893.00/8267
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (MacMurray)
Sir: The Legation is referred to the despatch dated January 21, 1927, addressed to it by the American Consul General at Shanghai in regard to the activities of the National Christian Council of China.74 It will be recalled that Mr. Gauss in this despatch dwelt particularly upon a manifesto issued by the Wuhan Chinese Christians, an English translation of which was published in the North China Daily News of January 19, 1927, and formed enclosure No. 2 with the despatch in question.
The Department was greatly interested in this despatch and its enclosures. It does not seem surprising, however, that a body of Chinese Christians should issue an expression of views highly nationalistic and even anti-foreign in tone. It would be more surprising, in the view of [Page 84] the Department, if the Chinese Christians were to adopt, together with their religion, what may be considered the foreign viewpoint on international matters.
The Department has noted with great interest a tendency on the part of Chinese Christians to assume an independent position in the conduct and management of the affairs of the religious bodies to which they belong. It is believed that a considerable element among the American missionaries believes that this is a normal development and encourages it.
In this connection, the Department would be glad to receive from the Legation any information that may reach it from time to time as to an increase in the degree of Chinese control over the property, the activities, or the policies of American missionary organizations. It would appear that by the common consent of the American missionaries and the Chinese Christians that provision of the treaties whereby the American Government would be authorized to make representations to the Chinese Government in regard to the persecution of Chinese converts on the ground of their acceptance of Christianity has become, in effect, non-operative. The Department, as a rule, does not desire to intervene on behalf of American concerns unless the latter are under effective American control and unless such intervention is specifically desired by the persons or organizations concerned.
The Department therefore desires to be kept informed of the progress of any progressive relinquishment by American missionary organizations to Chinese citizens of control over the activities of such organizations. Discreet inquiries will, from time to time, as opportunities offer, be instituted in the United States to the same effect.
I am [etc.]
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