893.111/481: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Butrick) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 6—7:02 p.m.]
156. Peiping’s 147, June 26, 1 p.m. and Department’s 367, July 1, midnight to Tokyo, Japanese military travel permits. The Japanese Embassy this afternoon orally informed this office that no permits will be required of marines who will travel freely in uniform as in the past.
Once the Japanese have put restrictions into effect it is difficult to have them rescinded entirely. Their Embassy is now engaged in drawing up a modified form covering diplomatic and consular officers and has sought from this office suggestions for such modifications and has been informed that the matter is the subject of representations at Tokyo and therefore this office does not feel that it can make such suggestions. Since the regulations went into effect on July 1, they have issued about 500 permits. Nine United States marines have been given special diplomatic permits issued for necessary travel on the understanding that no precedent was established.
Sent to the Department. Repeated to Chungking, Tokyo, Shanghai and Tientsin.