793.94/9558: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
158. Nanking’s No. 485, August 21, 1 p.m. is repeated for communication by you to your German, British, French, and Italian colleagues, as follows: [Page 274]
“485, August 21, 1 p.m. Ambassadors of Germany, Great Britain, France and Italy in Nanking decided to ask through me their respective colleagues in Tokyo to inform Japanese Government that Japanese airplanes have twice dropped bombs inside the walls of Nanking, causing apprehension for the safety of their staffs, archives and of themselves. They believe that in order to relieve this anxiety on the part of the representatives of friendly powers whose duty requires their presence in Nanking, Japanese Government may desire to instruct Japanese bombers to avoid operations in the area outlined by a line from the Hansimen gate to the circle (Hsinchiehkou), thence to Peichiko (Meteorological Observatory), continue the line to the wall and follow the wall north to the point on the Yangtze located at the railway ferry. The area to the north and west of the line including the Yangtze and Hsiakwan from that point upstream to a point near Hansimen gate to be immune from attack. This line would include Yangtze River between city and Pukow where foreign naval and merchant vessels are anchored.
Communications between Nanking and Tokyo now consume 2 days. In view of this it is requested that the Department repeat this message to Tokyo for action.”
The Department approves of your associating yourself with the diplomatic representatives mentioned in making appropriate representations to the Japanese Government in accordance with the foregoing.