In view of the unlimited national emergency declared
by the President, he has today issued an Executive Order freezing Japanese
assets in the United States in the same manner in which assets of various
European countries were frozen on June 14, 1941. This measure, in effect,
brings all financial and import and export trade transactions in which
Japanese interests are involved under the control of the government,
and imposes criminal penalties for violation of the order.
This Executive Order, just as the order of June 14,
1941, is designed among other things to prevent the use of the financial
facilities of the United States and trade between Japan and the United
States in ways harmful to national defense and American interests, to
prevent the liquidation in the United States of assets obtained by duress
or conquest and to curb subversive activities in the United States.
At the specific request of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek,
and for the purpose of helping the Chinese Government, the President
has, at the same time, extended the freezing control to Chinese assets
in the United States. The administration of the licensing system with
respect to Chinese assets will be conducted with a view to strengthening
the foreign trade and exchange position of the Chinese Government. The
inclusion of China in the Executive Order, in accordance with the wishes
of the Chinese Government, is a continuation of this government's policy
of assisting China.