893.115/184: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 19—7 a.m.]
114. With reference to Tokyo’s 108, February 16, 7 p.m.,66 and Tokyo’s 113, February 17, 7 p.m.67 please see my telegram 77, February 3, 3 p.m. I shall instruct Consulates concerned to transmit to stations within their districts recommendations under (a). As regards supplying of maps, that is extremely difficult. Consulate General at Hankow is now beginning to receive maps from various places, but as senders of maps are not ordinarily acquainted with necessary requirements to make maps intelligible, many maps received are completely confusing as regards location of property. Furthermore it is becoming increasingly difficult to send and receive mail or telegrams in areas tributary to the Consulate General at Hankow. It is obviously impossible for us or the missions to prevent Chinese military from stationing themselves in the vicinity of such property. In the recent bombing at Chengchow which was apparently intended for the railway station, practically all bombs landed on buildings railway station area including American mission property without hitting railway station which is located in the very center of the hotel, banking and other activities of Chengchow. Nor is it possible for us to prevent use of beacons or flags by Chinese. Any reply which we send to the Japanese should include a statement that Japanese air forces should be instructed to make certain of objectives before dropping bombs.
Repeated to Shanghai. Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo.
- Not printed; but see Japanese note dated February 15, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, Vol. i, p. 583.↩
- Not printed; but see Japanese note dated February 17, ibid., p. 585.↩