393.115/637: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:52 p.m.]
396. In connection with representations made to the Japanese Consul General here in regard to the bombing of American property located outside of this consular district, the Japanese authorities, who have heretofore not replied to such communications, have now commenced to do so. During the past week replies have been received concerning the bombing of the property of (1) Vongehr, Federal Incorporated as [at] Wanhsien (Tokyo’s despatch No. 3820 of April 12, 1939); (2) the Lutheran United mission and the Covenant Missionaries society at Fancheng and Hsienyang (my telegram No. 236, March 25, 1 p.m. and No. 227, March 22, 5 p.m.) and (3) the Covenant Missionary Society at Kingmen (my telegram No. 166 of February 28, 7 p.m.).67
All replies are noncommittal and unsatisfactory. They contain stereotyped references to the “precautions” taken by Japanese aerial units and refer to the difficulty in locating such properties because the markings are not large enough to be distinguished from a height.
Does the Department desire that I acknowledge these letters for purposes of record, pointing out their unsatisfactory nature? Copies of these replies are being forwarded to the Department, Chungking, Peiping, Tokyo, and Hankow.
Repeated to Chungking, Peiping and Hankow. Air mail to Tokyo.
- None printed.↩