493.11 Shanghai/69
The Japanese Consul General at Shanghai (Ishii) to the American Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham)12
Sir and Dear Colleague: In view of the fact that the military operations which the Japanese forces conducted early in 1932 in and around Shanghai were without doubt caused by the unjustified attack made by the Chinese soldiers on the Japanese naval landing forces at the time the latter were about to be detailed for a duty in the area assigned to them as part of the concerted defensive measures arranged among the foreign forces interested in Shanghai, the Japanese Government, it goes without saying, are under no obligation whatsoever to pay any indemnity for damage sustained by persons belonging to any third country.
However, the Japanese Government, entirely apart from a sense of responsibility, have decided, ex gratia and as an exceptional measure, to give solatium to the nineteen sufferers belonging to the United States whose circumstances in respect to their losses are regarded as deserving special consideration in order that their sufferings may be alleviated even in a small degree.
With this view in mind, I have the honour to state that I am prepared to give solatium to the undermentioned American citizens and [Page 96] organizations, (a detailed and individually allocated list of which as well as the principle governing distribution of solatium are attached herewith13) provided that they will relinquish their total claim.
I have [etc.]