I have the honour to state that the Japanese Government regrets profoundly the incidents of December 12th, in which British men-of-war,
the Ladybird, the Bee, the Cricket and the Scarab, were by mistake subjected to gunfire and aerial bombing by Japanese forces in the vicinities of Wuhu and Nanking, and to express herewith to Your Excellency on behalf of my Government its sincere apologies. I desire to inform Your Excellency that the Japanese Government has already taken the necessary steps to prevent the recurrence of an incident of such character, and to add that it will, upon the completion of investigations, deal appropriately with those responsible for the incidents, and also that it is prepared to make the necessary indemnification for the losses sustained by the British.
It is the fervent hope of the Japanese Government that the traditional friendship between Japan and Great Britain will not be affected by these unfortunate incidents.