Dec. 8 — Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr., issued last night a general order revoking all licenses for trade with Japan or any Japanese national. It read:
"All general licenses, specific licenses, and authorizations of whatsoever character are hereby revoked insofar as they authorize, directly or indirectly, any transaction by, or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, Japan or any national thereof."
The Treasury explained that no Japanese national bank, business enterprise or other organization now has the status of a generally licensed national, and that all are blocked under the freezing order. In that connection it named specifically the Yokohama Specie Bank, Ltd., and all its branches, the Bank of Taiwan, Sumitomo Banks of Hawaii, California and Seattle and Pacific Bank of Honolulu.
No withdrawal will be permitted from any account in any banking institution if Japan or any of its nationals has any interest therein. This applies to withdrawals for living expenses. Withdrawals from any safe deposit boxes by Japanese are forbidden.
No remittances can be made to Japan or any Japanese, no matter where they may be located. This includes remittances to United States citizens resident in Japan. No trade transactions in which Japanese nationals have any interest are permitted in any part of the world, including Latin America.
This, of course, automatically blocks the operation of all letters of credit which may have been issued to Japanese nations, wherever they may be.
