493.11 Ekvall, Henry/44: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
1222. Legation’s 1221, October 29, 9 a.m.
- 1.
- In despatch of October 28 Counselor Peck reports that Minister for Foreign Affairs on previous day asked that “… the American Government be assured in all earnestness that he and Mr. T. V. Soong and General Chiang Kai-shek in fact the Chinese Government as a whole were determined to bring about a thorough settlement of the Ekvall case including the detention and punishment of the criminals if such were discovered”.
- 2.
- In despatch dated October 26th Stanton reports inter alia that the Shensi government’s views as to settlement of case as set forth in the 2nd sentence of paragraph 1 of Legation’s October 29, 9 a.m., were indicated to him by Mr. Chin Chih-lin, Foreign Minister Lo’s special representative in Sian, and that at appropriate time such settlement would be offered by Sian authorities in full satisfaction of crime. Stanton also stated that he believed Mr. Chin’s intimation to [Page 541] be “… an accurate forecast of the concrete results which may be expected and that the offer to pay an indemnity which in the circumstances is a somewhat damaging admission, is in the nature of ‘hush money’. In connection with the payment of an indemnity it is believed that such other claims as the Legation may desire to present should be presented now in view of the apparent willingness of General Yang to make monetary restitution.”
- 3.
- Mr. Stanton further stated that Chin and Colonel Hang, General Chiang Kai-shek’s special representative, had not questioned any Chinese witnesses although they had interviewed various foreigners who collected testimony in the case; that Chin stated that he and Hang were not in a position to examine Chinese since Provincial Government had undertaken to do this; that it seemed fairly obvious from Chin’s remarks that neither he nor Hang had any real intention of making an independent investigation and that he rather felt the matter was settled or could be settled on the basis of the above mentioned terms suggested by the Shensi Provincial authorities. Stanton called Chin’s attention to the seriousness with which the American Government views this matter, the deplorable inaction of the Shensi Provincial Government and very important circumstantial evidence obtained by Lieutenant Soule urging these as considerations calling for thorough and independent investigation. Stanton states he and Soule will continue to urge such investigation and the examination of certain Chinese witnesses.
- 4.
- Stanton is being very briefly informed of the Legation’s views as transmitted to the Department in its October 29, 9 a.m. In view of his belief that other claims should be presented at this time, the Legation refers to its suggestions in that telegram and requests Department’s instructions.
Johnson
- Telegram in two sections.↩