393.115 Standard Vacuum Oil Co./256: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:33 p.m.]
293. The local representative of the Standard-Vacuum Oil Company has today received the following telegraphic message dated June 23 from the Ichang Office of the firm: [Page 884]
“Meilu and pontoon bombed today by Chinese planes. Many killed. Heavy damage. Water supply pump burned out. Please protest.”
The Embassy is today transmitting a formal note to the Foreign Minister83 protesting the alleged attack, requesting an investigation, reserving all rights, and asking that steps be taken to prevent repetition of attacks on American properties in Ichang.
The Meilu, small river vessel owned and operated by the American company, has been tied up at Ichang for some time. The local representative assumes that those killed include Chinese residents of whom there were reported to be 2500 in the installation and on vessels of the Standard-Vacuum Oil Company as late at June 19.
Sent to the Department. Repeated to Peiping, Hankow, Shanghai.
- Wang Chung-hui.↩