600.989/329: Telegram
The Chargé in Japan (Dooman) to the Secretary of State 63
[Received June 5—6:47 p.m.]
259. Department’s 83, April 5, 5 p.m. via Peiping and our 170, April 8, 3 p.m.64 in regard to restrictions in North China on transmission of furs by parcel post. The following is our translation of a note verbale received from the Foreign Office today:
“The Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its compliments to the American Embassy at Tokyo and has the honor to refer to the latter’s communication of April 8, 1939, in regard to the problem of refusal to accept parcel post packages of furs for transmission in North China.
The Japanese authorities on the spot have been exerting themselves for some time now in an effort to settle this question. According to later reports, the parcel post packages of furs addressed to American dealers in Tientsin which were the matter of complaint for a while have been delivered to the consignees as a result of new rules issued by the postal authorities in North China. While cases similar to this are reported to have occurred recently, the authorities on the spot are at the present time making every effort to effect a settlement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs likewise is sparing no pains in regard to this problem. However, the Ministry is of the opinion that the full cooperation of the American fur dealers in Tientsin with the Japanese authorities on the spot would contribute greatly to a settlement of the matter. Tokyo, June 2, 1939.”
Sent to Chungking, Shanghai, Tientsin.