Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The Far East, Volume IV

894.24/1309

Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton) to the Under Secretary of State (Welles)¹⁴

[Washington,] January 23, 1941.

Mr. Welles: In response to your intimation that you would like to have consideration given to the question of possible withdrawal from Japanese use of American and foreign-owned tankers now engaged in the carriage of oil to Japan, FE has prepared the attached memorandum¹⁵ in which is offered the suggestion that the concerned American oil companies be approached informally with a view to causing them voluntarily to seek for their vessels cargoes other than petroleum products destined for Japan.

M[axwell] M. H[amilton]

14. Concurred in by the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck).
15. Not printed.