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Tientsin.
The American Government has on several occasions
communicated to the Japanese Government its concern
over the situation which has prevailed for some time at
It was pointed out in a memorandum which I
left with Mr. Yoshizawa on February 6, 1939, that the
trade restrictions which have been imposed by the
Japanese military authorities at Tientsin have a tendency
to stifle the legitimate activities of American trade
and other interests, which include investments of over
12 million dollars local currency and trade with the
United States of more than 250 million dollars local
currency. On March 6, 1939, an aide memoire left at the
Foreign Office described the barbed-wire fences placed
around the British and French Concessions, which hindered
the free passage of persons in and out of the Concessions,
We requested that these and other restrictions be removed.
The situation now existing at Tientsin cannot but
continue to give the American Government concern in view
of the 400 American civilians who reside and do business
in Tientsin, of American property and trade interests there,
and of the fact that it is the seat of a consular district
in which reside over 1200 American citizens.
American interests have already suffered seriously
from unwarranted restrictions imposed by the Japanese authorities on the movement of persons and goods and from
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