793.94/16560

The Consul General at Shanghai ( Lockhart ) to the Secretary of State

No. 293

Sir: I have the honor, with reference to my despatch No. 28 (No. 18 to Embassy), November 5, 1940,25 on the above subject,26 to enclose a copy of a letter that the Japanese Consul General addressed to me on February 24, 1941.25

It will be noted that the Japanese Consul General stated that an investigation has revealed that “as there was something wrong with the apparatus for holding and releasing bombs, they fell wide of the target in the vicinity of the American Embassy and the American gunboat, unfortunately”. The Japanese Consul General also stated that he had been informed by the Japanese naval authorities that the Commander of the air force concerned had been advised “to take necessary steps to prevent the recurrence of similar accidents”.

Respectfully yours,

Frank P. Lockhart
  1. Not printed.
  2. “Dropping of bombs in the vicinity of the U. S. S. Tutuila and the American Embassy at Chungking in the course of Japanese air raid of October 25, 1940.” See Ambassador Grew’s representations on October 28, 1940, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 699.
  3. Not printed.