793.94/14361: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 16—6 a.m.]
731. Department’s 364, October 26, 7 p.m., and our 687, October 26, 8 p.m. Following is our translation of the Vice Minister’s reply to my letter of October 2769 with regard to the urgent request of the Japanese authorities that vessels of third countries withdraw from the immediate vicinity of Hankow:
“Ministry of Foreign Affairs, November 11, 1938.
My Dear Ambassador: I have carefully perused the contents of Your Excellency’s letter, dated October 27, setting forth your views concerning the urgent request for the withdrawal of naval and other vessels of Your Excellency’s country from the vicinity of Hankow at the time of the attack on and capture of that place by the Japanese armed forces. The urgent request of the Japanese authorities concerned at Shanghai of which you refer was made in an effort to do everything possible to avert the occurrence of unforeseen damage to [Page 203] naval and other vessels of third countries during the attack on junks which were known definitely to the Japanese military authorities to have a large number of Chinese soldiers aboard and to be brazenly swarming in the proximity of naval and other vessels of third countries. This, just as prior announcements of the Imperial Government which have frequently been made, was an act based upon the sincere wish for the preservation of the rights and interests of third countries and should, I believe, be so understood by Your Excellency.
The Japanese Government, considering the view expressed in the last part of the Minister’s official note, No. 97, Asia I, October 14, 1938,70 must endorse the action of the Imperial military authorities who, with the above-mentioned intent, made that urgent request.
As Your Excellency is aware, no unforeseen incidents involving vessels of Your Excellency’s country occurred. Sincerely yours, Renzo Sawada, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs.”
Repeated to Chungking, Peiping and Hankow.