CHINA

MEASURES TAKEN BY THE UNITED STATES FOR THE PROTECTION OF AMERICAN

LIVES AND PROPERTY IN CHINA-Continued

Date and number

Subject

Page

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1931 Feb. 3 From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.) (10) To the Legation: Report of firing upon Yangtze Rapid

Steamship Company vessels at Temple Hill and other points. Feb. 4 From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.) (12) To the Legation: Report of firing upon the U.S. S. Oahu and

upon the Mei Lu.
Mar. 10 From the Minister in China (tel.)
(115) From Hankow: Report of a letter from Tvedt and one from

Nelson (text printed) telling of beatings at the inds of the
captors and their strong demands for ransom money. Sugges-
tion that a personal appeal to Chiang Kai-shek might stimu-
late the Chinese military to action or that the Department
might lodge a protest with Dr. Wu, the Chinese Minister in

Washington.
Mar. 10 Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs

of a Conversation With the Chinese Minister
Information for Dr. Wu that the American Minister in
China has been instructed to bring the matter of Nelson's
captivity to the attention of the highest Chinese authorities
and that the Department hopes that Dr. Wu will urge upon

his Government the importance of the matter. Mar. 10 To the Chinese Legation

Information of the treatment received by Nelson and Tvedt from the bandits, and expression of hope that the Chinese Government will make every possible effort to effect the re

lease of the men. Mar. 10 To the Consul at Nanking (tel.) (8) For the Minister: Instructions to make urgent representa

tions to the Foreign Minister with a view to effecting imme

diate release of Nelson and Tvedt. Mar. 11 From the Minister in China (tel.)

To Hankow: Information that Foreign Minister is telegraphing authorities to use all means to effect release of the

captives. Mar. 12 ) From the Minister in China (tel.)

From Hankow: Information that Skinsnes (American missionary) has been advised to send medicines and money, but

that bandit activities further complicate the situation. Mar. 14 From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.) (21) To the Legation: Report of Skinsnes' activities and of a

letter from Nelson expressing gratitude for the efforts to effect

his release.
Mar. 16 From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.)
(22) To the Legation: Promise of General Ho Chen-chun that

he would telegraph General Chao Kwan-tao to issue a permit
for Dr. Skinsnes' messenger to carry medicines to the brigands'
camp; belief that the only plan offering hope is sending money

and medicines.
Mar. 17 From the Minister in China (tel.)
(142) Information that the Foreign Ministry will permit dispatch

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CHINA
MEASURES TAKEN BY THE UNITED STATES FOR THE PROTECTION OF AMERICAN

LIVES AND PROPERTY IN CHINA-Continued

Date and number

Subject

Page

1931 Mar. 17

(23)

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Mar. 23

(27)

943

Mar. 26

(170)

944

Mar. 28

(173)

944

Mar. 30

(178)

From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.)

To the Legation: Receipt of telegram from Skinsnes (text
printed) reporting a letter from the captives as to their loca-
tion and state of health.
From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.)

To the Legation: Information that messengers carrying
money and medicines were robbed by comrades of the escort,
and that a brother of Nelson and two others have left for
Macheng with an escort.
From the Minister in China (tel.)

From Hankow: Telegram from Nelson's brother and his
party (text printed) reporting refusal of the Macheng author-
ities to do anything; opinion that more pressure should be
exerted from Nanking.
From the Minister in China (tel.)

(From the Counselor of Legation.) Information from the
Minister that he has sent a telegram to Hankow (text printed)
advising of the Foreign Ministry's promises to order an ad-
vance against the Red brigands to effect the release of Nelson
and Tvedt, and requesting Hankow's confirmation of General
Hsia's receipt of the orders and his action.
From the Minister in China (tel.)

(From the Counselor of Legation.) Hankow's telegram to
the Minister at Nanking (text printed), advising that Nelson's
brother has telegraphed from Macheng that General Hsia Tou-
ying has left for Hankow.
From the Minister in China (tel.)

