711.417/1091: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 24—4 a.m.]
1040. 1. The Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs45 sent for me yesterday and handed me the following “oral” statement upon which I reserved my Government’s comment: [Page 985]
“I wish to inform Your Excellency of certain steps which the Japanese Government are contemplating to take in regard to the convention for the protection of fur seals signed at Washington on the 7th July, 1911.
At the expiration of the stipulated term of validity of the convention, namely, 15 years from its conclusion, the Japanese Government found that the provisions of the convention no longer suited the actual state of affairs, and according to article XVI proposed on the 5th January, 1926, to the governments of the interested countries to hold a conference for the revision of the convention.46 The proposal, however, did not materialize, and the convention has since remained in force without any revision or amendment for over 14 years.
Fur seals in the north Pacific Ocean, which numbered some 140,000 at the time of the conclusion of the convention, have gradually increased until they are now estimated at some 2,200,000. Both direct and indirect damage inflicted on the fishing industry by the increase of fur seals has become very serious. The present convention has for its sole object the protection and preservation of fur seals, and leaves entirely out of consideration the injury caused to fishing industry. Fishing being one of Japan’s chief industries, the Japanese Government are unable to allow the convention in its present form to continue in force any longer.
The Japanese Government, therefore, intend, after taking the necessary steps required by the national law, to give one year’s notice to terminate the convention by virtue of the provisions of article XVI.
I wish to point out, however, that the Japanese Government, being desirous to see the protection and preservation of fur seals continued on a reasonable basis, intend to suggest some principles uj>on which they are prepared to conclude with the interested countries a new agreement in the place of the present convention.
These things I tell to your Excellency in order that there may be no misunderstanding as to the real intention of the Japanese Government in taking those steps which they are going to take.”
2. The Vice Minister suggested that before reporting his oral statement I await the delivery of the formal note today in order to report both documents together. I was therefore surprised this morning to see that the spokesman of the Foreign Office had last evening released to the press a statement that the United States, Great Britain and Russia had been informed yesterday of Japan’s intention to abrogate the convention.
3. We will telegraph the Embassy’s translation of the formal note which was to have been delivered to the Embassy this morning, but which has not yet arrived, as soon as received.
- Chuichi Ohashi.↩
- See Foreign Relations, 1926, Vol. ii, pp. 462 ff.↩