Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1939, The Far East; The Near East and Africa, Volume IV

393.115/662: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Japan (Dooman)

Washington, June 15, 1939—4 p.m.

163. Your 241, May 22, 6 p.m., paragraph 2.

1. More than 3 weeks have elapsed since the delivery to the Foreign Office of our note of May 22 in regard to the bombing of American properties in China. There have occurred during that time seven reported instances of Japanese bombing operations in which American property was damaged or seriously endangered and American lives jeopardized: (a) May 23, American Evangelical Mission, Shiuhing, Kwangtung (Canton’s 62, June 10, 1 p.m.); (b) May 24, Southern Baptist Mission, Laiyang, Shantung (Chefoo’s June 8, 4 p.m.); (c) May 25, Methodist Mission, Putien, Fukien (Foochow’s May 26, 11 a.m., and May 27, 11 a.m.); (d) May 26, Southern Baptist Mission, Chengchow, Honan (Chungking’s 354, May 30, 9 a.m.; this is the fifth reported bombing of this mission); (e) June 9, Methodist Episcopal Mission, Chungking (Chungking’s 370, June 9, 8 p.m., and 375, June 10, 2 p.m.); (f) June 11, Chengtu, West China Union University in which American mission interests participate and on whose grounds an American citizen was injured (Chungking’s 378, June 12, 11 a.m., 380, June 12, 2 p.m., 384, June 13, 10 a.m., and Hankow’s June 14, 10 a.m.);⁹¹ (g) June 11, Chungking, dropping of numerous demolition and incendiary bombs at random throughout the city, some of which fell near the American Embassy offices, the American gunboat, residences of officers of the Embassy and in the immediate vicinity of the Standard-Vacuum Oil Company installation (Chungking’s 381, June 12, 11 a.m.).

2. The first four of the instances listed above occurred within 4 days of the delivery of the note of May 22 and it may be that sufficient time had not elapsed for the Foreign Office to cause new instructions to be issued to the Japanese military in the field. As, however, the other instances occurred more than 2 weeks after the delivery of our note of May 22, and as the previous instructions which the Japanese Government has stated it has issued to the military in the field have not been effective in preventing the continued bombing of American properties, it is the feeling here that it would now be opportune to make public, the texts of our note of March 30⁹² (Embassy’s 156, March 30, 8 p.m.), the Japanese reply of May 17 (Embassy’s 238, May 19, 4 p.m.⁹³), our representations of May 11⁹⁴ (Embassy’s 219, May 11, 5 p.m.⁹⁵), and our note of May 22⁹⁶ (to which no reply has as yet been received). Having in mind your suggestions in this connection contained in your telegram under reference, the Department desires to have, before it comes to a definite decision on this point, an expression of your opinion as to whether publication of the texts in question would now be advantageous.

3. In view of the continued bombing of American properties the Department requests that (a) you call as soon as practicable on the Foreign Minister and lodge orally an emphatic protest against the continuance of these bombings; and (b) in the event that you recommend publication now of the texts in question, you request during your call at the Foreign Office permission without delay to publish the Japanese note of May 17.

Repeated to Peiping and Chungking.

Hull

91. Telegrams not printed.
92. Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 643.
93. Ibid., p. 649.
94. See memorandum of May 11 and annex, Ibid., p. 646.
95. Not printed.
96. Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 650.