Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, 1931, The Far East, Volume III

393.1111 Nelson, Bert N./71

The Department of State to the Chinese Legation¹⁶

[Washington,] March 10, 1931.

We are informed that letters received from Mr. Nelson and Mr. Tvedt, one an American and the other a Norwegian missionary, held captive by bandits in China, under date February 22, state that these persons have been “bound and whipped with bamboo poles and told to make haste with ransom money or there would be worse things to follow”.

We hope that the Chinese Government will make every possible effort to effect the release of these men.

16. Handed to the Chinese Minister by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs on March 10.