File No. 763.72112A/3859
The Secretary of State to the British Chargé ( Barclay)
Sir: I have the honor to advise you that the United States Government has approved in principle an invitation to the Japanese Government to associate itself with the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, France and Italy, in the preparation and publication of so-called enemy-trading or black lists to the end that the Japanese [Page 1063] Government may adopt, so far as practicable, the same measures for the control of trade by Japanese subjects with enemy houses as have been adopted by this Government in cooperation with the Governments of Great Britain, France, and Italy.
The United States Government is prepared to extend to the Japanese Government an invitation to participate in the conferences now being held in London, Paris, and Washington, for the consideration of enemy trading lists and licenses, providing the other Governments participating by their representatives in such conferences, are willing to join in such an invitation.
The United States Government anticipates that the Imperial Japanese Government will expect that the plan of joint enemy trade cooperation will involve the creation of an additional committee to consider enemy trading lists for China and the Far East to sit at Tokyo, and in the interests of securing the fullest and most cordial cooperation of the Japanese Government in enemy trading matters, the United States Government is disposed to favor acceding to such a suggestion if presented by the Japanese Government and to urge upon the other Governments represented in the conferences above referred to their consent to such a proposal.
The United States Government is of the opinion that the Japanese Government is favorably disposed to accept such an invitation if extended by the various Governments now participating in the conferences above referred to.
I have the honor to urge most earnestly that this proposal may receive the approval of your Government and that steps be taken by all the Governments associated in enemy-trading matters to extend to the Imperial Japanese Government a cordial invitation for participation in the conferences already in operation in London, Paris, and Washington, and that each of the participating Governments, if requested by the Japanese Government, agree to the convocation of an additional conference in Tokyo.
Accept [etc.]