393.115/402
The American Embassy in Japan to the Japanese Ministry for Foreign Affairs
The American Embassy presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has the honor to state that according to information received through the American Consul General at Shanghai, the nurses’ home and two residences on the compound of the Soochow Hospital, property belonging to the American Methodist Episcopal Mission South, were occupied by Japanese troops on May 30 last. The American Consul General at Shanghai has made representations to his Japanese colleague concerning this report of the recent occupation of additional American property.
The occupancy by Japanese troops of the American property under reference is unwarrantable and is contrary to the repeated assurances given by the Japanese Government that American interests and property would be respected. The American Embassy, accordingly, requests that the competent Japanese authorities will take urgent measures to cause the immediate vacation of this property. The right is reserved to claim compensation in full for all losses and damage sustained by the Methodist Episcopal Mission South and by the individual members thereof during Japanese occupation of the premises.