756D.94/63: Telegram
The Consul General at Batavia (Foote) to the Secretary of State
Batavia, September 5, 1940—3
p.m.
[Received September 5—9:02 a.m.]
[Received September 5—9:02 a.m.]
Reference is made to my telegram of August 14, 2 p.m., and to Tokyo’s 761.57
- 1.
- The Japanese committee to survey the oil situation composed of Mukai, president of [apparent omission] and seven experts arrived at Batavia August 27 but have not yet contacted either the Government authorities or the oil companies, thereby indicating that they are awaiting the arrival of Kobayashi about September 12.
- 2.
- The local authorities have not received any indication of what may be demanded during the forthcoming conference although I have been given in confidence the general attitude of this Government which is said to be as follows: Van Mook, Director of Economic Affairs, will probably represent this Government. He has informed me that he will take a reasonable attitude toward reasonable things but that he will not agree to the following: (1) further concessions, (2) any attempt to link the yen with the guilder, (3) the injection of political questions during the conversations, (4) any control or inspection of harbors, navigation, imports and exports, production, or any other internal and external [function?] of this country, (5) desire of the Japanese to increase the number of Japanese subordinate personnel in their establishments in the Netherlands Indies.
- 3.
- Since my contacts are excellent, any comments which the Department may care to make would be helpful.
Foote