793.94/9471: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 18—9:59 a.m.]
453. On August 15 I lodged a written protest against operations of Chinese aircraft in Shanghai on August 14th with consequent [Page 429] danger to American warships. This protest was in addition to protest against damage done in Settlement by bombs, bombs having fallen near U. S. S. Sacramento and U. S. S. Ramapo. I now have received following reply from Minister for Foreign Affairs:
“Replying to your letter of August 15th regarding the operations of Chinese aircraft in Shanghai on August 14th, which are alleged to have endangered some American warships and the power plant, I have the honor to state that instructions have already been given to the Chinese forces in Shanghai to avoid as far as possible any direct injury or damage to the persons or property, respectively, of other foreign countries. In this connection, however, I would like to make the observations:
The Chinese forces in Shanghai as well as elsewhere are fighting only in self defense—defense against a party who is not only taking aggressive actions on the territory of China, but has also violated all peace preserving treaties, including the Nine Power Treaty and the Anti-war Pact, of which all the powers chiefly interested in the present situation in Shanghai are signatories. In such a struggle, according to the simple dictates of justice, the party defending itself must at least have equal opportunity for legitimate operation as the aggressive party.
Prior to the outbreak of hostilities in Shanghai, the Chinese Government had already made it clear to the powers that, if the Japanese forces should use any part of the International Settlement as a base of operations or a place of retreat, then the Chinese defensive forces would be compelled to take all necessary measures against Japanese combatants in the Settlement, and that for all the consequences of such actions the Chinese Government could not beheld responsible.
The Japanese combatants are now still using Hongkew and Yang-tzepoo as their base of attack, while a large number of Japanese warships operating in the Woosung Harbor and along the Whangpoo River are continually bombarding the Chinese positions. Chinese aircraft in taking action against such warships have exercised utmost care to avoid unnecessary harm or danger to the ships or property of third parties. No attacks have been and will be deliberately made by any Chinese aeroplanes on any other foreign warships or property. It, however, due to the proximity of other foreign warships to the Japanese warships, any apparent danger has been unavoidably caused to them during the operations of the Chinese aircraft, it would seem that the best way of avoiding such a situation would be for the powers concerned to make the Japanese warships move out of the Whangpoo, failing which the warships and other ships of these powers would have to move out of the danger zone themselves.
We believe that the position thus taken by the Chinese Government is based on fairness and justice, especially in view of the fact that we are fighting for the security of Chinese territory, including the area of Shanghai.
Sincerely yours, Wang Chung Hui”.
Sent to Shanghai, Tokyo.