report states believe it highly important US-Japanese relations we
appear as solicitous re Japanese as re South Sea islanders.
11.
Dispatch March 19 contains the text of the Embassy's press re-
lease put out 6 FM Friday March 19,
"I have been pleased to learn
of the prompt action which is being taken by’ both Japanese and American
authorities to provide the most effective possible medical and technical
assistance to those affected by the accident which befell the Fukuryu
Maru.
This assistance is being offered out of humanitarian concern
for the injured crew members and concern for the public safety,
I
wish to renew the assurance already given that US civilian and military
personnel and facilities in Japan are available to give the greatest
possible degree of assistance to the Japanese authorities who have
already shown themselves alert and vigorous in dealing with the problem,
Our joint investigations of the incident are already well under way,
and will, I believe, lead to
findings which we can both accept,
In
advance of those findings I am authorized to make clear that the US
is prepared to take such steps as may be necessary to insure fair and
just compensation if the facts so warrant."
The foregoing was read
to Vice Minister Okumura, who expressed gratification and believed
statement would have very helpful effect,
DOF ARCHIVES
55