393.1153/20: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:45 p.m.]
580. Your telegram 242, July 26th. Following is being sent to the consulate general, Shanghai, for transmission to the Nationalist Minister of Foreign Affairs:
“His Excellency Dr. C. T. Wang, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nationalist Government of China, Nanking:
Excellency: I have the honor to invite your attention to the failure of the Nationalist Government to fulfill the promises made by it on several occasions to evacuate all American property which has been occupied by soldiers or others and to take steps effectively to prevent any further cases of this kind. In spite of these assurances only a portion of properties have been evacuated and in numerous instances even additional property has been seized. For example the cathedral of the American Church Mission and other American properties in Nanking itself are all according to my last information in the possession of various military or administrative bodies of your Government. While on July 6th an American consular officer when passing through Nanking and visiting the American consular premises found them occupied by approximately one hundred soldiers. Among other instances the American Southern Presbyterian Mission at Hsuchowfu reports that more and more of its property is being taken; at Tsining where Dr. Seymour was murdered the mission buildings after being once evacuated were reoccupied and at Shuntefu the American Presbyterian mission buildings were seized in May and according to last information have not been returned. It has also been reported to me that the occupation of additional properties at Nanking and Chinkiang is contemplated. In these which are only a few among many instances and in virtually all other cases of this nature American property has been treated as though it were that of an enemy country at war with China rather than as the private property of the national of a friendly country, the full protection of which is elements of [elementary] responsibility of the governmental authorities of China.
The American Government has throughout displayed the greatest forbearance in these matters, not desiring by overinsistence upon its rights to hinder the efforts at reunification of China and constantly hoping that a change would soon occur and that the several assurances already referred to would be made good.
The continued retention of American property in many places and fresh occupation in others—especially the continued occupation and misuse of the American consulate at Nanking has created a very unfavorable impression throughout the world and has painfully disappointed the American Government. As a consequence of this situation I have been directed by the Secretary of State to make strong representations in this connection and to inform Your Excellency that it is expected that in evidence of the good faith and political competency of the Nationalist Government no more American [Page 252] properties will be occupied and [that] such [as are] already occupied will be restored to those rightfully entitled to possession and free use.
I avail myself of this opportunity to extend to Your Excellency the renewed assurance of my highest consideration.”