FO371-23514 — Page 73

Page 73

Page 73

261

COPY.

TRANSLATION. No. 30.

From Minister for

Foreign Affairs.

Your Excellency,

23rd February, 1939.

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of Your Excellency's ote No. 41 of the 21st February regarding the incident in which bombs were dropped by Japanese aircraft on a train within the Hongkong Leased Territory on that day.

I immediately referred the contents of Your Excellency's Note to the Imperial authorities on the spot with instruc-

tions to investigate the facts. According to their report,

it is a fact that a disaster occurred in that aircraft of

the Imperial forces while engaged in a bombing attack against defeated Chinese troops in the neighbourhood of Shumchun on the morning of the 21st February, dropped bombs by mistake within the Hongkong Leased Territory in close proximity to

the Chinese border. I am informed that the Imperial military authorities on the spot have provisionally conveyed an expression of apology to the British Consul-General at Canton through the Imperial Consul-General there.

The Imperial Govemment hereby express their profound regret that such an incident should have occurred and I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that after a strict investigation the necessary disciplinary action will be taken against those who committed this serious mistake and that

appropriate measures will be devised to prevent the recurrence

of incidents of this kind. Furthermore I intend to bring about a settlement through immediate negotiations between the British and Japanese authorities on the spot with regard to the payment of compensation for damages and other matters.

I avail, et cetera.

thes

His Excellency

(Sga) HACK IRO ARITA.

Min ster for Foreign Affairs. (L.S.)

Sir Robert Craigie, K.C.M.G., C.B...

Page 73

Page 73

Page 73