393.115/765: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 6—8:05 a.m.]
580. We received simultaneously this afternoon six notes from the Foreign Office answering some nine separate protests which we have made concerning damage to American interests in China. These replies conform to the pattern of previous notes and reiterate the contention that every possible precaution is being taken by the Japanese authorities to protect foreign interests. They express regret for the “accidental, unfortunate occurrence which is of a type entirely unavoidable in the prosecution of warfare”. The occurrence is said to result from one or several of the following causes: (1) Poor visibility; (2) close proximity of the property to important military objectives or emplacements; (3) insufficient markings.
In one instance, bombing on June 25, 1939, of the American Dominican Mission at Kienow, Fukien, the existence at the time of the raid of any markings of foreign property is denied. Such markings were later on July 14 observed to have been hastily constructed. One other case, shelling of the United Brethren Mission Hospital at Siulam, Chungshan, Kwangtung, is said to have been settled locally by the payment of a solatium.
Repeated to Shanghai. Shanghai please repeat to Chungking, Peiping, Canton.