894.6363/159: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 27—7:20 a.m.]
285. My 284, December 25, 7 p.m. Having obtained the agreement of the oil companies, the British and American Embassies today made oral and informal representations along the lines suggested in paragraphs 6 and 8 of my 274, December 13, 2 p.m. Our representations were made by Neville and Dickover to Kurusu and British representations were made by Sansom to Kurusu. Kurusu received our representations sympathetically and expressed some hope that a solution of the difficulties could be found “within the framework of the present law”. On his own initiative he recommended conference with the special representatives of the oil companies and expressed his belief that a discussion between the special representatives and the Japanese official would produce fruitful results but that he must first obtain the opinion of the Vice Minister for Commerce and Industry before committing himself. Substantially the same reply was made to the British representations.
Shall report again when Kurusu replies.