893.00/10051: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
442. My number 425, June 4th, 6 p.m. Following reply, dated June 6, was received by the dean of Foreign Affairs [diplomatic body?]: [Page 238]
“I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of June 4th addressed to Chairman Tan Yen-kai. Its contents have been transmitted to the Nationalist commanders at the front. In reply I wish to state that the Nationalist Government have always been concerned with the safety of foreigners in China and to assure you that proper measure[s] for maintaining order in Peking-Tientsin region have already been taken. Some arrangement will therefore be made for the peaceful withdrawal from Peking of General Pao’s men. (Signed) Y. L. Tong”.76
Following telegram[s] sent today by the dean to Tan Yen-kai, president of the Executive Council in Nanking, and also to Commission[er] of Foreign Affairs at Shanghai.
Message number A:
“On 5th June I had the honor to express on behalf of myself and our colleagues of the diplomatic body the wish to Your Excellency that General Pao’s force, after having accomplished its mission to protect the safety of Peking, would be enabled to withdraw peacefully.
On 6th June I was happy to receive the telegram communication from Mr. Y. L. Tong to the effect that some arrangements would be made for the peaceful withdrawal of said force.
The force left Peking yesterday, June 8th, but could not proceed further than Tunghsien, 16 miles from here, where the commander of the Kuominchun troops informed them that no further guarantee could be assured.
They returned to the eastern suburb of Peking, where we understand that they are at the moment being subjected to pressure to disarm by local commander of Kuominchun army.
As the good faith of the Nationalist regime is involved in the fulfillment of the promise made, I have the honor to request most urgently that instructions be issued at once that safe conduct be assured to General Pao Yu-lin and his men as solemnly promised by the Nanking Government.”
Number B:
“Referring to my telegram of this morning June 9th, the apprehensions therein expressed have unfortunately been justified, as Pao’s men have since, been disarmed and made prisoners on the direct orders and responsibility of General Han Fu-chu77 in disregard of the solemn assurance of the Nationalist Government.
Accompanied by my American, British and Japanese colleagues, after consultation with the Committee of Safety, I visited General Han at his headquarters this afternoon.
Despite the statement in your telegram of June 6th that the contents of my message to you had been transmitted to the commanders at the front, General [Han] denied having received any orders whatsoever with regard to the peaceful withdrawal of General Pao and his troops; and despite the fact that yesterday he had sent one of his staff officers to accompany and assure safe conduct to General [Page 239] Pao and his men, he further denied having sanctioned any arrangements to that end.
We read him the words of your assurance regarding peaceful withdrawal as contained in your telegram and endeavor[ed] to impress upon him that it was his plain duty to do nothing incompatible with the carrying out in good faith of the pledge of the Nationalist Government.
The Nationalist Government will wish to know the above faction [facts?], the right of which we do not doubt, that [and?] they will be anxious to expedite the necessary orders to insure the fulfillment of their pledge.
The issue at stake is [a] very grave one and we are loath to believe that the Nationalist Government will be slow to rectify an act that impugns their honor in the eyes of the whole world. (Signed) Oudendijk, Netherlands Minister and Dean of the Diplomatic Body.”