Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1939, The Far East; The Near East and Africa, Volume IV

393.115/617: Telegram

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

Washington, April 20, 1939—5 p.m.

103. Reference Department’s 96, April 16, 1 p.m.

1. The Under Secretary communicated orally to the Japanese Ambassador on April 20 the substance of paragraphs 1 and 2 of the telegram under reference.⁵¹ The Under Secretary also referred to the long interruption to normal commercial traffic on the Yangtze and to the free movement of Japanese vessels up and down the Yangtze between Hankow and Shanghai and the transportation by them of commercial cargo. He described the inconveniences and hardships to which American citizens are being subjected through inability to proceed between Hankow and Shanghai and expressed the earnest hope that the Japanese Government would immediately take the necessary steps to cause a cessation of interference with the movements and rights of American citizens in areas in China where there were Japanese forces.

2. Following a remark by the Japanese Ambassador as he left the Department to newspaper reporters in regard to the purpose of his call, the Secretary at his press conference was asked whether the American Ambassador at Tokyo would make further representations in regard to the situation on the Yangtze. The Secretary replied that he probably would.

Repeated to Chungking, Peiping and Hankow.

Hull

51. See memorandum by the Under Secretary of State, April 20, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 834.