793.94/6101: Telegram

The Consul General at Tientsin (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State

My March 21, 1 p.m. Further letter from Kautto dated March 24 states Japanese airplane visited Taitowying at 9 o’clock that morning and dropped a bomb within 20 feet of the northeast corner of Kautto’s residence, a foreign style house, landing just outside the compound wall, making two large holes in the wall and shaking brick from the chimney on Kautto’s house. Plane circled over the place for about 30 minutes before dropping the bomb. Soon afterwards another bomb was dropped striking about 20 feet from the southeast corner of the compound and breaking some window panes in mission building. An hour later another plane visited the city dropping two bombs. Kautto reports that altogether there were nine civilians killed including men, women and children. Presumably all were Chinese. Only Americans there are Kautto and wife who were uninjured. Commenting Kautto states:

“We have the American flag flying from our flagpole, yet these two bombs were scarcely out of reach of the compound, and while there are native holdings adjoining there was no particular provocative reason for their dropping bombs at either place, in fact no military advantage to be gained so far as we know.”

In lieu of representations to Japanese Consul General at Tientsin it would seem advisable that the Legation and/or Department might wish to make representations in appropriate quarters.

Lockhart