394.115 Panay/423: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
Tokyo, April 5,
1938—noon.
[Received April 5—2:34 a.m.]
[Received April 5—2:34 a.m.]
229. Our 227, April 4, 4 p.m.
- 1.
- This morning Yoshizawa gave us orally an explanation of the circumstances of the sending of his letter quoted in our telegram under reference: (a) Upon receipt of the Panay incident claim a committee composed of representatives of various government departments was established to take action on the claim. Owing to constant attendance of these representatives at the sessions of the Diet, the committee did not meet until last week, (b) The committee agreed that the claim would be paid “without haggling or quibbling.” (c) The representative of the Ministry of Finance however took the position that for purposes of accounting an itemized statement would be necessary.
- 2.
- Yoshizawa said that the question was raised in the committee whether the statement in our note of March 21st to the effect that the claim presented did not include any “punitive claim” indicates that the American Government intends hereafter to present a punitive claim, and that he expressed the opinion that the American Government has no such intention. He inquired of us whether we could confirm this opinion.
Grew