Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1940, The Far East, Volume IV

393.115/998: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State

Tokyo, October 1, 1940—4 p.m.
[Received October 5—8:10 p.m.]

924. I entirely concur in the suggestions contained in the fourth substantive paragraph of the Department’s telegraphic instruction No. 368, September 26 [27], 6 a.m. [p.m.] I am keeping a careful record of the bombings which have taken place since my personal and official notes on this subject reported in our 837, September 4 [14], 9 a.m.²⁵ were sent to the Foreign Minister, and shall report promptly to the Department, prior to discussion [of] the matter with Mr. Matsuoka, when in my estimation a reasonable time has elapsed to determine whether or not effective action is being taken by the Japanese Government to halt the bombings. In this connection I think it possible, bearing in mind the observation made to me by Mr. Matsuoka reported in the last paragraph of our telegram 878, September 22, 2 p.m.²⁶ that having taken the step of signing the tripartite alliance with Germany and Italy²⁷ desired by the extremists he may endeavor to curb these bombings.

The representations referred to in our 842, September 16, 5 p.m.²⁸ will be deferred pending receipt of clarification from Chungking of the points raised in the penultimate paragraph of the Department’s instruction under reference. It will be observed, however, from a reading of the text of our note of September 13, 1940,²⁹ regarding the ninth bombing of Methodist Episcopal Mission property at Chungking, which is being transmitted by radio in accordance with the Department’s instruction³⁰ (in plain language in a separate telegram²⁸) that it mentioned the ninth bombing of the property of the Methodist Episcopal Mission in Chungking without stating that property was all situated in one compound.³¹

Sent to the Department, via air mail to Shanghai. Shanghai please repeat to Chungking and Peiping via Naval Radio.

Grew

25. Telegram not printed; for the Ambassador’s notes of September 13, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, Vol. i, pp. 695 and 696.
26. For paraphrase, see ibid., p. 697.
27. Signed at Berlin, September 27; for summary, see ibid., Vol. ii, p. 165.
28. Not printed.
29. Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, Vol. i, p. 695.
30. Telegram No. 368, September 27, 6 p.m., p. 897.
28. Not printed.
31. In telegram of October 1, 5 p.m., the Ambassador in China listed 16 bombings of 5 different properties of the Methodist Mission, Chungking, in 1939 and 1940 (393.1163 M56/247).