(From the Counselor of Legation.) From Hankow: Tele-
gram to Nanking (text printed) advising of the impression that
the burden of rescuing the captives and suppressing the bandits
has been placed upon Generals Li Ming-chung and Ho Chen-
chun; belief that a drive will be started soon.
From the Minister in China

Review of correspondence and action taken in connection
with the occupation by Chinese troops of mission property in
Kiangsi and other places.
From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.)

To the Legation: Report of firing upon Iling above Ichang
and of rumors of fighting in Szechuan between Liu Hsiang and
Teng Shih-an factions.
From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.)

To the Legation: Report of higher demands by bandits for
the release of Nelson and Tvedt, and of plan for paying ransom
through secret agents on condition that the captives are de-
livered to a designated point first.
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs

945

Apr. 2

(182)

945

Apr. 2

(914)

Apr. 6

(32)

Apr. 7

953

Apr. 8

953

CHINA

MEASURES TAKEN BY THE UNITED STATES FOR THE PROTECTION OF AMERICAN

LIVES AND PROPERTY IN CHINA-Continued

Date and number

Subject

Page

954

954

955

956

957

1931 Apr. 9 From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.) (34) To the Legation: Report of firing upon the I ping by Govern

ment troops; opinion that an effort was being made to stop

the vessel for search for Communists.
Apr. 13 From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.)
(35) To the Legation: Details of the firing upon the Iping and

the casualties inflicted by the armed guard from the U. S. S.
Guam in returning the fire. Information that General Koh
has requested that representations be made to the American

Minister.
Apr. 13 From the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs to the American

Minister in China
Transmittal of telegram from the Ichang Area Garrison
Headquarters (text printed) concerning the I ping incident, and
request for U. S. investigation and assurance that such inci-

dents will not recur.
Apr. 18 | From the American Minister in China to the Chinese Minister

for Foreign Affairs
Reply to the Chinese representations concerning the I ping;
with explanation as to the firing by the armed guard; expres-
sion of regret for the incident, which was due apparently to a
misunderstanding and the lack of information regarding

Chinese procedure.
Apr. 18 From the American Minister in China to the Chinese Minister

for Foreign Affairs
Protest to the Chinese Government concerning the board-
ing and commandeering of a Yangtze Rapid Steamship Com-
pany vessel by Government troops, and request that instruc-

tions be issued to prevent recurrence. Apr. 20 Memorandum by the Minister in China

Conversation with the Foreign Minister, who was informed in an aide-mémoire of the capture by bandits of Esther Nordlund, an American citizen, and other missionaries.

(Footnote: Report as to release of the missionaries later.) Apr. 20 From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.) (38) To the Legation: Report of the release of Tvedt on pay

ment of $6,500 by mission authorities, and of prospect for early

release of Nelson. Apr. 21 From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.) (39) To the Legation: New demands of the bandits for gramo

phone records and other articles for the release of Nelson. May 1 From the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs to the American

Minister in China
Transmittal of another communication from the Ichang
Area Garrison Headquarters (text printed) concerning the
I ping incident. Reservation of right to claim indemnification

for Chinese losses.
May 4 From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.)
(43) To the Legation: Report that bandits have declined to re-

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CHINA MEASURES TAKEN BY THE UNITED STATES FOR THE PROTECTION OF AMERICAN

LIVES AND PROPERTY IN CHINA-Continued

Date and number

Subject

Page

1931 May 11

(46)

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May 20

961

May 24

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May 29

(49)

962

June 9

(328)

963

June 11

(54)

From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.)

To the Legation: Receipt of a telegram from Sungpu (text
printed) reporting delay of messengers; information that mili-
tary would not permit the delivery of materials for the ransom
of Nelson.
From the Consul General at Canton (tel.)

Report of fighting in Hainan and of British Consul General's
request for naval assistance.
From the Consul General at Canton (tel.)

Information that all American missionaries at Hoihow are
safe; that the British vessel Somme will remain at Hoihow
until the situation is normal.
From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.)

To the Legation: Information that the go-between has not
secured the release of Nelson but is returning to the bandits'
headquarters to insist on his release on the conditions pre-
viously named and met.
From the Minister in China (tel.)

