793.94116/70: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan ( Grew ) to the Secretary of State

424. 1. My British colleague informs me that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has expressed appreciation of the facts and figures and direct observations of the British Consul General in Canton concerning the indiscriminate bombing of that city which Craigie has periodically brought to the Minister’s attention. The Ambassador thinks that the true facts were obscured here and that the precise information which he has furnished to the Foreign Minister has resulted in more carefully controlled bombing operations.

2. In this connection Debuchi18 told me 2 days ago that the Foreign Minister had informed some 200 members of the House of Peers of the form and manner in which our representations concerning the bombing of Canton had been made (see our 368, June 9, 7 p.m.19) and that our procedure had created a very favorable impression. Obviously [Page 621] the only proper criterion of the value of such procedure lies in the results. We gather from widespread comments that our approach was listened to with considerable respect and that a liaison officer has been sent out to exert some form of greater control of future bombing operations.

Repeated to Shanghai for Hankow.

Grew
  1. Katsuji Debuchi, former Japanese Ambassador in the United States.
  2. Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 596.