393.1123 Seymour, Walter F./21: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China ( MacMurray )
422. Your 858, December 5, 6 p.m.
- 1.
- The Department regards the reply of the Chinese Foreign Office as highly unsatisfactory but desires to modify your proposed statement on the Department’s behalf.
- 2.
- After recapitulating case you may add a statement substantially as
follows:
“I am instructed by my Government to state that the result of the investigation into Dr. Seymour’s death as given in Your Excellency’s note of November 27, 1928, is not acceptable to it. The testimony of eyewitnesses given to Chinese officers in high command, including General Sun himself, and other evidence point conclusively to the [Page 292] commission of a wanton murder. My Government would be reluctant to believe that the National Government is indifferent or that its responsible officials are unable to apprehend the criminals and administer justice. Nevertheless, it must come to one of these conclusions unless there is afforded without further delay satisfactory evidence that the Nationalist Government does not condone the offense and is willing and able to take proper action in the premises.”