811.015394/35: Telegram
The Third Secretary of Embassy in China (Allison) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 15—2:40 p.m.]
58. My 57, February 15, noon, and Shanghai’s 257, February 14, 8 p.m. Mr. Fukui called just after my number 57 had been sent and [Page 267] made a similar statement regarding the desired form of expressing regret for the desecration of American flags as Mr. Okazaki made to Mr. Gauss. He said he wished me to report to my Government that the Japanese authorities had a sincere desire to bring about a speedy settlement of the matter but that I must understand that it was necessary for the military to make investigations into the truth of the charges. Because of this sincere desire for a speedy and local settlement the form of regret as outlined by Mr. Okazaki had been evolved and he hoped it would prove satisfactory to the American Government.
I told Mr. Fukui that I could understand the wish of the military authorities to make an investigation but I could not understand why such an investigation had not been undertaken when the first reports of desecration had been submitted to the Japanese Embassy by local American residents. Mr. Fukui gave no adequate explanation as to why this had not been done.
Sent to Embassy, Hankow. Repeated to Shanghai.