393.115/403
Memorandum by the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
In an interview with the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Horinouchi, today at 3.45 at the Foreign Office, I took up with him and left notes covering the following subjects:
Return of American Citizens to their property in China.
I left with Mr. Horinouchi our signed note no. 945,45b informing him that the Department proposes to release immediately to the press the text of this note and adding that the effect of this publicity might be favorably offset if the Japanese Government were promptly to assure us of positive and favorable action by the Japanese military to meet our desires by removing the obstacles mentioned in our note. The Vice Minister replied that he would do his best but made no commitment. I told the Department that I felt that the publication of the note is desirable.
Assault on Chinese under American flag on launches Texaco One and Dahlay.
Vigorous representations were made as desired by the Department in our signed note no. 943.*
Bombing of Lutheran United Mission, Chumatien, Honan.
Representations were made in note verbale no. 947.†
Bombing of Southern Presbyterian Mission, Haichow.
Representations were made in note verbale no. 946.‡
Bombing of Mission, Nantungchow.
Desired representations were made in note verbale no. 942.§
Bombing of Southern Presbyterian Mission at Sutsien and Hwaian, Kiangsu.
Representations were made in note verbale no. 944.ǁ
In delivering to the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs today our various notes dealing with injuries by Japanese forces to American interests in China I took occasion to point out in emphatic terms the cumulative effect of these injuries on public opinion and feeling in the United States and expressed my earnest hope that the assurances given me today by the new Minister for Foreign Affairs that he would “guarantee the protection of American interests in China” would promptly bear fruit. The Vice Minister examined our several notes [Page 595] reporting the bombing of American Mission property and surmised that the Japanese planes had not been able to discern from the air the American flags and markings. At this point I stated in no uncertain terms and in the strongest language at my command that his suggestion was astonishing and totally unacceptable. At the request of the Japanese authorities themselves and notwithstanding the absence of any obligation whatever on the part of the Americans involved, the position of American property in China had been clearly designated and the desired markings by American flags had been carried out. The responsibility of avoiding those locations devolved exclusively on the Japanese forces. The excuse which the Vice Minister advanced of possible poor visibility could not for a moment be accepted by my Government and it was certainly not an excuse which would appeal to the American people, both of whom are becoming increasingly concerned at Japanese depredations carried out in complete disregard of contrary assurances repeatedly given us. The Vice Minister made no comment.
- Note dated May 31, 1938, p. 764.↩
- See Embassy’s despatch no. 2903, of June 8, 1938. [Footnote in original; despatch No. 2993 not printed.]↩
- See Embassy’s despatch no. 2996, of June 8, 1938. [Footnote in original; despatch and note verbale under reference not printed.]↩
- Embassy’s despatch no. 2995, of June 8, 1938. [Footnote in original; despatch No. 2995 not printed.]↩
- Embassy’s despatch no. 2992, of June 8, 1938. [Footnote in original; despatch No. 2992 not printed.]↩
- Embassy’s despatch no. 2994, of June 8, 1938. [Footnote in original; despatch and note verbale under reference not printed.]↩