793.94112/382
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 23.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my despatch No. 4756 dated June 6, 1940, concerning the transportation of Americans to Kiukiang and Hankow, and to transmit herewith a copy in translation of a note verbale dated June 14, 1940 from the Foreign Office.1 It is stated in the note that, owing to strategic circumstances, the Imperial army since the end of March 1940 had prohibited the nationals of third Powers from going up the Yangtze River from Shanghai to Kiukiang and Hankow and since the end of April 1940 from coming down the Yangtze from Hankow. Recent conditions having become such that travel of third Power nationals is to some extent permissible, arrangements were made for the military ship Koa Maru to leave Shanghai for Hankow on June 12 to transport almost all third Power nationals waiting to go up the Yangtze. Twenty-eight Americans were included among third Power nationals. Six Americans were included in a total of eighteen third Power nationals who were given permission to go down the Yangtze on the military ship Koto Maru on June 4, 1940. It is expected that practically all persons desiring to go down the Yangtze will be transported on June 8, 12, and 15.
Respectfully yours,
- Neither printed.↩