893.102 Tientsin/715: Telegram
The Consul at Tientsin (Fletcher) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 1—11:08 a.m.]
On July 29 a shipment of 15 tons of structural steel owned by the J. E. Hayes Engineering Corporation, Federal Incorporated, United States of America, was prevented by a Japanese gendarme stationed near the international bridge from entering the Concessions. The gendarme stated that a military permit must be obtained.
[Page 859]I protested to the Japanese Consul General yesterday and in verbal reply received today it was stated that a military regulation of 1938 required official permission to move iron or steel products and therefore a permit must be obtained from the Japanese military before the steel could be brought into the Concessions. This office has never been previously informed of such a regulation and the Senior Japanese Consul yesterday told Vice Consul Yuni that he knew nothing of its existence. Efforts of this office to have the cargo passed without a permit have proved that [sic] of no avail. Despite lifting of the barriers, frequent stoppages and cursory examination of merchandise by Chinese police and Japanese gendarmes stationed at or near entrances to the Concessions continue but, with the exception of carpet manufacturers, the above is the first report since lifting of the barriers of Japanese interference with the entry of American owned merchandise into the Concessions. If continued and expanded, these restrictions on the movement of cargo may prove more obnoxious than the former barriers, since, as in the case of steel and wool, the goods will probably have to be subjected to military inspection before permits are issued.
Sent to Peiping. Repeated to the Department. True reading by mail to Chungking. Air mail to Tokyo.