Office of the Historian

393.1111 Nelson, Bert N./10: Telegram

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

Peiping, October 20, 1930—7 p.m.
[Received October 20—9:45 a.m.]

916. Legation’s 911, October 18, 1 p.m.

1.
After being held by bandits in North Fukien for over 3 months, two British missionary ladies, the Misses Harrison and Nettleton, were, according to Reuter, “clumsily and brutally beheaded” by their captors some two weeks ago. During this period intermittent negotiations were held with a view to their ransom for a lesser amount than the [$]100,000 demanded. It does not appear however that the Chinese authorities made any determined effort to obtain their release. The incident has aroused widespread indignation among the foreign community in China, and the British authorities are being subjected to criticism for alleged inactivity during this prolonged period of chaos.
2.
Particularly in view of the foregoing the Legation is deeply concerned not only with regard to the safety of the Reverend Nelson but also with regard to the situation of other American citizens resident at exposed points. Navy despatches from Changsha indicate that Americans are still returning to Hunan, there now being 9 in the Changsha and some 74 in other parts of the Province and in adjoining areas in Kweichow. Missionary societies remain largely indifferent to the realities of the situation as instanced by the decision to keep open the American school at Kikungshan, Honan, against the advice of the American Consul General at Hankow (see Hankow’s despatch No. 1051, September 9, 19305).
3.
With reference to the case of the Reverend Nelson the Legation suggests that added weight might be given to its representations at Nanking were the Department to inform the Chinese Minister of the [Page 201] deep anxiety which is felt here for Nelson’s safety and our apprehension lest the Chinese Government forces take [no] more effective measures on his behalf than it [they] did in the case of Misses Harrison and Nettleton.
Johnson
  1. Not printed.↩