393.1111 Vikner, Nyhus, et al/9: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 29—6:30 a.m.]
740. Hankow’s priority June 28, noon, concerning capture by Communists of 10 American citizens vacationing at Kikungshan, Honan, and Hankow’s priority June 29, 11 a.m.,64 concerning subsequent release of all captives other than Vikner and Nyhus. The Legation is making urgent representations at Nanking and is despatching a [Page 520] member of its staff down the Peiping–Hankow Railway for the purpose of discreetly investigating the situation and of bringing direct pressure upon the Honan authorities. In this regard however it is to be pointed out that previous experience shows that all public efforts on our part in behalf of such unfortunate captives is calculated to increase their value to their captors in what is really a war of extermination between them and the constituted authorities of China.
2. The Legation has a feeling of sorrow that these kindly people should have fallen victims to such a disaster. It wishes, however, emphatically to invite the Department’s attention to the fact that the Consul General at Hankow had used every means within his power to bring home to them the danger of using Kikungshan as a summer resort. The Legation also wishes emphatically to urge that the Department do what it can to impress upon the mission boards involved and all other mission and business organizations having representatives in the Yangtze Valley to withdraw their people from the areas in which so-called Chinese communism has been established. The Chinese Government is bending every effort to reestablish its authority in the areas named and to that end has within recent days sent increased forces to suppress banditry and communism there. It is, therefore, obvious that it will be to the advantage of roving communist bands to seize foreigners and hold them as hostages in the hope of paralyzing the Government’s efforts.
The Legation believes that at times like this Americans should be kept out of such areas.
3. Legation’s records show that Vikners are members of Augustana Synod Mission, Yuchow, Honan; Soviks of Lutheran United Mission at Shekow, Hupeh; Nyhuses of Lutheran Brethren Mission at Tsao-yang, Hupeh. Mission directory shows H. W. K. Sandy as member of Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society at Wuchang, Hupeh.
4. Legation requests special allotment of dollars $100 gold to cover expenses of representatives sent to Honan as stated in paragraph 1.65