394.1123 Thomson, J. C./6: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 20—6:30 a.m.]
392. Department’s 199, June 18, 4 p.m., assault on Dr. J. C. Thomson in Nanking. Appropriate representations were made by me in an interview with the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs today supported by an aide-mémoire. I took occasion to add that irrespective of the results of an investigation my Government feels that the causes and circumstances which give rise to such incidents might readily be prevented if the Japanese military authorities at Nanking were to impress upon Japanese soldiers the importance of maintaining toward American nationals an attitude of civility. I spoke, furthermore, of the deplorable effect on American public opinion and therefore on Japanese-American relations of such incidents, pointing out that they inevitably served to set back whatever favorable effects were created by recent signs of a desire on the part of the Japanese Government to give greater consideration to American interests in China.
The Vice Minister expressed himself as in full concurrence with this view and promised an immediate investigation of the Thomson case.
Repeated to Shanghai for Hankow and Nanking.