JAPAN POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN JAPAN; THE ASSASSINATIONS OF FEBRUARY 26 Date and number Continued Subject Page From the Ambassador in Japan 1936 Mar. 6 Mar. 6 (61) Mar. 6 (1718) Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Footnote: Transmittal of memorandum to the Ambassador From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) 747 748 Advice that Hirota is encountering difficulties, apparently with the army, in forming a Cabinet. 748 Analysis of basic and immediate causes leading to the insurrection of February 26. Mar. 7 (63) From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) 756 Partial summary of a statement made to the Military Attaché by a General Staff officer who ostensibly unofficially explained the incident of February 26. Mar. 8 (80) From the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (tel.) 757 Opposing Soviet views regarding the imminence of Japaneseinstigated war in the Far East. Mar. 9 (65) From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) 757 Advice that Hirota has succeeded in forming a Cabinet and information relative to certain appointees. Mar. 9 (66) Mar. 13 (74) From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) 758 Opinion that Hirota's selection as Prime Minister will tend to tranquilize Japan's foreign relations. From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) 759 Conversation with the Prime Minister who said that Japanese foreign policy would continue unchanged, and made some further observations on policy in respect to certain areas. Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State 761 Mar. 17 Conversation with the Japanese Ambassador who expects that Arita, the present Japanese Ambassador in China, will be named Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mar. 19 (1735) From the Ambassador in Japan 761 Report concerning the Government's adoption of many reforms demanded by the insurgents in their insurrection of February 26, together with other information related to the outbreak. 766 Mar. 20 (1746) From the Ambassador in Japan Developments in the Aizawa trial, with particular reference to the relation between the trial and the incident of February 26. May 6 (95) From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) 767 Speech before the House of Peers by Hirota, who stated that he would avoid extremes and adhere to constitutional government under the Emperor. May 12 (1821) From the Ambassador in Japan 768 Advice of sentencing of Aizawa to death and his appeal; circumstances connected with trial. JAPAN POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN JAPAN; THE ASSASSINATIONS OF FEBRUARY 26— Date and number 1936 Continued Subject May 14 (1833) From the Ambassador in Japan May 28 (1864) May 29 (1876) July 7 (149) Developments in the situation resulting from the incident of February 26, and evidence that the Government has adopted a procrastinating policy in reform measures tending toward maintenance of the status quo which may lead to other incidents. From the Ambassador in Japan Transmittal of two ordinances which amend the regulations governing the organization of the Army and Navy Departments and limit the appointment to the posts of Minister and Vice Minister of the Departments to generals and admirals on the active list. From the Ambassador in Japan Report concerning opposition both within the Diet and among the public to regimentation and invasion of individual freedom by repressive legislation introduced by the Hirota Cabinet in the Seditious Literature and Mobilization Secrets Bills. Page 769 773 773 From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) 776 War Office announcement of death or imprisonment sentences pronounced upon military personnel and civilians tried for complicity in the February 26 incident. July 13 (154) From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) 777 War Office announcement of executions for participation in the February 26 incident. Further War Office announcement of sentences in the trials for connection with the February incident. 781 Aug. 25 Memorandum by the Ambassador in Japan Conversation, prior to departure, with Hirota, who gave assurance that Japan would not interfere with American trade in China and commented on the situation following the incident of February, with mention of the spread of the Communist menace. DISAPPROVAL BY THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF AMERICAN CITIZENS BY A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AS PROPAGANDA AGENTS 1936 Nov. 28 Memorandum by Mr. Eugene H. Dooman of the Division of Far 782 Informal oral representations, accompanied by a written statement thereon (infra), to the Japanese Ambassador of U. S. views relative to the employment of Americans by foreign political authorities as propagandists in the United States. Undated To the Japanese Embassy Text of statement of U. S. position given to the Japanese 784 JAPAN DISAPPROVAL BY THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF AMERICAN CITIZENS BY A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AS PROPAGANDA AGENTS-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1936 Nov. 28 To the Ambassador in Japan Transmittal of the November 28 informal statement given to the Japanese Ambassador covering the views discussed in conversation on that date, with suggestion that Department's action be reenforced by appropriate observation to the Foreign Minister. 