793.94/15798
The American Embassy in Japan to the Japanese Ministry for Foreign Affairs9
Pro Memoria
The Government of the United States has taken due note of the reply of the Japanese Foreign Office to the pro memoria left with the Japanese Foreign Office by the American Embassy on January 31, 1940, in regard to the bombing of the Haiphong Yunnan Railway.
In the circumstances under which the Japanese authorities are conducting military operations in China, the Government of the United States does not admit the relevancy to the question under consideration of the reference made by the Japanese Foreign Office to the Chinese-French Railway Construction Agreement of 1903, nor does it admit lack of responsibility on the part of the Japanese Government for any loss of American life, or damage to American property that may be caused by the current Japanese military operations in China. The Government of the United States hereby makes full reservations of its rights and of the rights of its citizens in the matter.
- Handed on March 11, 1940, by the Counselor of the American Embassy in Japan (Dooman) to the Director of the American Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Office (Yoshizawa).↩