793.94/10344: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 1—7:25 a.m.]
438. 1. Under the general authorization contained in the Department’s 240, September 29, 1 p.m. [midnight], I have today addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs a semi-formal note as follows:
“My Dear Minister: With reference to the assurances, both written and oral, which from time to time have been conveyed by Your Excellency to my Government62 to the effect that the bombing operations of the Japanese forces in China are aimed exclusively at Chinese military establishments, and that strict orders have been issued officers in the field that noncombatants as well as humanitarian and other non-military establishments are to be scrupulously and solicitously avoided, I consider it pertinent to bring to Your Excellency’s attention the substance of a telegram which I have received from the American Ambassador in Nanking reporting the bombing of that capital, as follows: So far as the American Embassy at Nanking is aware, the only establishments at Nanking which can warrantably be regarded as bases for Chinese military operations are establishments such as the military air field, arsenal and barracks outside the walls of Nanking. The term ‘military establishment’ cannot properly be applied to the Central University, the Central Hospital, the Ministry of Health, the Legislative Yuan, the Ministry of Finance, the National Economic Council, the Ministry of Education, and the electric light plant, all of which have apparently been the targets of Japanese bombing and some of which have been hit and damaged by bombs. The Central University has been bombed three times. It is also to be emphasized that bombs in certain instances have fallen within a hundred yards of the official residence of certain of the foreign diplomatic representatives in Nanking.
I am, My Dear Minister, very sincerely yours, Joseph C. Grew.”
2. Having received no information from Canton I am unable to bring to the Minister’s attention the facts concerning the bombing of that city conveyed by the British Ambassador to the Vice Minister (see our 436, September 30, 2 p.m.).63
Repeated to Shanghai.
- For Japanese note dated September 29, see telegram No. 431, September 29, 8 p.m., from the Ambassador in Japan, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 507.↩
- Not printed.↩