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

894.33/56

The Department of State to the British Embassy ²⁰

Aide-Mémoire

Reference is made to the British Embassy’s aide-mémoire of February 20 in regard to the question of the carrying of cargo from Portugal to Japan by the Asaka Maru, an auxiliary vessel of the Japanese Navy.

It is not clear from the aide-mémoire under reference whether the stipulation that the Nagara Maru should be the last vessel which would be given facilities to pass “through the blockade” was a unilateral statement by the British Government or was in the nature of an agreement between the British and the Japanese Governments; nor is it clear whether reference is made to a blockade in the ordinary sense of the term or to the economic blockade declared by the British Government.

In all the circumstances of the case, so far as they are known to the Government of the United States, warrant for interference with the Asaka Maru might be lacking in substantial legal support and hence might be regarded in a very serious light by the Japanese Government. In view of the Government of the United States, there is also the question whether the cargo would be of serious moment from the point of view of general naval operations.

While the British Government will of course appreciate that responsibility for a decision in this case rests with it, the Government of the United States, on its part, would not desire to raise an issue of this character unless it felt that its position was well founded.

Washington , February 21, 1941.

20. Handed to the British Ambassador on February 21 by the Under Secretary of State.