Japanese Ambassador waits to apologize
Japan’s Response
Speedy Apology
Without waiting to receive a formal demand from the United States government, the Japanese Government presented the United States Embassy with a note expressing their apologies, stating that they will pay full compensation, punish all officers concerned, and that strict orders were given to ensure further incidents did not occur.
Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs called upon Ambassador Grew immediately after the sinking of the USS Panay to offer his sincere apologies and that Japanese planes sunk the American vessels while following fleeing Chinese soldiers. He also stated that Japanese Admiral Hasegawa accepted full responsibility for the accident.
Also Japanese Navy and War Ministers sent to the
United States Navy and War Departments their expressions of
regret for the grave incident.
Official Japanese reports state that the Japanese pilots did not
see the United States Flags flying on the vessels. It also
reported that the Japanese had received information stating that
Chinese soldiers retreating were on board the American vessels
and the pilots attacked because they thought they saw Chinese
soldiers on board the American vessels.
Japanese Ambassador waits to
apologize
Admiral Punished
Commanding Officer of the Japanese Naval Air Force in China, Rear Admiral Mitsuzawa, was found responsible for the attack on the American Vessels. The Japanese Government dismissed Rear Admiral Mitsuzawa from his command and he was returned to Japan. Also the Emperor of Japan, Hirohito, received Japanese Naval Minister, Admiral Mitsumasa Yonai, in a private audience. The details of the audience was not reveal; however, it could be assumed that the Emperor of Japan discussed the Panay incident with the Naval Minister.
Japanese People Demonstrate Concern
The Japanese people should they concern and demonstrated their feeling of regret for the unfortunate sinking of the American vessels by stopping American citizens in the streets of Tokyo or stopping by American businesses to express their person sorrow for the Panay incident.
A Japanese citizen that read the newspaper Nichi Nichi stated
that the Japan should build a replica of the USS Panay and
present it to the United States as a token of good-will. He also
stated his belief in the friendship between the Japanese and the
Americans would result in friendly resolution to the situation.
by Peter Bugler, May 6, 2001