394.1123 Scovel, Frederick G./27: Telegram
The First Secretary of Embassy in China (Salisbury) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 20—11 a.m.]
380. 1. A secretary of the Japanese Embassy called this morning and read from a document received by that Embassy from its military authorities an expression of regret on the part of the Japanese military authorities for the wounding of Dr. Scovel. The incident is outlined in the document, all blame being placed on the “drunken” and “undesirable” Japanese soldier. It reports that regret was expressed to Scovel and his family by the Japanese authorities at Tsining and states that the soldier will be punished severely in accordance with the [Page 366] army’s laws and regulations. (The Secretary stated that we shall be orally informed later as to the punishment.)
2. A major of General Terauchi’s staff called this afternoon, with an Embassy Secretary, and expressed the regret of the Japanese military authorities for the wounding of Scovel. He offered a solatium of $400, to defray Scovel’s medical expenses. I thanked him for the expression of regret and for the offer of the solatium but requested him to withhold the solatium until it was learned whether Scovel wished to accept it. He finally consented to do so.
Repeated to Embassies at Hankow, Tokyo, Consul [at] Tsingtao and Shanghai. By mail to Tientsin.