Office of the Historian

893.7961/40: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State

Tokyo, September 21, 1938—2 p.m.
[Received September 21—6:36 a.m.]

613. Our telegram 580, September 6, 11 a.m.94 The Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs informed my British colleague on September 19 in answer to his inquiry of September 2 that if a civilian aircraft were known to be proceeding on legitimate business the mere fact that it had changed its course in order to elude pursuit by military aircraft would not in itself be regarded by the Japanese forces as a justification for an attack.

I agree with Craigie’s view that no useful purpose is likely to be served by pursuing legal aspects of this question.

Grew
  1. Not printed.↩