393.1115/2414: Telegram
The Ambassador in China ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 4—2:40 p.m.]
6. My 108, December 27, 11 a.m.93 Following memorandum was handed me yesterday by the German Ambassador:
“According to a telegram from the German Embassy in Tokyo, the Japanese Ministry for Foreign Affairs has pointed out that it would be nearly impossible for airplanes to distinguish foreign houses marked with flag and that in case of an air attack, the concentration of foreign nationals in said zones formerly mentioned would therefore be advisable.”
The telegram was in response to a message along the same lines as my 33, December 13, 4 p.m.,94 which the German Ambassador sent to Tokyo in which he pointed out immediately that many foreigners were living in houses likely to be with flags outside the notified area.
Sent to Peiping, Shanghai. Peiping please repeat to Tokyo.