793.94/4390: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:08 p.m.]
Foreign Office in a note dated February 22nd quotes the following report from the Magistrate at Wuhsien:
“On the morning of February 17, six Japanese airplanes flew to Soochow and circled about in the sky. Again at 4 o’clock in the afternoon five Japanese airplanes flew to Soochow. On the morning of the 18th three Japanese airplanes returned to Soochow and flew to the newly constructed airfield outside Fengmen and opened fire with machine guns.”
The note then proceeds:
I have the honor to observe that Soochow is a treaty port and many foreign businessmen have gone there and established legitimate business enterprises. The storage tanks of the Asiatic Petroleum Company and of the Standard Oil Company are extremely close to the aviation field.
At the present time, Sino-Japanese relations are becoming more acute and a Japanese aerial demonstration such as the above, terrorizing the regions adjacent to Shanghai, shows an intention to extend the area of the controversy. If any losses to foreign lives and property result therefrom, the Japanese must bear the entire responsibility and the Chinese Government will be in no way involved.
Aside from lodging a strong protest with the Japanese, I have the honor to bring the above formally to Your Excellency’s attention.”