785 REPRESENTATIONS ON ESTABLISHMENT OF OIL MONOPOLIES IN JAPAN AND MANCHURIA 1936 Jan. 7 (3) Jan. 15 (12) Jan. 24 Feb. 24 (34) Mar. 9 (64) Mar. 10 (30) Mar. 13 (73) Mar. 20 (77) From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Advice that in discussion of the oil companies' situation the Vice Foreign Minister stated that the Government does not intend to deprive foreign companies of a reasonable economic return. From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Japanese request that the oil companies propose definite Memorandum by Mr. Raymond C. Mackay of the Division of Far Information regarding the oil situation in Japan and in From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Recommendation by foreign oil representatives to their head offices that the Vice Foreign Minister's proposal regarding oil storage requirements be adopted. From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Suggestion from head officers of oil interests that a conference of representatives from the American and British Embassies and from the oil companies be arranged with Japanese officials; opinion that such Embassy participation would be inadvisable. To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Concurrence with opinion regarding direct participation in an oil conference; and suggestion for an oral and informal conversation with appropriate Japanese officials to make known the desire of foreign oil interests to present and discuss a plan to meet the needs of both parties. From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Oral and informal representations by American and British Embassies to Kurusu, a Foreign Office official, who seemed pessimistic following a conference between oil and Japanese officials to discuss the companies' plan. From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Advice of Embassy's informal request through Kurusu for suspension of oil storage regulations until the completion of current negotiations between American oil interests and the Mitsui interests, with indication of plan for further representations to the Vice Minister. 786 786 787 788 789 789 790 790 1936 Mar. 20 (33) Mar. 23 (78) May 22 June 11 June 23 (137) July 14 To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Approval of informal action and further representations, but suggestion of appropriateness of awaiting action of companies and avoiding getting out ahead of the interests or of the British Embassy in the matter of suspension of regulations. From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Decision to withhold authorized official representations From the Consul at Dairen to the Ambassador in Japan Memorandum by Mr. Raymond C. Mackay and Mr. Eugene H. Opinion that the authorized representations regarding the Information concerning the allocation of third quarter oil Oct. 20 From the President of the Standard-Vacuum Oil Company of New Nov. 6 (140) Dec. 14 (259) Report of progress in oil negotiations with the Japanese Gov- Approval of proposed action relative to Japanese Govern- (Footnote: Information that note is in reply to an unprinted despatch wherein the Embassy suggested request for an oral or written confirmation.) From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Advice of impasse in oil company negotiations with Japanese Government; British Ambassador's recommendation to his Government that strong representations be made to the Japanese Ambassador at London and suggestion that similar representations be made at Washington. 791 792 792 794 796 797 798 798 799 Dec. 17 (261) From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) 800 Report that Japanese oil companies are agitating against any increase in gasoline sales quotas for foreign oil companies. JAPAN REPRESENTATIONS ON ESTABLISHMENT OF OIL MONOPOLIES IN JAPAN AND MANCHURIA-Continued Date and number 1936 Dec. 17 (160) Dec. 18 (452) Dec. 19 (264) Dec. 22 (265) Subject To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Inquiry whether any action has been taken under authorization in No. 140, November 6; belief that, instead of procedure mentioned in No. 259, December 14, conversations should be held at Tokyo by American and British Ambassadors with the Japanese Prime Minister. To the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (tel.) Views relative to the expediency of a direct approach at Tokyo in making representations in regard to the Japanese assurances in the oil situation. From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Discussion of advisability of further diplomatic approaches, with tendency to favor representations from both ends of the line, and suggestion of informal approach to the Prime Minister only after formal approach to the Foreign Minister; the British Ambassador's position; and advice that no action has been taken under authorization referred to. From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Necessity for some preliminary diplomatic approach to the Japanese Government before the holidays to protect the oil companies in the matter of the 1937 quotas and the pending tariff revision. From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Page 800 801 802 803 Dec. 23 (266) 804 Request for authorization to send to the Foreign Minister a simultaneous and substantially identical memorandum to that which the British are planning to send. Dec. 23 (164) 805 To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Authorization as requested in No. 266 of December 23, and further explanation of Department's position. Dec. 24 From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) (268) Advice that Department's instructions in No. 164 of December 23 were carried out in an interview with the Foreign Minister, who agreed to study the oil situation, with which he stated he was unfamiliar, and that the British Ambassador made similar representations. 805 TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN; FURTHER DISCUSSION OF VOLUNTARY RESTRICTION BY THE JAPANESE OF EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES AND THE PHILIPPINES Memorandum by Mr. Roy Veatch of the Office of the Economic 806 Jan. Discussion of means for an adjustment of the agreement cov- 9 Memorandum by Mr. Roy Veatch of the Office of the Economic Conversation between Assistant Secretary Sayre and the 808 |