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Japanese Consul-General.
The Conference began by Colonel Neville giving the British version of the bombing, and handing a short written
account of it to General Tanaka.
General Tanaka did not dispute
our statements, but said he would like to give the account he had
The orders for the Squadron had from his own Squadron Leader.
He admitted
were for the main body to bomb Sham Chun and for one flight to
He said that one flight mistook bomb the Chinese Customs House. the river running from North to South for the frontier river and that they thought they were in Chinese territory. that bombs had been dropped in British territory and that machine-
He added that the Japanese had very in- guns had been used. different maps, and from the map which he produced there seems no Colonel Neville pointed out that reason to doubt his statement.
it was impossible for anyone to bomb a target situated in the position occupied by the Customs House without violating British territory. General Tanaka admitted that this was so.
The Conference then discussed the question of compensation. The Japanese seemed prepared to pay whatever we asked, provided it was perfectly clear that there would be no further claims for payment later. The Colonial Secretary reassured them on this point and the compensation was fixed at $20,000.
It was evident from the Japanese attitude during the conference that they fully appreciated that they were in the wrong, and they seemed only too anxious to make amends and get the matter settled and done with.
When saying goodbye General Tanaka asked that assurances should be given to General Grasett, that such a thing would rever occur again. They were not asked to give any written assurance, as it was thought that General Tanaka's word would be more likely to carry weight than any written document.
HONG KONG. 6/3/1939.