On January 26, 1938, during the period of the Nanking Massacre, Allison, at the time consul at the American embassy in Nanjing, was struck in the face by a Japanese soldier. This incident is commonly known as the Allison incident. Japanese Consul-General Katsuo Okazaki "apologized formally on January 30 (after the Americans demanded they do so). This incident, together with the looting of American property in Nanking that took place at the same time, further strained relations between Japan and the United States, which had already been damaged by the USS "Panay" incident less than two months earlier."