893.00/10978: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
577. Legation’s 567, July 12, 4 p.m.
1. Following is portion of statement dated June 25th just received [from] Reverend Thomas Lee and transmitted to Legation in mail despatch of July 5th from American Consul General at Hankow:58
“I was then led up the street a way where there was more speech making on the part of the Shen Tangpu, punished [punctuated”] with blows to my back and head with closed fists. I was marched through [the] principal streets with the Shen Tangpu leaders calling upon the people to see the incarnation of ‘imperialism’ and saying other things less complimentary. I was forced to go bareheaded so that the people might clearly see the ‘yellow-haired dog.’ Through the whole procession I was surrounded by student guards armed with poles, who also hung onto my arms and clothes in several places, not even permitting me to raise my hand to my head.
[Page 147]In another group Deaconess Thone Sandland was being led along and subjected to the same treatment, while in a third group Mr. Kwo, the Chinese evangelist of this district, was subjected to much disgrace.
When I returned to the mission compound a large Pujo [poster] had been put up in the compound and vile things were written with chalk on doors and walls. Several locks had been wrenched or broken from doors. During the rest of the day the compound was constantly visited by younger students who seemed to delight in calling ‘Yangtze [yang] koei tzi’ ‘yang ko’.”
2. Following is portion of another mail despatch of the same date from the American Consul General at Hankow with regard to attacks upon foreigners in Szechuan:
“Respect for foreigners formerly so noticeable in China seems to be decreasing in Szechuan, and the following extract from the letter of a missionary located at Suifu is quoted as of possible interest.
‘Attacks on foreigners are getting rather too thick for comfort. Three Missionaries have been attacked within 5 or 6 weeks. Mr. Bride and men captured by bandits and held for 17 days; a Kansu American missionary robbed and stabbed during his sojourn in Chungking, and now this attack on Doctor Stubbs.
Since the Chinese Government “abrogated extraterritoriality,” four missionaries in Szechuan have been attacked, two American, one Canadian and one Englishman. Three of these were maliciously stabbed and the other was threatened with all sorts of torture in addition to the suffering he was subjected to. It does not look very favorable for the foreign governments to surrender to the so-called “special privileges” when the Chinese are acting this way.’”