393.1163 Am 32/87
The Chargé in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 15.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Legation’s telegram No. 466 of October 13, 1 p.m.,77 concerning the above-mentioned subject,78 [Page 479] and to enclose for the information of the Department a translation of a formal note, dated September 22, 1934, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Legation, together with a copy of the Legation’s reply thereto, dated November 23, 1934.79
The Department will note that I have informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that I have referred the matter to the Department for instructions, but that I feel constrained to point out that the Legation cannot accept the Chinese Government’s denial of responsibility for the protection of the American missionaries in question. I have therefore again requested that the Chinese authorities concerned be instructed fully to protect the lives and property of these American missionaries, as well as their legitimate missionary activities, in accordance with the appropriate treaty provisions.
The text of the proclamation issued under the seal of the Yunnan Provincial Government, mentioned in my note to the Foreign Office, was forwarded to the Department under cover of a despatch, No. 231, dated September 28, 1934, from the American Consul at Yunnanfu to the Department.80
Respectfully yours,