393.115/649: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 28—8 a.m.]
242. Shanghai’s 396, May 17, 2 p.m., and Department’s 183, May 23, 6 p.m., to Shanghai. Contrary to practice heretofore prevailing, Japanese Embassy here is now answering protests against bombing of American property.
Embassy is in receipt of replies, dated May 22, from the Japanese Embassy with regard to (1) the bombing of the Lutheran United [Page 332] Mission Hospital at Kioshan (Peiping’s 625, October 17, noon) and (2) the bombing of the Augustana Synod Mission at Hsuchang (Peiping’s 628, October 18, noon)77 These replies, from reports made by the “competent military authorities” (understood to be the Japanese military headquarters in Peiping), and in the opinion of this Embassy, are entirely unsatisfactory.
With regard to the hospital at Kioshan, the “authorities” are quoted as stating that the city, described as a basis of operations for Chinese troops moving southward along the Pinghan Railway was bombed from an altitude ranging from 2000 to 2500 meters. With regard to the mission at Hsuchang, they state that, although the city of Hsuchang was bombed from an altitude of from 800 meters to 1500 meters, their objective was “prevented by many scattered clouds”. Both replies mention poor visibility, “precautions” taken to avoid damage to foreign property, and terminated with the qualified apology that, if American property happened to be damaged, “the Japanese military authorities should express their deep regret for the occurrence of this unfortunate and unexpected incident”.
In the light of the Department’s telegram to Shanghai, mentioned in the opening paragraph of this telegram, this Embassy, pending receipt of instructions from the Department, will not acknowledge the receipt of these communications from the Japanese Embassy. Copies thereof will be forwarded to the Department by next pouch.
Repeated to Chungking, Shanghai and Hankow, by air mail to Tokyo.
- Neither printed.↩