393.115/424
The Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ugaki) to the American Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
Excellency: While informing Your Excellency that accompanying the extension of the hostilities in China the areas (excepting leased territories and international settlements of third countries, and areas in possession of the Japanese army) south of the Yellow river and east of a line connecting Sian, Ichang, Hengchow, and Pakhoi, constitute an area of active military operations, I have the honor to state that the Imperial Government desires to prevent, as far as possible, accidental injury to nationals of Your Excellency’s country, or their property, caught in the hostilities between the Japanese and Chinese forces.
In order that the realization of this desire may be assured it is urgently hoped that the points mentioned below will be carried into effect by the nationals of Your Excellency’s country and by those persons in charge of their property within the stated area, and it is hoped that the persons concerned may be promptly notified.
- a.
- Nationals, vessels, et cetera remaining within the stated area not to approach Chinese military establishments.
- b.
- Property of nationals in the stated area to be marked so as to be clearly visible from the air and from the ground, and at the same time notification of such property to the Japanese military authorities at the front to be expedited.
- c.
- Since, in event of the Chinese forces taking advantage of the property of nationals of Your Excellency’s country, the Japanese forces, being forced to attack, cannot accept the responsibility of protecting such property, arrangements to be made to prevent the Chinese forces from utilizing or approaching the said property.
With a view to preventing the occurrence of all kinds of undesirable incidents involving the nationals of Your Excellency’s country, I should like to add here that it is sincerely hoped (although the Imperial Government does not, of course, require it) that nationals of Your Excellency’s country living in the above-mentioned area who are able to leave, will, to as great an extent as possible, withdraw from the area of hostilities to safe districts.
[Page 603]Further, even outside the above-mentioned area the Japanese military forces must carry out bombardment of all kinds of important military establishments of the Chinese forces, and I shall therefore greatly appreciate a report of the location of any interests of Your Excellency’s country of which notice has not yet been received. At the same time it is desired that properties be so marked as to be plainly visible from the air. It is also requested that nationals be instructed not to approach Chinese military locations.
The past experience of the Imperial Army has been that often marks to be observable from the air have not been clear, and it will be appreciated if all such are made plainly visible.
The foregoing is based upon the sincere wish of the Imperial Government to avoid risk of occurrence of unpleasant incidents and disaster to nationals of Your Excellency’s country and their property in China, with the coming expansion of military activities. In regard thereto I have the honor sincerely to request Your Excellency’s full understanding and prompt consideration in the premises.
I avail myself [etc.]