894.33/56
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide–Mémoire
On January 23rd the British Ambassador in Tokyo reported that the Japanese Ministry of Marine had made the following communication to the British Naval Attaché.
“The special service ship Asaka Maru of the Imperial Japanese Navy will be sent to Lisbon on a mission to protect Japanese residents in Europe and to transport changing military and naval attachés to Embassies and Legations in accordance with the undermentioned programme. The Imperial Japanese Navy request the wholehearted cooperation of the Royal Navy in regard to the protection of the ship from any danger, and also that the military authorities concerned will be notified by the Royal Navy accordingly.”
The vessel in question is a merchant vessel which has been taken up by the Japanese Government for the purpose of making this voyage. According to the British Ambassador in Tokyo the vessel flies the Japanese naval ensign, is manned by naval ratings and carries armament.
[Page 785]In reply to the Japanese Ministry of Marine’s enquiry Sir R. Craigie was instructed to inform the Japanese Government that as the Asaka Maru contemplated entering waters where Germany and Italy were engaged in unrestricted sea warfare against Great Britain His Majesty’s Government could not take any responsibility for the vessel’s safety.
The Asaka Maru passed through the Panama Canal en route for Lisbon on February 8th. She was carrying a number of Japanese officers proceeding to take up appointments at various diplomatic missions in Europe together with certain naval officers who were, it is believed, proceeding on a technical mission to Germany. It is understood the ship carried no cargo on her journey to Lisbon.
On the other hand the Japanese Ministry of Marine informed the British Naval Attaché on January 31st that it was intended that the Asaka Maru should on her return voyage carry a certain amount of cargo consisting of goods destined exclusively for the Japanese Navy. The Ministry of Marine admitted that these goods might be of German, Italian or French origin. According to His Majesty’s Government’s information the cargo to be shipped on board the Asaka Maru will include electric transformers and rectifiers, large hydraulic presses, Strontium, Cryolite, Oerlikon Guns, optical equipment and 2000 bottles of Mercury. The cargo may contain other still more important items, including possibly valuable technical apparatus such as submarine detectors.
In view of the definite admission by the Japanese authorities that this ship may be carrying goods of enemy origin His Majesty’s Government feel that they would be amply justified in intercepting the vessel and examining the cargo since the normal immunity enjoyed by a warship must clearly be regarded as forfeited if the ship fails to confine herself to her functions as a vessel of war. Furthermore His Majesty’s Government are bound to take into consideration the fact that there is good reason to suspect that the cargo consists of material which might be of particular value to the Japanese Navy for possible use against the British Fleet.
In normal circumstances therefore the British authorities would certainly feel bound to intercept the Asaka Maru, On the other hand, as Sir R. Craigie has pointed out, to intercept the ship might in present circumstances bring about a major incident between His Majesty’s Government and the Japanese Government. In fact the question would seem to turn upon whether or not the Japanese are prepared to enter the war on Germany’s side against Great Britain in the immediate future. If they are not so prepared then his Majesty’s Government feel that they could probably afford to take a [Page 786] firm line in the matter; if on the other hand the Japanese are prepared to enter the war then to intercept the ship might give the Japanese a pretext for declaring war.
In view of the importance of the issue involved His Majesty’s Government before going any further with the matter would wish to consult United States Government and ascertain their views in the matter and to know whether they would regard it as justifiable to take the risk involved in an attempt to subject the Asaka Maru to contraband control.
In bringing the matter to the attention of the United States authorities His Majesty’s Embassy is instructed to emphasize that there is every reason to believe that this affair constitutes a deliberate plan on the part of the Japanese to evade the British blockade. Furthermore during the last year the British authorities allowed a number of Japanese ships to pass through the blockade with machinery and other goods of enemy origin urgently required by the Japanese Navy; and when the Nagara Maru was allowed through the blockade in the autumn of 1940 it was stipulated that this vessel should be the last to which such facilities were granted.
If it is decided to intercept the vessel it is most desirable the Japanese Government should be warned before the ship is loaded. She is now in Lisbon and may commence loading in the very near future. That being so a very early expression of the views of the United States authorities would be appreciated.