793.94/16759: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State

1134. Department’s 443, July 30, 1 p.m. The Acting Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yamamoto, called on me at the Chancery in the Embassy at 11 o’clock this morning and said that they had just received word of damage caused to U. S. S. Tutuila during a bombing attack on Chungking by Japanese naval planes and that he had come on behalf of the Foreign Minister, Admiral Toyoda, who was absent from the Foreign Office, to express the deep regret of the Japanese Government at this incident. Up to the present, Mr. Yamamoto said, they had received no details.

I said to the Acting Vice Minister that I had just received instructions to see the Foreign Minister himself on this matter and that as soon as my instructions were ready I would ask for an appointment. In the meantime I said that I would withhold any comment but I expressed to him my appreciation of the courtesy of his call and expressions of regret. Sent to Department. Repeated to Shanghai for Chungking.

Grew