694.0031/6–2548
The Acting Political Adviser in Japan (Sebald) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 6.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose1 copies of a Memorandum of June 18, 1948 regarding official relations and contacts with foreign Missions in Japan prepared by the Economic and Scientific Section of this Headquarters, copies of this Headquarters’ Staff Memorandum No. 20 of May 28, 1948 on the same subject, and copies of this Headquarters’ Memorandum for the Japanese Government, SCAPIN 1901, of May 28, 1948 authorizing direct communication between the Japanese Board of Trade (Boeki Cho) and persons, firms and foreign Missions in Japan on trade matters.
As is indicated in the memoranda referred to above, the Japanese Board of Trade (Boeki Cho) may now communicate with persons and firms (but not governments) outside of Japan and with persons, firms, and foreign Missions in Japan on commercial matters in connection with international trade. Conversely, persons and firms outside of Japan may now communicate with the Board of Trade, as may the foreign Missions in Japan. Furthermore, foreign Missions may now deal with private Japanese suppliers subject to pertinent trade agreements entered into between their respective countries and General [Page 982] Headquarters. In all of the instances indicated above, contractual agreements entered into thereby are subject to review and validation by the Foreign Trade and Commerce Division of the Economic and Scientific Section of this Headquarters.
The decision of this Headquarters to permit foreign Missions in Japan to deal directly with the Board of Trade rather than through the time-consuming channels formerly prescribed not only relieves this Headquarters, as well as this Mission as the Diplomatic Section, of an administrative burden, but also marks progress toward the resumption of normal trading conditions by permitting the more expeditious handling of foreign trade operations. With respect to permitting the Board of Trade to communicate with persons and firms outside of Japan, and conversely, persons and firms outside of Japan to correspond with the Board, the above memoranda merely extend official sanction to what had already been an established practice.
Respectfully yours,
- Enclosures not printed.↩