493.11/2096: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
64. With a view to adopting a uniform procedure in the handling of pecuniary claims arising as a result of acts of Japanese forces the Embassy at Hankow is being instructed to repeat to consular offices in China the following:
[Here follows quotation of paragraphs numbered lst-5th of telegram No. 78, February 18, 7 p.m., printed infra.]
With reference to paragraph 1st, quoted above, Department considers that formal protests to the Foreign Office against acts of Japanese forces should be limited to important situations of a serious character and that in other cases the Embassy’s action be confined to a pro forma communication furnishing the Foreign Office with the information reported and requesting that the matter be investigated [Page 274] and the Embassy informed of the results of the investigation. The information thus obtained from Foreign Office should be communicated to the Department and, in cases in which responsibility is admitted, to the office reporting the incident.