393.1111 Nelson, Bert N./32: Telegram
The Consul General at Hankow (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10 p.m.]
My 123, November 28, 2 p.m. [Following to the Legation:]
“December 2, 3 p.m. My November 28, noon. General Ho has replied that he has given instructions to General Li Ming-chung to effect release of Nelson and Tvedt. I discussed the case at length today with General Ho Chen-chun, who stated that Government troops within the last 2 days have engaged communist army near Hwangan with 200 casualties on Government side and about 1,000 on other. General Ho stated that his plan now is to capture several of the leaders of the communist army and hold them as hostages for the release of the two missionaries. The General also stated that representatives recently sent to negotiate with the bandits have been detained by them and not allowed to return.
The recent capture of Kian by Government troops did not result in release of Sister Ramos and other foreign missionaries captured there by communist army early in October.
Father[s] Linehan and Laffan, two Irish priests captured last April by bandits at Sientaochen, have been released on payment by their mission of $7,000 for both of them; and Father Fernandez, Spanish, has been released on payment of $4,000 presumably by his mission. Repeated to Department.”