Office of the Historian

493.11 Ekvall, Henry/10: Telegram

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

Peiping, August 16, 1932—6 p.m.
[Received August 16—10:45 a.m.]

960. Legation’s August 7, 3 p.m.

1. Legation has instructed Peck at Nanking as follows:

“August 16, 5 p.m. Legation’s August 7, 3 p.m.

1.
Lieutenant Soule on August 15th telegraphed from Sian that investigation substantiated statements made in the Legation’s August 6, 6 p.m., to your office and that lethargic official action was unproductive of results. In response to Legation’s inquiry of August 15th as to definite evidence of death or survival of Ekvall and party Soule reported as follows:

‘All evidence circumstantial but so complete death of Ekvall and party unquestioned. Neither bodies nor car nor $20,000 worth gold dust and silver can be traced.[’]

2.
For your confidential information. Information thus far received by Legation indicates that party’s disappearance at point within short distance of Sian may be laid directly to the soldiery who on previous evening stopped British missionaries on the same road, thoroughly questioned and searched them and in reply to inquiry as to reason for this unusual action stated that they had been ordered to that place by the martial court to keep watch for at least 3 days on motorcars coming from the west and that they were looking for a car with two foreigners coming from Kansu. This information places heavy responsibility upon Chinese authorities at Sian who are probably seeking in every way to block the investigation. In this regard see Legation’s August 7, 3 p.m., to your office.
3.
Legation desires that you make most emphatic representations looking to immediate effective action by Shensi authorities to locate remains of Ekvall and to punish those responsible for any harm which may have befallen him.
4.
Consul General at Hankow has also been instructed to make further similar representations to the Shensi authorities.”

Johnson