711.417/1135: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
302. Embassy’s 703, May 19, 11 a.m. Please telegraph whether in the opinion of the Embassy the Japanese Government has reasons for its expressed desire to reduce the size of the fur seal herd and legalize pelagic sealing other than those expressly given in the Foreign Minister’s note.
The Commercial Attaché reported (No. 159, March 24, 194120), from an article in the Hochi Shimbun, on Japanese plans for sealing following expiration of the Fur Seal Convention. It would be helpful in our study of the fur seal question if the Embassy could supplement this information and also inform the Department of any known Japanese preparations being made for pelagic sealing in the North Pacific area.
- Not found in Department files.↩