811.20 (D) Regulations/199
Memorandum by the Acting Secretary of State
In view of the unfortunate publicity, largely inaccurate, which had resulted in today’s press from the premature statements made at the White House concerning the President’s proclamation24 subjecting to license petroleum products and steel and iron scrap, I requested the Japanese Ambassador to come in to see me this morning.
I told the Ambassador that the action taken by this Government by means of the President’s proclamation was action resulting solely from the national defense requirements of the United States, was general in character, applicable to all nations and discriminating against no particular nation or nations. I further stated that the exact details involving what the licensing restrictions would cover [Page 590] had not yet been fully determined upon but that as soon as such determination had been reached, I would ask the Ambassador to come in again in order to give him full information.
The Ambassador expressed great appreciation at my having asked him to call. He said that the publicity had in fact been highly unfortunate and had created a very sharp reaction in Japan, and he hoped that the true facts, when they were ascertained, would cause this reaction to be modified in its extent. He said he would at once cable his government the contents of the communication I had made to him and that he had not as yet received any direct word from Tokyo in the matter.
July 27, 1940.
In as much as the regulations involving the application of the President’s proclamation covering petroleum products, tetraethyl lead and its derivatives, and iron and steel scrap were approved yesterday evening by the President25 and made public this morning, I asked the Japanese Ambassador to come back to see me. I handed a copy of the regulations to the Ambassador and explained the significance of them to him.
The Ambassador said that he was very much relieved to learn of the precise nature of these regulations. He, however, started to question the need of the Government of the United States to place any restriction on exports of aviation gasoline and of iron and steel scrap because of information which he said had been given him that there was an over-abundance in the United States of all of these products.
I immediately interjected that the determination by a sovereign government of what it required from its own supplies for national defense purposes was a matter which could not possibly be discussed with any other government. I stated that the competent authorities of this government had determined that these restrictions were necessary from the standpoint of American national defense and that it was quite impossible to consider a discussion of the accuracy of these determinations with any other government. I said, of course, the Government of Japan had frequently taken similar action and that this government would under no conditions consider it proper to question whatever determinations Japan might reach in this regard.
The Ambassador concluded the interview by saying that he trusted that in so far as Japan was concerned the regulations would be carried out in a considerate manner by the authorities of this government.
I replied to the Ambassador that as he well knew, it was my hope [Page 591] that the policies and actions of both governments might be such as to make a friendly and understanding relationship between them possible.