893.61331/305: Telegram
The Consul at Tsingtao (Meyer) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 10—1:27 a.m.]
Universal Leaf Tobacco Company formally requested allotment of the 1941 Shantung tobacco crop and has been informed that it will definitely not be permitted to buy any leaf this year. Japanese refuse to negotiate about the matter and state that no third power companies will be permitted to buy until the political situation clears up.
The crop this year is reported to be extremely small and is expected to net only approximately 25 million pounds.
Sent to the Embassy at Peiping. Repeated to the Department, Chungking and Shanghai. By air mail to the Embassy at Tokyo.