793.94/14971: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 8—5 a.m.]
361. Reference Department’s telegram No. 151, May 6, 3 p.m. I have consulted United Press and other correspondents and also examined local postscripts of the Press Bureau [Conference] of May 5th. The Japanese naval spokesman, Commander Mitunobu, answering questions, appears to have said that Japanese presumedly have instructions not to inflict unnecessary damage on foreign property but that when fired upon by Chinese batteries they must defend themselves, that if any foreign property was hit it is regrettable but unavoidable, that foreign authorities should see that Chinese defenses are kept away from foreign property, and when questioned what the Japanese would do in any future air raids he stated that if it is asserted that Japanese planes should not defend themselves it is tantamount to saying to the [Page 325] crews that they are to go up and be shot down without returning fire. A Domei News Agency report dated Tokyo, May 6, printed here on 7th, says “third power authorities were advised today by Rear Admiral Kanazawa, spokesman of the Naval Section of the Imperial General Headquarters, to prevent the Chinese from locating military establishments near foreign Consulate or other foreign property so that the latter might not suffer damage in air raids.”
Repeated to Chungking and Peiping. By air mail to Tokyo.