394.112/75: Telegram
The Consul at Tientsin (Berger) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 18—7 a.m.]
189. My 186, August 15, noon.44 I have just received the following despatch dated August 17 from the Japanese Consul General:
“I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Berger’s letter of the 15th instant regarding an incident at the barrier on Asahi Road on the afternoon of the day in which Mrs. Frances M. Richard, an American citizen, is reported to have been struck by Japanese sentry, and to express, on behalf of the Japanese authorities concerned, our sincere regret for what happened, although there exists some inconsistency between Mrs. Richard’s statement published in the local press and the result of our investigations.
I am informed that the Japanese sentry in (question who had never caused any trouble nor received any complaint in his treatment of Americans in the past, has been duly dealt with in accordance with the military regulations, and that, in addition to those repeatedly issued, further instructions have been sent to all soldiers concerned to accord courteous treatment to all American citizens as far as they assume similarly courteous attitude.”46
Unless otherwise instructed by the Department I will consider this reply satisfactory and will take no further action in regard to this incident.
Repeated to Chungking, Peiping, Tokyo, Shanghai.