I have the honour on instructions from His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to inform Your Excellency that it has noted with appreciation the assurances contained in Your Excellency's note of December 28th in connexion with the attacks on British warships and merchant shipping on December 12th, and has learnt with satisfaction that the statements contained in your note of December 14th apply to merchant vessels concerned as well as to warships.
His Majesty's Government is bound to observe that its information in regard to the circumstances in which the attacks took place—notably, for instance, on points of visibility—is at variance with that of the Japanese Government.
His Majesty's Government notes, however, with satisfaction that the Japanese Government has taken or is prepared to take the necessary measures to deal suitably with the officers responsible for these incidents and to prevent any repetition. As regards the latter His Majesty's Government considers that the details of these measures and their effective application may suitably form the subject of further conversations in the course of which they do not doubt that they will be informed of actual steps decided upon.