CO129-575-3 Japanese affairs 2-1-1939 - 21-12-1939 — Page 64

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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

general...