The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-01-05
JAPAN OFFERS AN APOLOGY TO
 | UNITED STATES
Reports of Attack on American Consul Ex- plained-The Break Not Considered Serious

Tokio, Jan 5-(UP)-An apology and an unofficial suggestion of "a New Year Eve party were offered to-day after reports of an attack by armed Japanese soldiers of an American consul, considered by of- ficial Japan to be closed inci- dent"
 The apology of the Japanese con- sul at Mukden to Consul Culver B. Chamberlain and an official ex- planation of the incident forward ed to Washington led official sources to believe the incident was closed.
 Some reports however, indicated the apology" at Mukden was merely an expression of regret"
 The unofficial explanation of the beating given Chamberlain while he was proceeding in an official American automobile with full cre- dentials was that the soldiers may have celebrated the New Year too well.
 There were other unofficial ex- plantations, all of which minimized the seriousness of the incident. One of these was that Chinese agents had been using cars flying the American flag in efforts to pass sentries. and that Chamberlain had been mistaken for one. Another was that Chinese soldiers disguised as Japanese were the offenders. An other was that Chamberlain had tussled with the interpreter for the soldiers.
 Despite official assurances that the Japanese consul had apologized to Chamberlain, the. Mukden corre- spondent of the Japanese news agency Nippen Dempo reported that Consul Morishima expressed regret to Chamberlain that Japan csc soldiers had struck him but did not offer an apology.
 The government appeared to be anxious to avoid an official apology through the foreign office because the army refused to admit that the soldiers were more to blame for the incident than Chamberlain.
 The Tokio press aroused Ameri- can Consul-General Myrl Myers of adopting a Naughty Attitude" in the situation.
 Premier Inukai forwarded to Secretary of State Stimson, through Japanese Ambassador Debuchi at Washington, an official explanation of the incident. It was understood that the Japanese version stated that Chamberlain's automobile was stopped while flying the American flag because Chinese agents had been using foreign flags in efforts to pass Japanese sentries. :.
 The government explanation, 1t was understood, said that Cham berlain was slightly bruised after he showed the Japanese soldiers his Identification card. The American embassy was ad- vised that three soldiers attacked Chamberlain. Officials were not in- structed to protest to the foreign office. It was understood that all details would be handled at Wash. | ington.
 Reports to the newspaper Nich Nichi from Mukden said that au' thortties Investigating the incident could not find the guilty parties They were considering the possi' blllty that Chinese disguised a' Japanese soldiers committed thu attack, the dispatch said. o Peiping, Jan 5.--(UP)-Amerl can officials here did not regart the incidents as serious in whtcl Consul Chamberlain and Militar! Observer Lieutenant Harry Aldricl were involved in Manchuria. It was pointed out that Aldrich who appeared without warning from the Chinese lines aboard q Chinese locomotive, was treated handsomely under the circum. stances. He was taken to Japanese headquarters and released after be. | ing Identified.