793.94/15010: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 16—8 a.m.]
333. A United Press despatch with date line Washington, May 13, published here attributes statement to the Secretary of State concerning oral protest made by the Ambassador to the Japanese Government against bombing of cities including Chungking ending as follows: “Mr. Grew was also instructed to declare that the cities raided by Japanese bombers were unfortified.” The radio bulletin states that the phrase actually used was “unguarded localities”.
There are anti-aircraft batteries in the environs of Chungking. One that was near a large American mission property has been removed by order of General Chiang. Another is located on the south bank about 2 miles above two residences of the Ambassador and the staff. Contrary to the assertion of the Minister for Foreign Affairs in my May 10, 1 p.m.,66 members of the staff have heard from the staff of the British Embassy that there was an antiaircraft gun about 1 kilometer from that Embassy during the bombing of the 3rd but that it had been removed before the bombing of the 4th when the Embassy [Page 327] was hit. There was a military objective in the area north of the Kialing River burned in the bombing of [May 12]. These circumstances seem to the Embassy, however, to offer no justification whatever for the bombing of extensive business and residence areas in the center of the city on May 3 and 4 which localities were unguarded so far as the Embassy can ascertain.
Repeated to Peiping.