Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1938, The Far East, Volume IV

494.11/04: Telegram

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

Tokyo, December 31, 1938—7 p.m.
[Received January 1, 1939—8 a.m.]

819. Our 809, December 27, 5 p.m.,⁶⁷ and previous on bombing of American property, and Nyhus case.

1. We have received from the Foreign Office a long note⁶⁸ which refers collectively to our various notes requesting that investigations be made of cases involving bombing of American property by Japanese airplanes. The note, with which there is transmitted a report in summary form of the results of investigations, refers to the impracticability of conducting investigations in areas not under Japanese occupation, repeats assurances that precautions are being taken to avoid attack on American property, and suggests that correspondence with respect to the incidents which arise be exchanged in China.

2. There was also received a note on the Nyhus case⁶⁹ which states that although a full investigation of this case cannot be carried out for the reason that Tungpeh is not under Japanese occupation “the Japanese Government is prepared to devise some method of providing a solution.”

3. These notes are being translated and will be telegraphed via Shanghai.

Repeated to Chungking.

Grew

67. Not printed.
68. See note of December 28, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 633.
69. See note of December 26, ibid., p. 632.