893.51/7049b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
83. Department’s 82, March 8, 2 p.m. At the press conference on March 8 a correspondent referred to a reported statement by the Japanese Foreign Office spokesman that the Japanese regard the advance of the 20 million dollar credit to China by the Export-Import Bank as an unfriendly act and asked whether I had any comment. [Page 648] I replied to the effect that all I had in mind in that connection is that the arrangement is a commercial and credit transaction and is in furtherance of our commercial policy which includes some financing by the Export-Import Bank of trade with various countries from time to time.