Office of the Historian

894.24/1513

Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Adams)84

[Washington,] July 12, 1941.

Reference attached memorandum of conversation85 between Mr. A. G. May of the Standard-Vacuum Oil Company and Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Adams.

It is suggested that an officer of FE be authorized to telephone to Mr. May, with charges reversed, along lines as follows:

The problem mentioned by Mr. May in regard to supplying Japanese forces in China with gasoline of not more than 86 octane rating from the Dutch East Indies or from other sources outside the United States does not come within the category of transactions prohibited by American law or regulation. It is understood from conversation which Mr. May had with Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Adams that the [Page 826] Standard-Vacuum Oil Company is inclined to lean toward decision not to supply the aviation gasoline requested by the Japanese forces in China. If the Standard-Vacuum Oil Company should, having in mind all considerations affecting the conduct of its business in the Far East, decide not to undertake to supply the gasoline requested by the Japanese forces the Government of the United States would be well content with that decision. The Department of State appreciates very much the spirit of cordial cooperation which the Standard-Vacuum Oil Company has displayed in placing the question before the Department of State.86

  1. Initialed by the Chief of the Division (Hamilton).↩
  2. Not printed.↩
  3. Notation by Mr. Adams: “Above information telephoned to Mr. A. G. May on July 15, 1941.”↩