894.6363/156: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 25—7:51 a.m.]
284. 1. My 283; December 22, noon. On behalf of local representative of the Standard-Vacuum the Embassy yesterday sent the following message in confidential cipher to the Consulate General in Shanghai:
“December 24, 1 p.m. Please deliver a paraphrase of the following message to Goold, Standard-Vacuum Oil Company, Shanghai:
‘British and American Embassies are authorized to make informal representations to pave the way for your discussions with the Japanese officials if the oil interests concur. Representations will probably be made on the 27th or 28th and will outline again the difficulties of the oil companies and will state that [Page 798] the assurances so far given by the Japanese Government are insufficient to remove the anxieties felt by the oil companies. Embassies will add orally that if the Japanese authorities think that a possibility exists that a solution of the difficulties could be found through discussions between the Japanese officials and the company directors now in Shanghai, the oil companies might authorize the directors to come to Japan for that purpose. Do you agree with this procedure?’”
2. Department’s 215, December 24, 1 p.m. The local representative of the Standard-Vacuum has been kept currently and fully informed of the Department’s attitude and recent information has been conveyed to the special representative at Shanghai by special messenger. The substance of the Department’s telegram under reference will be conveyed to the local representative tomorrow morning for transmission as indicated by the Department.