393.1163 Am 3/500: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 23—5:30 a.m.]
277. Department’s 115, April 15, 5 p.m., bombing of American properties at Linchwan and Chihkiang. Emphatic oral representations were made today to the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs58 with whom I left a signed note number 1527 dated April 22. After reciting the facts of the bombing at Chihkiang and referring to the other bombing at Linchwan which was the subject of our note number 1523 of April 19 the note stated:
“Pursuant to instructions from my Government I formally and most emphatically protest against this attack upon and destruction of the mission hospital and the consequent endangering of American lives…59 and to point out with regard to these incidents the concern with which my Government views this recrudescence of bombing of American property in China. I cannot but emphasize the adverse effect that the continuance of such actions by the Japanese military must inevitably have on American public opinion and the seriousness of such contravention of the respect for American rights and property which the people and the Government of the United States justly expect from the agents of the Japanese Government, and of which the Japanese Government has given frequent assurances. I feel sure that Your Excellency’s Government will desire to issue the most stringent instructions in order effectively to prevent the repetition of any further attacks upon the properties of American institutions.”
The Vice Minister, in accordance with my request, promised to bring my representations to the attention of Mr. Arita and assured me that an investigation would immediately be made and that he would inform me of the result in due course. Tani made no effort to excuse or to minimize the gravity of the incidents.
Repeated to Peiping for Shanghai, Hankow and Chungking.