793.94/10368: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 1—4:11 p.m.]
625. Your 403, September 30, 8 p.m.68 The Foreign Office informs me that they have received only a résumé of the Japanese Government’s reply to their representations regarding the bombing of Nanking. The Times of this morning, however, carries under a Tokyo despatch what purports to be the full text of the note in an official English translation furnished by the Japanese Foreign Office. The despatch states that the replies made to the British, American and French Ambassadors regarding the bombing of Nanking were identic. The telegram from the British Ambassador to the Foreign Office did not state that his reply was identic with any other. The British Ambassador’s résumé, however, checks with the text published in the Times this morning which I presume has appeared today in the American press. Following is résumé of note as published in the Times:
Since Nanking is central base Chinese military operations, it is unavoidable for attaining military aims of Japanese forces that military establishments and aerodromes should be bombed. They are not directed indiscriminately at noncombatants. Warning issued in advance to noncombatants is testimony to above statement. Japanese Government hoped British Government, fully understanding that Japanese forces are greatly handicapped in operations by giving advance notice requesting nationals of third powers to seek refuge, would be good enough to cooperate with Japanese Government. All responsibility for damages suffered by nationals of third powers as result of hostilities in China is repudiated.
- Not printed.↩