893.711/17: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
171. 1. Subsequently to despatching my telegram No. 165, March 11, 3 p.m., I received from the Consulate General at Tientsin, a despatch dated March 10, of which the following is a résumé:
Dr. Fox has received radio message from C. T. Wang at Nanking reading:56 “I am informed that postal facilities will be restored to the Star if you will write to the Central Executive Committee expressing regret for the publication in the Star on December 17th of the article by Mr. D. C. Biding [Bess], which was full of rumors.”
Fox states that he is unwilling to comply with the suggestion made in the message by Dr. Wang except under instructions from the American authorities. He points out that some time has elapsed since the postal ban was placed on the Star and the matter is in the hands of American authorities. In his opinion, to acquiesce in the suggestion made by Wang would be tantamount to acknowledging the correctness of the position of the Central Executive Committee in withdrawing postal privileges from the paper. He does not acknowledge that the Executive Committee or National Government were entitled to take such action and considers that not only American extraterritorial rights have been violated, but the most elemental principles of justice have been flouted. He is disposed, if postal privileges are restored, to publish an expression of regret, but he cannot follow the suggestion made in Doctor Wang’s radio message.
2. I have replied to the effect that “I cannot but concur in Doctor Fox’s [apparent omission] feels that acquiescence in this suggestion would be tantamount to acknowledging the correctness of the position of the Central Executive Committee in withdrawing postal privileges from the Star, in violation not only of existing extraterritorial rights but also of elemental principles of justice.”
[Paraphrase.] I then continued for the information of the Consul General as follows:
“Recently, when I was in Nanking, I took up, on March 7, at an interview with the Minister for Foreign Affairs the case of the North China Star. Dr. Wang plainly expressed to me his regret and chagrin at the action taken in this case and proceeded confidentially to inform me what had happened; namely, that a United Press story in the Star had been translated and brought to the attention of a principal leader in the Chinese Government, whereupon he was much incensed, and forthwith directed the Central Executive Committee to [Page 758] refuse postal facilities to the Star. This was done without any reference to the Councilor for Foreign Affairs or to any other appropriate authority; and so, having been done, to arrange a reversal presented very considerable difficulties. Dr. Wang, with surprising candor, acknowledged his own concern regarding the action against Dr. C. J. Fox, not only because of the consistently pro-Nationalist sympathies of Dr. Fox, but also because of the latter’s connection with the Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs, his usefulness to the Nationalist cause, likewise that of his brother Albert W. Fox in Washington, who both give publicity to such facts as it is desirable to have known. Dr. Wang was somewhat perturbed also because the United Press was involved indirectly in the affair. To me he conveyed the impression of being altogether sincere in his assurance that he would do his utmost, under the difficult circumstances, to have removed the causes of antagonism toward the American journalistic interests affected.” [End paraphrase.]
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