793.94/14970a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss)
151. A United Press despatch bearing Shanghai date line of May 5 reads in part as follows:
“A Japanese spokesman indicated today that hereafter Japan would not assume responsibility for the bombing of foreign properties, including consular buildings, in areas of China unoccupied by Japanese troops.
The spokesman said that Japanese pilots have been authorized to bomb any area in which there are Chinese defenses, regardless of the proximity of foreign property. He said foreigners should see that the Chinese keep their defenses a safe distance from their property”.
In view of the statements of the Japanese Consul General in his letter mentioned in your telegram of May 5, 4 p.m., to Chungking, the Department is inclined to doubt whether the above report is accurate and, if it is, to what extent it represents the official Japanese position. The Department desires that you make inquiries in regard to the reported announcement by the spokesman and report promptly by naval radio on the result of your inquiries in order that the Department may be in position to give consideration to bringing the matter to the attention of the Japanese Government.
Please mail copy to Tokyo by air mail.
Repeated to Chungking and Peiping.