393.1163/422
The Consul General at Hankow (Lockhart) to the Minister in China (Johnson)35
Sir: I have the honor to enclose for your information a copy of a communication that has been received by this Consulate General from Reverend Casper C. Skinsnes36 of the Lutheran United Mission of Sinyangchow, Honan, in regard to the continued occupation of that mission’s premises by various hospital units of the Chinese army.
This case is again being taken up with General Ho Ying-ching, but it is not to be anticipated that his instructions will bring about the evacuation of the premises.
Although the higher government officials, when approached, insist that they have issued strict instructions to all subordinate units to refrain from occupying the premises of missionary societies, nevertheless, in many instances the officers of the units occupying mission premises maintain that they have definite orders to do so. It is believed that missionary societies in this Consular District will continue to have no freedom whatever from the continual and frequent occupation of their premises by Chinese troops unless strong representations made to the National Government may bring forth some new method of affording them the protection guaranteed to them by the treaties.
I have [etc.]