393.1164 Tungchow/16: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
Peiping, October 4, 1937—5
p.m.
[Received October 4—9:11 a.m.]
[Received October 4—9:11 a.m.]
616. Embassy’s 614, October 2, 4 p.m.79
- 1.
- Japanese military authorities at Tungchow handed October 3 to James Hunter of the American Board Mission $3000 local currency as solatium for damages to property; and the case is considered closed.
- 2.
- Delay has been due to difference of opinion as to what the amount of solatium should be and as to the presence or absence of Chinese on the property at the time the gate house was destroyed. Settlement upon the spot referred to in the Department’s telegram 289, September 29, noon, was repudiated by the Japanese headquarters at Peiping. Japanese then proposed solatium of $2500, which was eventually raised to 3,000 at the instance of the Embassy. This amount is satisfactory to the mission, although $432 less than the mission’s second estimate of damage done. Japanese military insisted until yesterday that Chinese soldiers were in the gate house, rendering necessary its destruction. A compromise was arrived at by the mission representatives admitting that Chinese soldiers may have been on the mission property at the time.
- 3.
- Letters were exchanged yesterday. Letter of the Japanese military states that damage of property was unavoidable because of presence [Page 363] of Chinese troops on the mission property; that the $3000 is a solatium; that neither party will bring any further complaints in regard to the matter; and that this settlement will not form a precedent in dealing with similar cases in the future. The letter of the mission’s representative accepts the Japanese explanation of the necessity of the Japanese military action which resulted in damage to the mission property, expresses appreciation of the granting of the solatium, and agrees that it is understood that neither party will bring further complaints in regard to the matter.
- 4.
- The mission representatives request that the headquarters of the mission be informed of the settlement.
- 5.
- Despatch follows.80
Lockhart