148. Editorial Note
On March 13, representatives of the Japanese Embassy handed Howard Jones a note from the Japanese Ambassador in reply to the United States note of January 9 regarding strategic trade controls. The United States note followed closely the proposed note enclosed in CA–5218, Document 140. A memorandum of the subsequent conversation, drafted by Thelma Vettel, Acting Officer in Charge of Economic Affairs, Office of Northeast Asian Affairs, reads in part as follows:
“The note stated that the Government of Japan has come to the conclusion that the international situation has not changed so drastically as to require modification of its views on strategic trade controls and expressed the desire of the Government of Japan for the relaxation of the controls, especially recision of the China differential. The note expressed the willingness of the Government of Japan to participate in such appropriate multilateral consultation on the matter as may be agreed upon by most of countries concerned.” (Department of State, Central Files, 493.009/3–1357)
The text of the Japanese note is ibid., 493.009/3–2157.