1937-08-30 — Page 7

CHINA MAHAL

JAPAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER

RECEIVES BRITISH NOTE Awaiting Results Of Shanghai Investigation

FURTHER DETAILS

OF TEXT OF DOCUMENT

London, To-day.

A message from Tokyo states that after the British Charge d'Affaires had handed in the British Note on the Hugessen incident to the Japanese For- eign Minister yesterday afternoon, it is understood that Mr. Hirota indicated that a reply might be de- layed.

sen;

-HOSPITAL

SHIP ALLEGED ATTACKED

Shanghai, To-day.

The Japanese military authori- ties allege that the hospital ship Asahi Maru, on the way to Ja- pan from Shanghai, was fired on by Chinese snipers from Woosung village.

Three male nurses, it is alleg ed, were injured Renters

ACCEPTABLE

they were non-combatants.

The aircraft no doubt did not in- tend to attack His Majesty's Am- bassador as such. They apparently did intend to attack non-combatants and that suffices in itself to consti- tute an illegality. It is, moreover, pertinent to observe that in this particular case the Ambassador was travelling in a locality where there were no Chinese troops nor any actual hostilities in progress. No Chinese troops were, in fact, encountered by the Ambassador's party until about an hours drive from the scene of the attack.

this event.

and best established rules of inter-

WIDER SIGNIFICANCE national law that direct or deliber His Majesty's Government feel He pointed out that joint Anglo-Japanese in-ate attacks on non-combatants are they must take this opportunity to vestigation of the incident is proceeding in Shang-side or outside the area in which

absolutely prohibited, whether in emphasise the wider significance of hai and added that as soon as he was informed of hostilities are taking place.

It is an outstanding example of the results to be ex- the result he would communicate with the Charge NO PLEA OF ACCIDENT pected from indiscriminate attack d'Affaires.

from the air. Such events are in- (a) A formal apology by Japan the practice, as illegal as it is in-from this rule which applies

Aircraft are in no way exempt separable from the practice, as ule- to Britain;

human, of failing to draw that clear much to an attack from the air as draw that clear distinction between as gal as it is inhuman, of failing to (b) Suitable punishment for distinction between combatants and to any other form of attack. Nor can combatants and non-combatants in

those responsible for the at-non-combatants in the conduct -of tack on Sir Hughe Mont-hostilities which international law where the facts are such as to ternational law no less than the

Ja plea of accident

ent be accepted the conduct of hostilities which in- gomery Knatchbull-Huges no less than the conscience of man-show, at best, negligence and a conscience of mankind has always

kind has always enjoined."- Renter complete disregard for the sanctity enjoyed. (c) An assurance that necessary

of civilian life.

NO STATE OF WAR measures will be taken to: - FULL TEXT

In the present case, the facts The fact that, in the present case prevent a recurrence of in-

which have been recorded above no actual state of war has been de- cidents of such a character. The following is the full text of make it clear that this was no ac-clared or expressly recognised by The Note describes the Incident the Note from the British Govern- cident resulting from any normal either party to exist, emphasises as "inexcusable," and describes as ment to the Japanese Government on hostile operation and it should have the inexcusable nature of what irrelevant the question of the fag, the wounding of the British Ambeen obvious to the aircraft that occurred. whether it was large or small the bassador in Chinakk

they were dealing with non-com- His Majesty's Government must whole issue is that they were non- "The Japanese Government will be batants. The plea, should it be therefore request, combatants.

aware of the injuries sustained by advanced, that the flags carried on First, a formal apology to be ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED Sir H Knatchbull-Hugessen, His the cars were too small to be visible conveyed by the Japanese Govern- After requesting redress for the Majesty's Ambassador in China, as is irrelevant. There would have,ment to His Majesty's Government, attack on the British Ambassador, result of shooting from Japanese been no justification for the attack Second, suitable punishment Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen, military aeroplanes when motoring even had the cars carried no those responsible for the attack, the British Note to Japan states, with members of his staff from flags at all. “Although non-combatants, includ- Nanking to Shanghai on August ing foreigners resident in the 26 last. country concerned, must accept as!

*

Third, an assurance by the THE REAL ISSUE

panese authorities that the nec The foreign, even the diplomatic sary measures will be taken to pre- The facts were as follows: His status of the occupants, is also vent a recurrence of incidents of inevitable the risk of injury result- Majesty's Ambassador was proceed-irrelevant. The real issue is that such a character. British Wireless. ing indirectly from the normal ing from Nanking to Shanghai on conduct of hostilities, it is one of August 26 accompanied by the Mili- the oldest and best established tary Attache and the Financial ad- rules of International Paw that viser to His Majesty's Embassy and direct or deliberate attacks on non- a Chinese chauffeur combatants are absolutely prohibit The party occupied two black ed, whether inside or outside the saloon cars, of an obviously private area in which hostilities are taking character, each flying a Union Jack place.

GERMANY

approximately 18 inches by 12 in- When travelling in Germany and on German ships

Aircraft are in no way exempt ches in size on the rear side of the

from this rule, which applies as car projecting above the roof. At reduce your expenses considerably by carrying

much to attack from the air as to about 2.30 p.m. and about eight miles any other form of attack, nor north-west of Taitsang, that is, some can the plea of accident be ac-140 miles from Shanghai, the cars cepted where the facts are such were attacked by machine-gun fire as to show at the best negligence from a Japanese aeroplane. and complete disregard for the sanctity of civilian life."

FROM 200 FEET

The aeroplane which fired the ma- NO TROOPS IN VICINITY", chine-gun dived from the offside of After further referring to the the car at right-angles to it. This illegality of attack on non-combat was followed by a bomb attack from ants, the Note states, "It is per- the second Japanese aeroplane from tinent to observe that in this para height of about 200 feet The ticular case the Ambassador was Ambassador was hit by a nickel- travelling in a locality where there steel ballet subsequently found............ în were no Chinese troops nor any ac-the car, which p penetrated the side tual hostilities in progress.

of the abdomen and grazed the spine. No Chinese troops were, in fact, His Majesty's Government in the encountered by the Ambassador's United Kingdom have received with party until about an hour's drive deep distress and concern the news from the scene of the attack

of this deplorable event in respect of which they must record their "His Majesty's Government feel emphatic protest and request thef they must take this opportunity to fullest measure of redress. emp

ILLEGAL, INHUMAN

the wider significance of Although non-combatants, in-

cluding foreigners resident in outstanding example of country concerned must acce the to be expected from in- inevitable risk of injury resulting iminate attack from the air, indirectly from the norm conduct such events are inseparable from of hostilities, it is one of the oldest

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

Registered Reichsmark Travellers Cheques.

Substantial savings can also be made

remittances to students in Germany,

Let us make your travel arrangeme

Complete world-wide

NO EXTRA COST

aformation apply

THE AMERICAN EXPRESS CO., INC.

Hong Kong.

Des Voeux Road, Central.