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JAPAN

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN JAPAN; THE ASSASSINATIONS OF FEBRUARY 26

Date and

number

Continued

Subject

Page

From the Ambassador in Japan

1936 Mar. 6

Mar. 6 (61)

Mar. 6 (1718)

Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs
Criticism of Japanese Ambassador's explanation of recent
assassinations as altogether too "easy" and throwing matter
out of perspective.

(Footnote: Transmittal of memorandum to the Ambassador
in Japan.)

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

747

748

Advice that Hirota is encountering difficulties, apparently with the army, in forming a Cabinet.

748

Analysis of basic and immediate causes leading to the insurrection of February 26.

Mar. 7 (63)

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

756

Partial summary of a statement made to the Military Attaché by a General Staff officer who ostensibly unofficially explained the incident of February 26.

Mar. 8 (80)

From the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (tel.)

757

Opposing Soviet views regarding the imminence of Japaneseinstigated war in the Far East.

Mar. 9 (65)

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

757

Advice that Hirota has succeeded in forming a Cabinet and information relative to certain appointees.

Mar. 9 (66)

Mar. 13 (74)

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

758

Opinion that Hirota's selection as Prime Minister will tend to tranquilize Japan's foreign relations.

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

759

Conversation with the Prime Minister who said that Japanese foreign policy would continue unchanged, and made some further observations on policy in respect to certain areas. Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State

761

Mar. 17

Conversation with the Japanese Ambassador who expects that Arita, the present Japanese Ambassador in China, will be named Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Mar. 19 (1735)

From the Ambassador in Japan

761

Report concerning the Government's adoption of many reforms demanded by the insurgents in their insurrection of February 26, together with other information related to the outbreak.

766

Mar. 20 (1746)

From the Ambassador in Japan

Developments in the Aizawa trial, with particular reference to the relation between the trial and the incident of February 26.

May 6 (95)

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

767

Speech before the House of Peers by Hirota, who stated that he would avoid extremes and adhere to constitutional government under the Emperor.

May 12 (1821)

From the Ambassador in Japan

768

Advice of sentencing of Aizawa to death and his appeal; circumstances connected with trial.

JAPAN

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN JAPAN; THE ASSASSINATIONS OF FEBRUARY 26—

Date and

number

1936

Continued

Subject

May 14 (1833)

From the Ambassador in Japan

May 28 (1864)

May 29 (1876)

July 7 (149)

Developments in the situation resulting from the incident of February 26, and evidence that the Government has adopted a procrastinating policy in reform measures tending toward maintenance of the status quo which may lead to other incidents.

From the Ambassador in Japan

Transmittal of two ordinances which amend the regulations governing the organization of the Army and Navy Departments and limit the appointment to the posts of Minister and Vice Minister of the Departments to generals and admirals on the active list.

From the Ambassador in Japan

Report concerning opposition both within the Diet and among the public to regimentation and invasion of individual freedom by repressive legislation introduced by the Hirota Cabinet in the Seditious Literature and Mobilization Secrets Bills.

Page

769

773

773

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

776

War Office announcement of death or imprisonment sentences pronounced upon military personnel and civilians tried for complicity in the February 26 incident.

July 13 (154)

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

777

War Office announcement of executions for participation in the February 26 incident.

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Further War Office announcement of sentences in the trials for connection with the February incident.

781

Aug. 25 Memorandum by the Ambassador in Japan

Conversation, prior to departure, with Hirota, who gave assurance that Japan would not interfere with American trade in China and commented on the situation following the incident of February, with mention of the spread of the Communist

menace.

DISAPPROVAL BY THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF AMERICAN CITIZENS BY A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AS PROPAGANDA AGENTS

1936 Nov. 28

Memorandum by Mr. Eugene H. Dooman of the Division of Far
Eastern Affairs

782

Informal oral representations, accompanied by a written statement thereon (infra), to the Japanese Ambassador of U. S. views relative to the employment of Americans by foreign political authorities as propagandists in the United States.

Undated To the Japanese Embassy

Text of statement of U. S. position given to the Japanese
Ambassador November 28.

784

JAPAN

DISAPPROVAL BY THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF AMERICAN CITIZENS BY A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AS PROPAGANDA AGENTS-Continued

Date and number

Subject

Page

1936 Nov. 28

To the Ambassador in Japan

Transmittal of the November 28 informal statement given to the Japanese Ambassador covering the views discussed in conversation on that date, with suggestion that Department's action be reenforced by appropriate observation to the Foreign Minister.

785

REPRESENTATIONS ON ESTABLISHMENT OF OIL MONOPOLIES IN JAPAN AND MANCHURIA

1936 Jan. 7 (3)

Jan. 15 (12)

Jan. 24

Feb. 24 (34)

Mar. 9 (64)

Mar. 10 (30)

Mar. 13 (73)

Mar. 20 (77)

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Advice that in discussion of the oil companies' situation the Vice Foreign Minister stated that the Government does not intend to deprive foreign companies of a reasonable economic return.

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Japanese request that the oil companies propose definite
terms upon which they will comply with the stockholding pro-
visions of the law, and opinion that the authorities are en-
deavoring to find a solution to the problem.

Memorandum by Mr. Raymond C. Mackay of the Division of Far
Eastern Affairs of a Conversation With Mr. Claude A.
Thompson, General Counsel of the Standard-Vacuum Oil
Company, New York

Information regarding the oil situation in Japan and in
Manchuria, and indication that for the moment no further
assistance is required.

