394.1115/79a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
533. 1. You are authorized in your discretion to use, in whole or in part, the following information in discussions with the Foreign Office regarding the treatment of American citizens in Japan.
2. Japanese nationals desiring to leave this country are not being prevented from leaving, and since July 1, approximately 700 Japanese nationals have departed. Providing they comply with existing regulations, no obstacles are being placed in the way of 17 Japanese subjects, including a Japanese Government official and employees of Japanese commercial firms who now desire to depart on Japanese vessels from San Francisco.
3. At this time and under existing circumstances it is the Department’s practice not to refuse arbitrarily authorization for the issuance of visas to Japanese subjects. Each case is at present being considered on its individual merits and in the same manner as the applications of persons of other nationalities.
4. During the month of July the Department issued 11 diplomatic and 26 official visas to Japanese subjects. No applications for diplomatic visas were refused during the same period. From August 1 to 20 the following visas were issued to Japanese Government officials or members of their families: diplomatic, 1; official, 3; transit, 2.
5. The Department’s records indicate that since July 1 only one visa to a non-official Japanese has been refused among those cases on which final action has thus far been taken. Action has, however, in some instances been delayed. There are pending some 15 non-official and 5 official visa cases which are receiving the Department’s careful consideration. Three official visas during July and one during August were refused. Two transit certificates to officials were refused after August 1. These refusals were made not for the reason that the applicants are Japanese.