(Copy of Memorandum handed by the American Counselor, Mr. Dooman, to the Director, American Bureau, the Foreign Office, Mr. Yoshizawa).
220
According to information furnished by the American
Embassy at Peiping and the American Consulate General at
Tientsin the Japanese military authorities have placed
certain irksome and seemingly unwarranted restrictions
upon American personal and business interests in Tientsin.
The nature and extent of American interests in
Tientsin at present are: (1) An American investment of
more than 12,000,000 local currency, including land,
buildings, machinery and equipment, stocks of merchandise
and loans and mortgages; (2) the business turnover of
American firms in Tientsin during 1933 is roughly
estimated at $200,000,000 local currency, about half of
which is business conducted by the two American banks;
(3) trade with the United States handled by non-American
firms is conservatively estimated at $50,000,000 local
currency during 1938; (4) American interests in Tientsin
include: two banks, two petroleum companies, two dye
houses; four motor dealers; two woollen mills, more than
20 fur exporters and several import-export firms, real
estate companies and other enterprises.
The restrictions imposed have an unfavourable effect
upon those interests in that they have a tendency to
stifle the legitimate activities of American trade and
other interests in lientsin.
Tokyo, February 6, 1939.