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Recommendation by foreign oil representatives to their head offices that the Vice Foreign Minister's proposal regarding oil storage requirements be adopted.

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Suggestion from head officers of oil interests that a conference of representatives from the American and British Embassies and from the oil companies be arranged with Japanese officials; opinion that such Embassy participation would be inadvisable.

To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Concurrence with opinion regarding direct participation in an oil conference; and suggestion for an oral and informal conversation with appropriate Japanese officials to make known the desire of foreign oil interests to present and discuss a plan to meet the needs of both parties.

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Oral and informal representations by American and British Embassies to Kurusu, a Foreign Office official, who seemed pessimistic following a conference between oil and Japanese officials to discuss the companies' plan.

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Advice of Embassy's informal request through Kurusu for suspension of oil storage regulations until the completion of current negotiations between American oil interests and the Mitsui interests, with indication of plan for further representations to the Vice Minister.

786

786

787

788

789

789

790

790

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1936 Mar. 20 (33)

Mar. 23 (78)

May 22

June 11

June 23 (137)

July 14

To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Approval of informal action and further representations, but suggestion of appropriateness of awaiting action of companies and avoiding getting out ahead of the interests or of the British Embassy in the matter of suspension of regulations.

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Decision to withhold authorized official representations
relative to suspension of regulations in view of the apparent
Japanese acceptance of the oil representatives' proposal for
cooperation in the matter of quotas.

From the Consul at Dairen to the Ambassador in Japan
Report that the Texas Co. has abandoned its joint position
with the two other foreign oil companies and has supplied
gasoline to the Monopoly.

Memorandum by Mr. Raymond C. Mackay and Mr. Eugene H.
Dooman of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs
Telephone discussion with President P. W. Parker of the
Standard-Vacuum Co. of New York, who was told of Depart-
mental conversations with Kurusu and who requested that
Kurusu be urged to take steps to the end that representatives
of Mitsui be sent to New York for oil negotiations.
From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Opinion that the authorized representations regarding the
oil problem would be inadvisable in view of Vice Minister
Yoshino's statement that further postponement of the enforce-
ment of the stock holding provisions of the law is impossible.
From the President of the Standard-Vacuum Oil Company of New
York

Information concerning the allocation of third quarter oil
quotas by the Japanese Government.

Oct. 20 From the President of the Standard-Vacuum Oil Company of New
York

Nov. 6 (140)

Dec. 14 (259)

Report of progress in oil negotiations with the Japanese Gov-
ernment and expectation of early settlement of final details.
To the Chargé in Japan (tel.)

Approval of proposed action relative to Japanese Govern-
ment's confirmation of assurances concerning the oil interests
and suggestion that written confirmation would be preferable
to oral.

(Footnote: Information that note is in reply to an unprinted despatch wherein the Embassy suggested request for an oral or written confirmation.)

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Advice of impasse in oil company negotiations with Japanese Government; British Ambassador's recommendation to his Government that strong representations be made to the Japanese Ambassador at London and suggestion that similar representations be made at Washington.

791

792

792

794

796

797

798

798

799

Dec. 17 (261)

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

800

Report that Japanese oil companies are agitating against any increase in gasoline sales quotas for foreign oil companies.

JAPAN

REPRESENTATIONS ON ESTABLISHMENT OF OIL MONOPOLIES IN JAPAN AND MANCHURIA-Continued

Date and number

1936 Dec. 17 (160)

Dec. 18 (452)

Dec. 19 (264)

Dec. 22 (265)

Subject

To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Inquiry whether any action has been taken under authorization in No. 140, November 6; belief that, instead of procedure mentioned in No. 259, December 14, conversations should be held at Tokyo by American and British Ambassadors with the Japanese Prime Minister.

To the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (tel.)

Views relative to the expediency of a direct approach at Tokyo in making representations in regard to the Japanese assurances in the oil situation.

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Discussion of advisability of further diplomatic approaches, with tendency to favor representations from both ends of the line, and suggestion of informal approach to the Prime Minister only after formal approach to the Foreign Minister; the British Ambassador's position; and advice that no action has been taken under authorization referred to.

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Necessity for some preliminary diplomatic approach to the Japanese Government before the holidays to protect the oil companies in the matter of the 1937 quotas and the pending tariff revision.

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Page

800

801

802

803

Dec. 23 (266)

804

Request for authorization to send to the Foreign Minister a simultaneous and substantially identical memorandum to that which the British are planning to send.

Dec. 23 (164)

805

To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Authorization as requested in No. 266 of December 23, and further explanation of Department's position.

Dec. 24 From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

(268)

Advice that Department's instructions in No. 164 of December 23 were carried out in an interview with the Foreign Minister, who agreed to study the oil situation, with which he stated he was unfamiliar, and that the British Ambassador made similar representations.

805

TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN; FURTHER DISCUSSION OF VOLUNTARY RESTRICTION BY THE JAPANESE OF EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES AND THE PHILIPPINES

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Memorandum by Mr. Roy Veatch of the Office of the Economic
Adviser of a Conversation With the Counselor of the Japanese
Embassy

806

Jan.

Discussion of means for an adjustment of the agreement cov-
ering imports into the Philippines of Japanese cotton piece
goods.

9 Memorandum by Mr. Roy Veatch of the Office of the Economic
Adviser

Conversation between Assistant Secretary Sayre and the
Japanese Ambassador relative to cotton quotas and rayon
shipments to the Philippines, and nonobjection by the Japanese
to a press release (infra) concerning Japanese intention to with-
hold cotton shipments to the Philippines until after February 1.

808

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