Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-07-11
JAPAN DEPLORES
INSULT TO FLAG
Foreign Minister Calls and
Expresses Regret
PREMIER ORDERS INQUIRY
Government Informs Diet It Will
Guard Against Further Incl
dents-shidehara offers
Apology.

Toxic. - The cutting down of
the American flag at the United
States Embassy here by a un-
identified Japanese was discussed
in the lower house of the Diet,
while it was officially indicated
that special meeting of the
Cabinet might be held to discuss
the affair. =
The matter was reported to Premier
Kato during a session of the House OF
Representatives. With Foreign Min
lister Shidehara and Home Minister
wakatsuki. the Premier Immediately
left the Chamber for a conference as
to what action should be taken. Fol
lswing the conference most
thorough police search for the man
who cut down the flag was ordered,
together with an investigation into all
phases Of the affair.
A formal statement of the incident
was issued by the Foreign Office 81
realize what the American flag means
to the American people" Minister
shidehara said in making public the
statement, xand we are most regret
full that this has happened
The Foreign Office statement read
"A man apparently about % years
old secretly entered the compound oil
the United States Embassy, stealthily
lowered the embassy flag and then
made good his escape. The action was
discovered by several policemen dis
patched thither In connection with
the antiAmerican demonstrations
which had been going on in the city
since morning Chase was given i'm
mediately. The police lost sight Of
the man they sought after hot chase
for a short distance. Thereupon po
lice authorities Immediately took
vigorous measures to restore order. A
thorough search for the malefactor is
being made"
81 regret this incident exceedingly
Minister Shidehara told Jefferson CAT
ferry, the American Charge d'Affaires
when the latter called to report the
matter to him. The baron added that
the affair was causing the Government
great worry as well as regret Premier
Kato, he said, had ordered, first, the
apprehension OF the nag cutter at any
price. and second. the most rigorous
police search and investigation.
81 hope that no American believes
this incident represents the sentiment
of any thinking Japanese or has the
approval of any member of our in
telligent OF responsible classes" BaroI
Shidehara concluded.
The remnants of the flag. now il
possession OF Charge Ceffery. show
that the flag proper was ripped with {
knife from the canvas band whereof!
1t wac Joined to the halyards. onil
one band was left, with few clinginl
shreds of the flag itself.
The police have forbidden publica
tion of the news in local newspapers
The discussion in the House Of Rep
resentatives followed the introduction
Of an urgent resolution changing tn,
order Of the day and permitting al
Interpolation of the Government OF
the flag Incident. The resolution wal
presented by Chu ii Shimooka. on'
time Vice Minister of Home Affair
and leader OF the Kenseikai, thu
strongest party in this Parliament.
1.-THE Government extremely regret
the United States flag incident" Homl
Minister Wakatsuki declared in reply
ing to the Interpolation. THE Gov
ernment will exercise increased pre-
cautions to guard against such Incl
dents in the future
Ir his address on the subject Shl
mooka expressed the regret Of tn
House Of Representatives that an.
such demonstration should have takei
place. He asked the Home Ministe
to explain "in order to avoid any mis-
understanding by the American pee
pie"