October 3, 1913; 38 Stat. 114.↩