793.94/15575: Telegram

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

6. The French Ambassador18 in two strongly worded notes to the Foreign Minister19 on January 5 and 6 has protested against the bombing of the Yunnan Railway.

The first note directs the Minister’s serious attention to large scale bombing attacks on December 30, January 1 and 2, and emphatically points out the unfavorable effect on present efforts in Tokyo and Paris for the adjustment of relations between the two countries caused by this entirely unwarranted bombing of property constructed and operated by a French company. Assurances of the taking of measures to prevent occurrence of similar incidents are requested and reservation of the right to obtain compensation is made.

The second note states that a fourth bombing on January 4 makes even more urgent the issuance of stringent orders to cease such attacks and calls attention to the grave injury which will be done to the relations between the two countries by the continuance of such acts.

Sent to the Department via Shanghai. Shanghai please repeat to Chungking and Peiping.

Grew
  1. Charles Arséne-Henry.
  2. Adm. Kichisaburo Nomura.