REF ID:A4164JA7 

,., 

Week May 14 - 20, 1939· 

Foreign .Af'fairs--Before the House Appropriations sub-committee on the 

State Department, Secretary Hull testified that America's "vital interests 

are being threatened-in a nmnber of places and to an increasingly alarmi~/degree." So far as the_ printe~;.§._£.QR,C~r~d, Mr. HUl.l made 

1 ~o explanation of this conclusion. However, it is known that what he . 

V had in mind is the danger 01· war in Europe, which would gravely affect 

the united States, German and Italian diplomatic and propaganda activity 

in South ..AJJlerica, and Japanese opera ti. ons in China. 

* * * 

The F.ar East took first place in interest during the week as a 

result of Japanese occupation of the International t3ettlement at .Am.oy, 

undoubtedly intended as a precedent for like. action and control of the 

Internati onal_.Settlement at Shanghai. IIlllilediately following the J-apanese 

operation, the Marblehead and Bulmer landed detachments, and British and 

]·rench warships present followed suit. Simultaneously, the United States 

sent a str~~P!©J'~1,ecV~--~~~~?$.:E:U£. J:):·~_,_tAAt' Government 

~nere-v1s.~<?_~,.2LJP,e .. ~@.sl..].~@l-l.~tJ..sv;.1s -~~-!¥1l?~~m~.A:t .. of the adminis- t~ti ve machinery of !B~ S~an6!!ai Se~lement._ The abnormal conditions 

at Shanghai, in the view of our Government, totally lack a basis for a 

discussion looking toward an orderly settlement of the complicated problem3 

involved. It is appreciated that the international settlements in China, 

particularly that at Sharighai, present opportunities for inflaming relations between Japan and the western states, but their importance ror 

trading purposes is such that those states are determined to maintain the 

rights in connection with them which they now possess. 

@'pp roved for Release by NSA on 12-18-2014 pursuantto E .0. 1352a 
REF ID:A41641~.{/~ /l..t.C 

V."eels: ~ley 14 - ;:o , 1<:39 .. --:7 

J'oretgn M'!'sire--Betore the Rouse Ap;roprie.tions sub-committee on the 

State Department, Secretary Eull testified that A.~?.r!ca's •vital. interest• 

are being threatened in a number ot pla.ces and to an increa&ingly l?-ltU'mi:ng degree." So far aB the printed record is concerned, lllr. Hull :made 

no exple.nation ot this conclusion. HoweTer, it is knOYJn that what he · had in mind is the d&ugor of i.-ar in Europe, which ....ould gravely affect 

the united States, German and Italian diplomatic and propaganda activity 

1n South Alller1oa, e.nd J apenesa Qperati ons in China. 

* • :t:• * 

The Far East took fir!::t place in inter~st <luring the waek as a · 

reeU: .. t ot J'Apanese occupation or the Internationill. Set"tlG:.~eut ot J.¥toy. 

undoubtedly intended es e.. prec$dent for like action em~ con~rol of the 

International Set~lf.Gent a.t Shanghai. Im;.iedit..te.iy l~ollow.ing ~he J apunese 

o~oration, ~:Ua 2larblehead and Hu'.Uiler landed detacbments, ruici British end 

Irrench ~;&1•.:.l4pB 11rasent followed suit. Simul taneoualy • the United States 

sent a strong note to Jepan :rejacti:ag suggestions from. that GoverDI?lent 

for th• re.vision of the tend Reguletio:D.s end improve.11ent of the n.d!llinistrati ve 111aohinery of the Shanghai Settlement. 1'he a'bno~ conditions 

at Shanghai, in the view of our GoTe~ant, totclly lack e. be.ais for a 

diHcussion looking toward e.n orderly settlement ot the complicated problemJ 

involved. It is apvrecieted that the intern~tional settlemente in Chine., 

yarticularly that at Shanghai, present opportunities tor inflaming relations between Ja~lan enu tl~e western stete.::, but their importance ror 

trad1n~ pu.rposes is such that those states are dete~~ined to maintain the 

rights in connection with thm which they now :i;.osscss.