393.1164/33
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
Peking, June 8,
1926.
[Received July 14.]
No. 614
Sir: Referring to my despatch No. 498, of March
10, 1926,10 and previous
correspondence regarding the widespread character of the anti-Christian
movement in China, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a
note which I addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 7,
1926, protesting against the treatment which had been accorded to
missionaries and Christian converts in the district of Waichow in
Kwangtung. There is likewise transmitted [Page 710] herewith a copy of a further note dated May 22, 1926,
protesting against the continuance of the anti-Christian activity in
that region and also protesting against the anti-Christian agitation on
the Island of Hainan. As regards conditions in Hainan, I have the honor
to refer to the Department’s instruction No. 192, of March 30, 1926
(File No. 393.1162/6), transmitting a copy of a letter from the
Executive Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian
Church in America, stating that from the latest news received by the
Board all was well in Hainan. However, on May 10th the American
Consul-General at Canton reported that he had received a telegram from
the American Presbyterian Mission at Hainan that the Americans had all
left Kachek because of the unfriendly attitude of the Chinese people and
also that the mission at Nodoa was occupied by soldiers. This
information was transmitted to the Department in my telegram No. 205 of
May 11th, 11 a.m.11a On
May 18th the Consul-General at Canton again telegraphed that the mission
at Kachek had been entered and looted by an anti-Christian mob and
considerable damage had been done to the property. This information was
transmitted to the Department in my telegram No. 220, of May 20th, 4
p.m.11a The latest
news received from Canton in regard to Hainan is contained in a telegram
from the American Consul-General, dated May 31st, 5 p.m.,12 in which he
states that troops have finally evacuated the mission at Nodoa and that
Americans are prepared to leave Nodoa on short notice, if necessary.
However, he believes that they can safely continue to remain for the
present at Hoihow, which is the treaty port on the coast of the
island.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure 1]
The American Minister (MacMurray) to the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs
(Hoo)
Peking, April 7,
1926.
No. 203
Excellency: I have the honor to refer to my
despatch of February 10, 1926, regarding the increase both of
lawlessness and anti-Christian propaganda in China, and to inform
Your Excellency that I have received a report from the American
Consul-General at Canton describing the outrageous and insulting
treatment which is being accorded to missionaries and Christian
converts in the District of Waichow, Kwangtung, by Chinese troops
known as the “Whampoa Cadets”. It appears that on Christmas day,
1925, a large anti-Christian parade and demonstration was held at
Waichow by students [Page 711] and
soldiers. From that date up to the present, the missionaries of the
Seventh Day Adventist Mission at Waichow, together with their
students and native converts, have been subjected to all manner of
persecution by the soldiers. The walls, gates and buildings of the
mission have been written over with obscene pictures and characters;
students of the mission schools have been threatened and fired at
with blank cartridges; soldiers have been stationed at the mission
gates to prevent any one going into the mission, and workmen
employed by the mission have been threatened and beaten. The
American missionaries and their families have been constantly
subjected to insult and four of their chapels and schools have been
robbed and the furniture broken up by soldiers living in them.
I have the honor to request that Your Excellency will issue
instructions to the authorities concerned to cease at once this
persecution which is, as Your Excellency is aware, a violation of
international law and contrary to the treaties between China and the
United States.
I avail myself [etc.]
[Enclosure 2]
The American Legation
to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign
Affairs
No. 230
The American Legation presents its compliments to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, and has the honor to refer to the note of April 7,
1926, from the Legation, regarding the outrageous and insulting
treatment which is being accorded to American missionaries and
Chinese Christian converts in the district of Waichow, Kwangtung,
including the occupation of various of their chapels and schools by
soldiers. The American Legation now desires to inform the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs that it has received a telegram from the American
Consul-General at Canton stating that soldiers continue to occupy
these mission chapels. The same telegram reports that the American
members of the American Presbyterian Mission at Kachek, Island of
Hainan, have left that place because of the unfriendly attitude of
the Chinese people; and also that the compound of the American
Mission at Nodoa, Island of Hainan, is still occupied by soldiers,
in spite of repeated protests from the American Consul-General at
Canton. A later telegram reports that the mission at Kachek was
entered and looted by an anti-Christian mob and that considerable
damage was done to the property.
The American Legation must again protest in the strongest possible
manner against this continued ill-treatment of American missionaries
and their property.