From Foochow: Information that the Fifty-sixth National
Division is planning to make a stand against the Reds and
is outnumbered; request for a U. S. naval vessel at Foochow to
afford the Consulate some means of communication with the
Legation.

(Footnote: Dispatch of the U. S. S. Pillsbury to Foochow.)
From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.)

To the Legation: Information that Nelson is well, that
bandits have decided to keep him as an English teacher but
are making still further demands for various articles.
From the American Consul General at Hankow to the Chinese

Chairman of the Hunan Provincial Government
Account of the halting and boarding of a Yangtze Rapid
Steamship Company vessel under the authority of martial
law, of which no notification had been given; request that the
Consulate at Hankow be informed of search barriers or pro-
hibited sailings in Hunan Province so that American shipping
companies may be notified.
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs

of a Conversation With the Apostolic Delegate to China
Discussion concerning the safety of missionaries in China,
and related problems.
From the American Minister in China to the Chinese Minister for

Foreign Affairs
Reply to Chinese note of May 1 in regard to the I ping
incident; request for advance notice on the institution of new
procedure in order to avoid such incidents.
From the Minister in China (tel.)

Information that the Chinese Government has formally
fixed 12 nautical miles as a limit for the customs preventive
service; assumption that Department will wish the Foreign
Office to be informed that it cannot accept a unilateral claim of
sovereignty beyond the customary 3-mile limit.

June 16

964

June 23

965

969

June 23

(311)

970

July 8

(397)

CHINA MEASURES TAKEN BY THE UNITED STATES FOR THE PROTECTION OF AMERICAN

LIVES AND PROPERTY IN CHINA-Continued

Date and number

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1931 July 22 To the Minister in China (tel.) (238) Instructions (in reply to the telegram, supra) that for the

present no protest need be made. July 31 From the Minister in China to the Consul General at Nanking

Aide-mémoire for the Chinese Foreign Ministry (text printed) making representations in regard to the occupation and destruction of American mission property by Chinese

troops. Aug. 13 | From the Consul General at Nanking to the Minister in China (L-71) Delivery to the Foreign Minister of Department's aide

mémoire, with explanation that U. S. Government reserves the

right to claim damages for losses inflicted by Chinese troops.
Aug. 31 From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.)
(91) Report of Communist firing upon a Standard Oil Company

vessel and other Communist movements; opinion that the
situation at Hankow may require increase of American naval

forces for protection of Americans.
Oet. 17 To the Consul General at Nanking (tel.)
(94) For the Minister: Suggestion that on some appropriate

occasion the Nelson case be taken up with the Foreign Minis

try.
Nov. 25 From the Minister in China (tel.)
(1005) Information from Hankow that bandits consider Nelson a

very important person and believe that he or his mission could
raise an additional $50,000 if necessary; request of Consul
General at Hankow for authorization to send a communication
to the bandits minimizing the importance of Nelson and stating
that the American Government has never considered paying
ransom for Nelson nor for any other American citizen in China;
opinion of the Minister that this communication would be un-

wise, and request for Department's views.
Nov. 28 To the Minister in China (tel.)
(442) Department's opinion that communication should not be

addressed to the bandits by the Consul General but that it
might be addressed to Dr. Skinsnes, who might see that the
substance became known to the bandits. Caution against any
action that would lead the bandits to consider that the life and
safety of Nelson are not of concern to the American Govern-

ment.
Dec. 12 From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.)
(125) Report that Chinese soldiers of salt revenue guard boarded

American motor vessel Ifung, and that upon their refusal to

leave, American armed guard exploded tear gas bombs.
Dec. 18 From the Consul General at Nanking (tel.)
(128) Advice that Consulate General has circulated a letter to

American citizens in the Kiangsu and Anhwei areas, advising
them to retire from the interior unless, for exceptional reasons,

they believe protection can and will be afforded them.
Dec. 23 From the Consul General at Hankow (tel.)
(127) Information that no representations have been made by the

Chinese regarding the Ifung incident and are not believed
likely.

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