393.116SP92/146: Telegram
The Second Secretary of Embassy in China (Smyth) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 18—3:10 p.m.]
170. American Presbyterian Mission in Nanking reported today that it had received a report from Chinese members of the mission at Tungtsing, Kiangsu, on the motor road from Nanking to Wuhu, stating that on the afternoon of October 15 more than 10 Japanese soldiers under the command of an officer drove up to the mission property in a truck, tore down the American flag flying over the chapel and burned it, then drove away in the direction of Nanking.
On August 31 this office took up with the Japanese Consulate General here a case of unauthorized entry into this property by Japanese soldiers and on September 7 that office informed us in writing that “the military police reported to me that a notice has been affixed in Japanese to make the protection of the property doubly sure.” This notice was shown to the Japanese soldiers by the mission members on October 15 but the soldiers disregarded it, stating that the Japanese flag should be flown.
I addressed a note today to the Japanese Consul General here, communicating the report of the mission, requesting that a prompt investigation be made and asking that this office be informed of the resume [result] thereof. I stated that, if the investigation should confirm the report of the mission, I felt sure that the Japanese authorities would wish to offer an expression of regret over the desecration of the American flag.
There are no Americans on the property at Tungtsing but the mission here has complete confidence in the integrity of the Chinese members who reported the incident. The Japanese military, however, refused to accept the word of a reputable American citizen in the case of Dr. Thomson some months ago and there seems but little chance that they will accept the word of Chinese in the present case. I consider nevertheless that the matter should be pressed.
Sent to Shanghai, repeated to Peiping.