Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1934, The Far East, Volume III

894.6363/82: Telegram

The Chargé in Japan (Neville) to the Secretary of State

Tokyo, October 10, 1934—noon.
[Received October 10—1:55 a.m.]

222. My 213, September 25, 6 p.m., and previous regarding the Petroleum Industry Control Law. I have been informed only today by the British Embassy that on October 5 the British Ambassador made renewed representations to the Japanese Government in regard to the Petroleum Industry Law and left with the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs an aide-mémoire of which the following is the substance:

1. The British petroleum interests have so far been unable to obtain from the Japanese authorities assurances of a nature to relieve their anxiety or information which will enable them to decide upon their future business policy, and consequently they are unable fully to comply with the provisions of the law requiring them to submit details of their plans for 1935.

2. The British Ambassador therefore inquires whether the Japanese Government has been able to give consideration to the position of the British petroleum interests under the new law and expresses the “hope that it will be found possible to direct or modify the operations of that law in such a way as to relieve them of hardships which it threatens to impose.”

Full text of aide-mémoire by mail.⁴⁰

Neville

40. Not printed.