Office of the Historian

611.51G9/23: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)

Washington, February 8, 1941—4 p.m.

93. Reference Hanoi’s 10, January 31, 3 p.m. and 14, February 6, noon, in regard to American-owned merchandise in Indochina which Department assumes were repeated to you by Peiping.

As the reported Japanese refusal to permit the American companies referred to in Hanoi’s telegrams under reference to reexport products from Haiphong would seem to be in direct contradiction to the statements made in the second paragraph of the Foreign Office note87 quoted in your 52, January 12, noon,88 the Department suggests that, unless objection is perceived, you approach the Foreign Office in such manner as you may deem appropriate and again request that there be taken without delay such steps as will cause a cessation of unwarranted interference with the movement of American-owned merchandise.89

Sent to Tokyo via Peiping. Repeated to Chungking, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Hong Kong repeat to Hanoi.

Hull
  1. For note from the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs to the American Ambassador in Japan, January 7, 1941, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 301.↩
  2. Not printed.↩
  3. For Ambassador Grew’s note No. 1744, February 13, 1941, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 308.↩