394.1115/38: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
497. The Department has noted in your 1216, August 11, 11 p.m. the statement by Mr. Terasaki that persons embarking in the United States on the Tatuta Maru upon its most recent departure for Japan were subjected to extremely rigid treatment. It is suggested that the Embassy inform the Foreign Office that the examination of the passengers embarking upon the Tatuta and the Heian had as its sole purpose nothing more than the enforcement of new regulations with a view to preventing the removal of securities, currency or evidences of ownership in excess of the amounts allowed under the freezing orders. This purpose obviously could only be accomplished through such an examination. Incidentally, this Government had substantial and convincing evidence that an effort was being made by some person or group to remove from this country and on to the Tatuta [Page 426] several million dollars worth of securities. In the case of the Heian Maru, at least, the passengers were interviewed prior to the date of sailing, which avoided many difficulties. The Embassy may also wish to point out that according to official reports from the port authorities at Seattle, officials of the NYK line and of the Japanese Consulate at Seattle expressed appreciation of the manner in which the Collector of Customs and the Supervising Customs Agent at Seattle handled the arrival, unloading, and departure of the Heian Maru. Although the Department has not been specifically informed in regard to the attitude of the Japanese consular and NYK officials in connection with the handling of the Tatuta, it has received not one complaint and it has neither evidence nor any reason to doubt that the passengers were treated with any lack of courtesy or consideration.