FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1934, VOLUME III



and American Governments and of safeguarding confidential com-
munication, the Department continues of the opinion that in this
matter the British Foreign Office is the logical place for central clear-
ing point.
  5. Department will, as soon as practicable, communicate with you
further. In the meantime, if you are not in agreement with the De-
partment's views, as indicated above, please submit your recommenda-
tions by telegram. If you feel that British plan should be followed,
please submit for Department's consideration the text or a summary
of such aide-memoire as you would wish to present to the Japanese
Government.
                                                        PHILLIPS

894.6363/146: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain
                           (Bingham)

                         WASHINGTON, December 10, 1934-8 p. m.
  428. Your 614, December 7, 7 p. m., and previous.
  1. Department had been given to understand from petroleum inter-
ests that the British and American companies in sending representa-
tives to the Far East desired of their Governments official assistance
in making contacts with Japanese officials, whereupon said represent-
atives would present their own case. Items in your 603, November
27, 7 p. m., tend to confirm that impression, especially your statement
that Orde seemed doubtful of the wisdom of making in the present
circumstances a further official demMarche at Tokyo. Department,
however, has received from Tokyo a telegram dated December 8 re-
porting that Clive had received from London a telegram dated De-
cember 5 "to the effect that the British Foreign Office has discussed
the general oil situation with a representative of the State Department
now in London who has concurred in" certain views specified; that
Clive is instructed to renew representations to the Foreign Office in
case Grew will take similar action; and that Clive has prepared a
lengthy provisional aide-menmoire the contents of which he has made
known to Grew in confidence and which Grew reports to Department.
Examination of this makes it clear that British Government en-
visages another dimarche in advance of special efforts by the repre-
sentatives of petroleum interests.
  From all of the above it would seem clear that there has not yet
been arrived at a clear, common understanding of what is envisaged
or intended. Department therefore desires that as promptly as pos-
sible there be communicated orally and informally to Foreign Office
the substance of the foregoing and that in so doing you point out that,
in the absence of explanatory comment in regard to the reasons for



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