756D.94/142: Telegram

The Consul General at Batavia (Foote) to the Secretary of State

43. Reference is made to my telegram No. 38, April 12, 9 a.m.

1.
All efforts to agree on an agenda of the conference having proved to be fruitless, the Netherland Legation [Delegation] permitted information [Page 142] to reach the Japanese delegates to the effect that exports to Japan might be decreased considerably below the figures mentioned in my telegram No. 30, March 27, 4 p.m.92 The Japanese delegation then requested that the entire question be reviewed once more. This was agreed to.
2.
During the conversations the Japanese were informed that the following points must be accepted by Japan preliminary to any further negotiations:
3.
While those Japanese companies now established in this country will be treated justly there shall be no further Japanese penetration into this country.
4.
The Netherlands Indies reserves full freedom of action to carry on the war against Germany.
5.
Japan must agree that the Netherlands Indies has the right to use its products or to withhold the exportation of them in such a manner as may seem advisable to the Netherlands authorities.
6.
The Netherlands authorities will make no promise of any kind concerning rubber and tin.
7.
Other commodities will be released in such quantities as the Netherlands authorities may consider to be necessary for Japan’s internal needs. If the Netherlands authorities should have reason to believe that such commodities were reaching Germany or were enabling the products of other countries to do so the exportation thereof would either be reduced or prohibited entirely.
8.
No new problems are to be injected into the negotiations.
9.
The above points were transmitted to the Japanese Foreign Office, but no reply thereto has been received.93
Foote
  1. Not printed.
  2. The Japanese memorandum in reply, “presenting new proposals,” dated May 14, was described for the Department by Consul General Foote in his telegram No. 48, May 18, 7 p.m. The proposals related to concessions to the Japanese for entry of Japanese nationals, in business enterprises, trade, mining, fishing, shipping, etc. (756D.94/147).