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 [Page 783] 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]