711.417/679
The Japanese Ambassador (Matsudaira) to the Secretary of State
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the Japanese Government, being convinced that the Convention for the Protection of Fur [Page 463] Seals, signed at Washington on July 7, 1911, has, in many respects, ceased to be responsive to the actual conditions,13a have decided to approach the Governments of all the Signatory Powers with the request for holding a conference contemplated in Article 16 of the Convention, to consider and, if possible, agree upon further extension of the Convention with such additions and modifications as may be desirable.
In now communicating to you this request of my Government, pursuant to the provisions of the Convention, I am desired to add that the Japanese Government will be happy to make suggestions in due course, regarding the date and place of the proposed conference.
Accept [etc.]
- A note of Oct. 31, 1940, from the Japanese Foreign Minister, transmitted in despatch No. 5117, Nov. 1, 1940, from the Ambassador in Japan, stated that according to the record in the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the phrase “actual conditions” reads “actual condition of things.” (File No. 026 Foreign Relations/1511.)↩