393.1163 Lutheran Brethren/162
The Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Arita) to the American Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
[Translation]
No. 45, American I
Tokyo, March 1, 1940.
Excellency: I have carefully perused the
contents of Your Excellency’s note no. 1426, December 5, 1939, in which
it is stated that the property of the Lutheran Brethren Mission, an
American church, at Tungpeh, Honan Province, again sustained damage as a
result of bombing by Japanese planes on August 1, 1939. If damage was
sustained by the American church during the air raid, as I am informed
by Your Excellency, the actual circumstances thereof may be disclosed at
a later date when it is possible for the Imperial Government authorities
there to make an investigation on the spot. However, in the meantime, I
have the honor to forward the following addendum based on a report
concerning the circumstances of the bombing received from the
authorities of the Imperial Government in that area.
In regard to the case in which death and injury were inflicted on October
24, 1938, at the same place on the family of Mr. Nyhus, an American
citizen, as I have frequently stated in my note, the Imperial Government
is deeply regretful. I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that the
Imperial Government as an expression of sympathy had forwarded from the
Japanese Consul General at Shanghai through the American Consul General
there to the family the sum of U. S. $15,000.
I avail myself [etc.]
[Enclosure—Translation]
Addendum
There being indicated from the middle of July, 1939, that the enemy’s
so-called summer offensive was gradually intensifying itself, the
Japanese military forces routed the enemy forces infesting Mingkong
and Pinchangkwan and following this wiped out the western section of
Hsinyang. The said Japanese forces then attacked the main enemy
forces lurking in Tungpeh, Honan Province.
On August 1, 1939, the Imperial army air forces carried out a bombing
attack at an altitude of 1,000 meters on the western and southern
part of the city of Tungpeh. Although there were clouds on the west
of the Chikungshan mountain and along the Taipiehshan mountain on
that day and the entire area was covered with mist, visibility was
average and the conditions for recognizing objects on the ground
were also average. In spite of the fact that the air forces
conducted detailed reconnaissance flights before the attack, no
third-Power markings were recognized.
[Page 677]
It is needless to say that the bombing attack was carried out with
the enemy soldiers at Tungpeh city and not with the American church
as the objective. Therefore, if the American church sustained damage
during the attack, it is extremely regrettable, but such must be
regarded as an unavoidable accident caused by the close proximity of
that church to the enemy trenches and the lack of markings clearly
visible from the air.
