811.20(D)Regulations/589
The Department of State to the Japanese Embassy
Reference is made to the note dated October 7, 1940, from the Japanese Embassy at Washington, in which objection is expressed by the Japanese Government to the regulations promulgated by the American Government on September 30, 1940, with regard to the exportation of iron and steel scrap, such objection being placed apparently on the ground that the restrictions to be effected by the regulations are discriminatory and are calculated to be injurious to Japan.
As was pointed out in the first paragraph of the Japanese Embassy’s note, the regulations under reference derive from the provisions of section 6 of the Act of Congress approved July 2, 1940, entitled “An Act to expedite the strengthening of the national defense”. It having been found by the appropriate agencies and authorities of this Government that the restrictions on exportation to be effected by the regulations under reference are necessary in the interest of national defense, the Government of the United States perceives no warrantable basis for a raising of question by any other government, in the circumstances—not of this Government’s making—which prevail today in international relations, with regard to the considerations which necessitate the adoption by this Government of these measures of conservation.