AMERICANS IN JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23413, 21 August 1941, Page 5

AMERICANS IN JAPAN

RESTRICTIONS ON

DEPARTURE

JAPANESE SPOKESMAN’S STATEMENT

(Received August 20, 11 p.m.)

(U.P.A.) LONDON. August 20. “American diplomacy should hav# delicacy in handling the Far Eastern situation,” said Mr Ishii, spokesman for the Japanese Cabinet. The new restrictions regarding the entry, residence, and departure of foreigners applied to all aliens regardless of nationality and were comparable with similar legislation in other countries, in- < eluding the United States. .Mr Ishii said that no Americans would be permitted to leave unless the United States sent a ship. He claimed that the American Embassy had promised that only 22 officials would leave by the liner President Coolidga if it came to Japan, and then tried to send 100 civilians. Japan broke off tha discussions. A Japanese spokesman m Shanghai said to-day that the regulations under which the American citizens were being detained in Japan had no connexion with the present situation, and that they applied to' all foreigners. _ He said that it would be a bad bargain for Japan to detain 100 Americans when there were thousands of her own nationals in the United States. In Washington, the United States Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) said the conference between the United States Ambassador in Tokyo (Mr Joseph C. Grew) and the Japanese Foreign Minister, Admiral Toyoda, went beyond .the question of permitting American citizens to leave Japan, and explored the whole problem of American-Japanese relations, A complete and satisfactory explanation from Japan about its refusal to allow Americans to leave was still not forthcoming. Rumours of a barter agreement between Britain and Japan have been denied in London. The Japanese-owned paper, ‘Singapore Herald” said that a barter agreement between Britain and Japan through the Bank of England and the Yokohama Specie Bank was nearing conclusion. It provided for the exchange of materials which would not be Used for war purposes. Viscount Kano, manager of the London branch of the Yokohama Specie Bank, said that this report was without foundation. A British Official Wireless message says it is stated authoritatively that thfe rumours of negotiations for a par- . ter trade agreement between Britain and Japan have apparently arisen from the communication to the Yokohama Specie Bank of information as to the banking machinery it would be permitted to use in connexion with any movements of goods which might be licensed in the future. . The actual position is that in order to ensure that the effect of the freezing order will be fully maintained, frozen funds will not be' released to finance exports to Japan. If exceptional import licences are granted, payments will be made to a clearing account, the balance on which will be available only to pay for licensed 63 ?he t Japanese Government is to impose State control of sea communications, shipbuilding, and naval works. An official statement issued in Bangkok again denies that any demand! have been made on Thailand.