894.6363/133: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 24—8:15 a.m.]
258. Local manager Standard-Vacuum Oil Company requests the Embassy to send the following message in code to the Department for communication to company’s principals in New York. The British Embassy is sending a similar message in code to London for the Rising Sun Company. For explanatory comment in connection with the following message please refer to my 257, November 24, 10 a.m.
“Standard-Vacuum Oil Company, New York. Referring to our cable of November 23rd.61 In private conversation with important Foreign Office representative who was present at interview, it was intimated that the suggested procedure with form 4 and Government’s representations along the line indicated would assist him and Commerce Vice Minister to influence other Government departments who were insisting on upholding compulsory stock regulations. Unless it would prejudice any action contemplated by you and Governments we and friends after full discussions with Embassies consider it expedient to adopt compromise suggested by Commerce Vice Minister and complete form 4 provisionally with covering letter reading in part, as follows:
‘This is being submitted subject to alteration and conditional upon a decision of our principals as to whether or to what extent they are able to continue business in Japan under the conditions imposed by the petroleum industry law.’
“If accepted this will enable us nominally to conform with regulations but without commitment and at the same time in the opinion of the Embassies will not necessarily preclude further diplomatic conversations should they be desirable. From our interview it would seem that Government is showing more reasonable attitude but at the same time is desirous of making issue purely commercial and eliminating diplomatic representations as far as possible. Friends and we are in agreement and they have cabled similar views to London. Goold.”
- Not printed.↩