Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, 1929, Volume II

893.918/43: Telegram

The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State

Peking, July 31, 1929—6 p.m.
[Received July 31—12:40 p.m.]

657. On July 24th the American Peking editor of the Peking Leader,⁸⁰ published in English, was notified by local authorities that Ministry of Interior had ordered censorship of his paper.

No reason for order was given, but associate editor⁸¹ suggests it possibly is connected with a front-page news article written by him regarding the American Museum of Natural History’s forced abandonment of its Central Asiatic expedition⁸² as previously reported to the Department.

2. Following receipt of order, the paper has sent from it proofs to censor’s office, but these have promptly been stamped and returned. Editor states that there have been no suggestions that all or part of any material prepared for publication should be suppressed or altered and that he does not for the present at least propose to enter any formal protest.

3. Peking Leader is incorporated under the laws of Delaware, but its board of directors and stockholders are international in character, including Chinese.

MacMurray

80. Grover Clark.
81. E. W. Hunter, an American citizen.
82. Under the leadership of Roy Chapman Andrews of New York. See pp. 841 ff.