393.1162/2: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 14—4: 54 a.m.]
128. Supplementing my telegram number 126, March 13, 5 p.m.
1. Following received from Canto:
“March 11, 4 p.m. Letter received from Hainan reports American missionary, Thomas, accompanied by wife and several small children, was attacked by bandits on March 3rd while en route Hoihow from Kachek. All escaped without injury by hiding in rice fields. Chinese authorities showed justifiable annoyance that missionaries persist in residing in interior Hainan under present conditions.
[Page 700]Canton hospital strike situation still acute but there are some prospects of a satisfactory settlement. Strikers’ pickets continue to prevent food supplies entering hospital. American business manager, Auger, was arrested by pickets but was released within two hours.
Canton Christian College also in receipt of unreasonable labor demands.”
2. Regarding first paragraph, I strongly recommend that the Department take up with the interested missionary organizations the advisability of withdrawing their missionaries from the interior of Hainan in view of the impossibility of affording them protection during the present period of lawlessness.