693.002/1122
The Department of State to the British Embassy
Memorandum
Reference is made to the British Embassy’s memorandum of September 15, 1941 in regard to the attitude of this Government toward Japanese demands upon the Inspector General of the Chinese Maritime Customs for the appointment of a Japanese Commissioner at Shanghai.
The Department of State feels that in the matter under consideration it should not depart from the position which it has taken of refraining from endeavoring to influence the Chinese Government with regard to the administration of the Chinese Maritime Customs.
For the information of the British Embassy it may be stated that the American Embassy at Tokyo has made repeated representations to the Japanese Government in protest against Japanese interference [Page 815] with the administration of the Chinese Maritime Customs. On September 16 the American Ambassador was instructed to make an approach to the Japanese Government specifically in regard to Japanese demands for the appointment of a Japanese Commissioner of Customs at Shanghai.