393.11/972
The American Minister in China (MacMurray) to the British Minister in China (Lampson)61
Sir and Dear Colleague: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of April 26th informing me that, in view of the recent disturbances at Changteh and reports that foreign life was in danger, a British Naval landing party from H.M.S. Widgeon proceeded there on April 18th in an armed motor-tug accompanied by Mr. Harding, His Majesty’s Consul at Changsha, who later reported to you that the party returned to Changsha on April 22nd bringing with them a number of refugees, including two American citizens, Mr. Tootell and Miss Jacobson, but that an American family named Wager declined to leave Changteh, although the situation there was disquieting at the time.
Please accept my warmest thanks for the very real service rendered by this British party to the American citizens concerned. I shall be grateful if you will express to Mr. Harding and to the British Naval authorities my appreciation of their services.
I avail myself [etc.]
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Minister in his despatch No. 2123, June 1; received July 5, 1929.↩