793.94/16074
The Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs (Arita) to the American Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
Excellency: I have the honor to state that I have carefully perused the contents of Your Excellency’s note dated June 15, 1940, in which you set forth the views of the American Government with regard to the advice contained in my note of June 14, concerning the withdrawal of American nationals at Chungking to a safe place during the present bombing of Chungking by Japanese military forces.
Chungking as the military and political center of the Chiang Kaishek regime is strongly fortified, and within and without that city there are grouped the Supreme Military Headquarters, every sort of government office, military affairs committees, Supreme National Defense committee, central military officers training school, and military arsenals, military uniform factories, arms and ammunition storehouses and other military buildings. In view of the fact that that regime using Chungking as a base of operations is waging war in resistance to Japan, the Imperial Army has lawful reason to destroy that base. Bombing attacks have been and are being continued, therefore, against those Chinese military emplacements. It need not be said that these bombing attacks cover a relatively large area owing to the fact that the objectives are scattered at various places inside and outside the city.
The Imperial Army and navy air forces have on each occasion before a bombing attack thoroughly investigated, on the basis of maps and other information previously received from third Powers, the existence, whereabouts, etc., of third Power interests and property, at the place to be attacked; and even at the cost of detriment to military operations have always carried out these activities with the greatest precaution to avoid causing damage to interests and property of third Powers. The Chiang Kai-shek regime, however, have on many occasions deliberately located their various military emplacements and other military establishments in close proximity to interests and property of third Powers. When making bombing attacks against those objectives, the Imperial air forces are always subjected to anti-aircraft artillery fire and attacking enemy planes against which they defend themselves. In such cases, therefore, damage may be caused to noncombatant Chinese nationals or to interests and property of third Powers by stray shells or some other aftermath of the bombing attack. Damage of that sort must be said to be unavoidable during such military activities, and is entirely uncontrollable. In view of the above situation, to say simply that the Japanese air forces are making indiscriminate bombing attacks is to ignore the justifiable activities and [Page 695] the spirit of the Japanese air forces, and is beyond the understanding of the Imperial Government.
The Japanese military forces will not hereafter relax their attack on Chungking. Extensive bombing attacks will be made on the various military organs and establishments of the Chiang Kai-shek regime inside and outside of that city in order to destroy completely those organs and establishments. The Japanese Government cannot accept responsibility for unavoidable damage which may occur as a result of these military activities. In this connection, the Imperial Government earnestly hopes that Your Excellency’s Government on its part, in consideration of the above possibility of unforeseen damage occurring, will give further profound thought to the remarks set forth in the Ministry’s previous note dated June 14, 1940.
I avail myself [etc.]