393.1163Am3/75
The Consul General at Hankow (Lockhart) to the Minister in China (MacMurray)81
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a copy of a letter which has recently been received from the Right Reverend E. T. Sheehan, concerning the occupancy of Catholic Mission property in I Yang, Kiangsi, by Chinese soldiers, together with a complete file of the correspondence in the case,82 as indicative of the action taken by the Consulate General to obtain the return of the property to the mission.
In this connection the Legation’s attention is respectfully invited to the Consulate General’s despatch L. No. 765, dated July 18, 1929,82 and particularly to the last sentence of the subject matter thereof wherein it was stated that “missionary interests in this consular district feel rather strongly that the National Government is utterly indifferent to this evil and that the Nanking authorities should now demonstrate their sincerity by adopting effective measures to abolish [Page 471] the practice.” By way of suggestion, it has occurred to me that the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the National Government may wish to make public pronouncement of the National Government’s policy to restore to the owners all foreign occupied property, as conveyed to Mr. Perkins in the conversation which served as the basis for the Legation’s telegraphic instruction of February 20—6 p.m.83 I may add that conditions in this consular district with respect to the occupation of American property by Chinese soldiers and officials are extremely deplorable and are showing no improvement. It is true that it is generally possible to obtain the removal of the troops after about two months of negotiation with the local authorities but in most cases their removal is actually merely due to military maneuvers and often means that one property in one place is vacated and another in some other city or village is occupied.
I entertain the hope that the Legation will find an opportunity to impress upon the National Government the seriousness of the situation, so that the government may institute effective remedial measures.
I have [etc.]