Japan's Reply Accepted

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 79, 27 December 1937, Page 7

Japan's Reply Accepted

—Press Assn.-

PANAY INCIDENT CLOSED Faults Found By High U.S. Officials HASHIMOTO UNCHECKED

(By Telegraph-

— Copyright.)

(Received 27, 9.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Dee. 25. Barring further incidents and with the exception of the formality of ascertaining1 and collecting indemnities, the bombing of the Panay became a closed incident when Mr. Oordell Hull, Secretary of State, sent a Note to Japan accepting the reply conditional on the observance in future of United States rights in Ohina. Mr. Hull's Note described the Japanese actions against repetition of the incident only as "responsive" and did not make an issue o'f the Japanese assertion that the bombing was accidental. The Note merely stated the United States preferred to rely on its own naval report regarding the deliberate character of the attack and closed with what might be interpreted as a veiled threat — nainely an earnest "hope" against repetition of the incident. High Administration officials indieated that the Japanese Note was unsatisfactory in several important respects. In the flrst place it gave no hint that the Emperor Hirohito had interested liimself in any way over what official quarters in Washington consider the irresponsible acts of military and naval forces operating directly under his authority. Secondly, the Note's contention that the attack was an unintentional mistake directly conflicts with the reports of Lieutenant-Commander Hughes, of the Panay, and the Naval Court of Inquiry, following which it is felt in Washington that the attack was intentional. Thirdly, the Note does not mention the machine-gunning of the survivors making their way to the shore 'or the machine-gunning of the Panay. Fourthly, Japanese assurances that American nationals and American property rights and interests in China will be free from attack from now on are eonsidered unsatisfactory. Officials point out that the Note admitted thato previous similar orders to Japanese military and naval forces have been disregarded, and so there can be no assurance that th'6 new orders will be more elfeetive. Mr. G. A. Swanson, Naval Secretary, issued the Naval Board report of the Panay incident. It supplements Lieut.Commander Hughes 's report, supporting him and eyewiinesses in every detail. It points out that the Japanese knew four hours before the bombing that the Panay and the tankers whre to be anchored at the point where the attack occurred. Subsequently, in perfectly clear weather, the survivors were fired 011 by Japanese machino-guns, both aerial and from shore batteries, while Japanese boarded the Panay before the bombing. Considerable interest is aroused by a report from the Shanghai correspondent of the New Yoi'k Times, who says reports of Colonel Hashimoto's recall are unfounded. He is at present in the field actively engaged leading his troops in the advance towards Hangchow.