894.24/1453
The Japanese Embassy to the Department of State
Memorandum
On June 16 at Philadelphia the loading of lubricating oil on a Japanese freighter, the Azuma Maru, was suddenly halted at the request of the Petroleum Coordinator for National Defense. Since the oil in question, which was purchased by Asano Bussan Kaisha, is of a low grade requiring no license, the shipment is entirely within the law. It is reported that all future shipments of oil from the eastern seaboard will be stopped under a new general order, which would entail considerable losses on the part of business firms, both American and Japanese, engaged in bona fide trade.
This Embassy requests the Department of State to use its good offices in the interests of the friendly relations as well as of the trade between Japan and the United States so that:
- 1.
- Special consideration will be given by the authorities concerned to the aforesaid shipment of oil and also to other consignments of oil for which contracts have been concluded and shipping arrangements completed before June 16;
- 2.
- Adequate steps will be taken in the future to prevent the recurrence of similar cases and to insure a smooth movement of trade between the United States and Japan.