811.30 Asiatic Fleet/460: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to
the Secretary of State
Tokyo, July 17, 1938—1
p.m.
[Received July 18—6:45 a.m.]
473. At 11:10 this morning the Senior Aide to the Navy Minister, Captain
Kondo, stated the following to the Naval Attaché:
- “1. The Japanese naval authorities are extremely worried
over the presence of the U. S. S. Monocacy near Kiukiang. While they are taking all
precautions to prevent the recurrence of any untoward
incident, having in mind the extremely unfortunate Panay case, the Japanese naval
authorities request that in view of the impending heavy
fighting in and around Kiukiang, the Monocacy be for the present withdrawn upriver to
Hankow.
- 2. If this movement be impossible (as, for example, due to
mines or boom), the Monocacy’s
location be beforehand communicated to the Japanese
commander and the Monocacy be marked
or painted so as to be readily identified from afar (and
high aloft). In view of the Japanese Navy’s experience that
flags on masts or spread of awnings are not visible from
great heights, and as the river from a height appears white
and the color of a vessel’s hull therefore is difficult to
distinguish, the Japanese Navy desires that appropriate
distinguishing mark(s) be used by the Monocacy. It was suggested that a ‘wind sock’ or
flashed mirror (heliograph) be used in day and a search
light by night.”
The Naval Attaché states that Captain Kondo emphasized that the Japanese
(1) requested the Monocacy’s withdrawal, (2)
desired the Monocacy to be especially marked or
otherwise be made distinctly recognizable from afar (and from high
aloft).
Repeated to Shanghai for relay to Hankow and to the
Commander-in-Chief.
