793.94/4300: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 19—10:20 a.m.]
76. My 55, February 15, 5 p.m. Reply dated February 16 has been received addressed to the American Consul General and stating inter alia:
“Inquiries made in this connection at the headquarters of the Japanese 3rd Fleet have revealed that as for the machine-gun firing, the Japanese aviators did it due to their misconception that the spot where they used their machine gun was located outside of the defense [Page 393] area of the American forces, while as to the bombing, the shells accidentally dropped without the knowledge of the aviators due to a defect in the bomb rack of their aeroplane.
However, the Japanese naval authorities desire me to express to you their sincere regret for the incident and to inform you that most strict precautions will be taken in the future in order to avert danger to life and property in the Settlement.”