Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-07-14
u. 5. Regrets Sinking.
OF Relief Ship; Hopes
Shipments Won't Stop.

The United States is leaning
over backward to appease Japa-
nese feelings over the sinking
of the relief ship Ava Maru by
an American submarine in an
effort to assure continued ship
ments of relief supplies to Allied
prisoners held by the enemy.
The State Department announced
last night that this Government has
acknowledged responsibility for the
sinking; promised to discuss paying
indemnity; expressed deep regret"
in a manner coming close to an
apology, and is taking disciplinary
action against the submarine COM
mander.
In taking such steps, the an
nouncements said, the United States
was guided by the very real neces-
sity Of doing everything in its power
to insure that future shipments OF
food, clothing and medical supplies
to Allied prisoners of, war and civil
ian internees in Japanese custody
would be facilitated by the japanese
government"
Torpedoed in Fog.
The Japanese ship had delivered
relief supplies for Allied prisoners
to Singapore, Hong Kong and other
ports, and was returning to Japan
under an Allied safe conduct guar
antee when torpedoed In heavy fog
in the Straits of Taiwan about
midnight April 1.
In a note sent to the Japanese
through the Swiss government on
June 20, the State Department said:
THE commanding officer Of the
submarine did not see the Ava Maru
prior to or after she had been tor
pedoed, the attack having been
made by other means than visual,
which fact of itself diSproves the
charge that the attack was willful
and deliberate,
1t admitted, however, that since
the Ava Maru apparently was com
plying substantially" with condi-
tions Of the safe conductor pledge
against attack - agreement, the
burden of establishing identity was
that of the commander Of the Amer
lean submarine"
I'm view of his failure to do So" it
added, "the United States Govern
ment acknowledges responsibility
for the sinking of the vessel"
The Japanese were informed that
disciplinary action" Is being taken
against the submarine commander,
but the exact nature of this action
was not disclosed and the COM
mander was not identified.
Japan had demanded indemnities
for the loss of lives of the crew and
passengers, and for loss of the Ava
Maru and her cargo
The State Department suggested
that the matter of indemnity be de-
ferred until after the war, and
promised that this Government will
be prepared ito discuss all phases of
the question of indemnity and will
approach the question with an at
titude of complete fairness and with
out regard to the political situation
then existing"
In response to another Japanese
demand for a formal apology, the
American note said this Govern
ment has already officially ex-
pressed its deep regret that this
incident has occurred and that there
was such heavy loss of life in con-
nection Herewith"
999 Lives Lost.
The Ava Maru was carrying more
than 1000 passengers back to Japan
when sunk, and there was only one
survivor.
The State Department said inves-
tigation disclosed that the ship was
surrounded by fog, but that evidence
indicated she was showing the lights
prescribed by the safe conduct
agreement. 1t added that the Ava
Maru was about 8 miles off her pre-
scribed course, and about 80 miles
ahead of her predicted position. but
this was mot considered unreason-
able"
The food. medicine and other sup
plies for Allied prisoners deliv-
cred at southern ports by the Ava
Maru had been deposited by the
United States at Nakhodka, Russia,
under an arrangement for Japanese
ships to deliver them from there
under Allied safe conduct guar
anteeS.
The State Department announce
ment concluded that "the United
States Government in accepting re-
sponsibility for the sinking of the
Ava Maru hopes that the japanese
government win be willing to accept
further shipments of relief supplies
for distribution TO Allied nationals