393.1164/262: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:55 p.m.]
500. My 494, June 12, 5 p.m.,85 regarding bombing of property of [West] China Union University.86 Written communication received from Japanese Consul General dated June 13 reads in part as follows:
“The main objectives of their attack were the headquarters of the Twenty-eighth Army and the offices of the Provincial Government, and they were satisfied to note that most of the bombs fell directly on or very close to the objectives. However, one of the bombs unfortunately went astray and hit a building situated in the central part of the premises of the West China Union University by mistake.
The circumstances in which the raid was effected was that, on approaching the town, the air units were met by a number of Chinese pursuit planes and also by barrages of fierce anti-aircraft fires, thus obliging them to carry on the bombardment at the same time dodging shellfire on the one hand and fighting with the Chinese planes on the other. As the Japanese naval authorities have been notified of the location of that University (your letter of January 5, 1939) in planning this attack they made most careful preparations and, moreover, in view of the fact that the region subject to aerial bombardment usually extends along the course of the flight, they chose such a course along which it should be least probable that any of the bombs would fall in the premises of the University.
The above accident nevertheless occurred, and, although this may be considered unavoidable at times in actual fightings, especially under the circumstances as described above, it is regretted that this unfortunate accident should have happened.
I should be grateful if you would be good enough to communicate the above to the American authorities concerned and also the Board of Directors representing the Missions.”
In reply to this letter I am stating that the contents is being brought to the attention of the American authorities; that it is incredible that this well marked property, maps of which were forwarded to the Japanese authorities here on January 5, 1939, in accordance with the instructions of the Embassy at Chungking, should have been bombed; and that according to information received from the Embassy at Chungking not one, but three bombs, were dropped on the University, causing extensive damage and seriously endangering the lives of a [Page 340] number of American citizens. I shall also reserve all rights in behalf of the American interests involved.
Repeated to Chungking, Peiping, Hankow. By air mail to Tokyo.