493.11 Ekvall, Henry/69: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
Peiping, December 3, 1932—11
a.m.
[Received December 3—9:50 a.m.]
[Received December 3—9:50 a.m.]
1290. Legation’s 1285, December 2, 10 a.m. Following from the Minister at Nanking, December 2, 3 p.m.
- “1. Mr. Liu, Director of the Department of European and American Affairs, called upon Peck this morning and remarked that Liu, confessed participator in the murder of Ekvall, had been executed and that property losses of motor company had been paid in full at Hankow. He then stated on behalf of the Foreign Office that only one thing remained to prevent the immediate settlement of the case; namely, the exemplary indemnity demanded by the American Legation. He added that the Chinese Government admitted in principle its obligation to pay an exemplary indemnity but the Foreign Office wished to point out that the amount was very large especially in view of the serious economic depression and in view of the fact that a Swedish subject had been killed with Ekvall which made it possible that the Swedish Minister would ask for a similar indemnity. Liu requested that the views of the Foreign Office be communicated to the American Minister.
- 2. Incidentally Liu stated that the investigations made by the Ministry indicated that no Japanese was with Ekvall but that a Japanese of the same name as reported to us left Sian before the death of Ekvall. He said that the Japanese Legation had made no representation in this connection.”
The Minister desires the Department’s instruction.
For the Minister:
Engert