793.94/12395: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 11—10:30 a.m.]
239. Referring to my 125, January 22, 1 p.m. concerning Wuhu incidents. Japanese Consul General has now handed me a letter with attached memorandum covering investigations made by consular and military authorities from which it appears that as to the flag incident they have been unable to find Japanese soldiers involved in the case. The memorandum shows that during a recent visit of doctor to Shanghai he told a Japanese consular officer that he did not personally witness the incident and that when he hurriedly arrived on the scene he failed to see any Japanese soldier in the neighborhood. As to the incidents involving American property, the letter states “the Japanese authorities have also exhausted every possible means of investigation in regard to these cases but they have so far been unable to find out the soldiers responsible for the incidents. I feel constrained however to express to you my profound regret over the prima facie involvement of Japanese soldiers in such incidents and to state at the same time that the Japanese authorities are ready to consider the payment of reasonable compensation for damages caused to such American property in Wuhu upon receipt of full details from the sufferers concerned.”
Repeated to Hankow.