893.00/13330: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 31—6:30 a.m.]
250. Following telegram has been received from the Consul General at Hankow:
“December 30, 5 p.m. My despatch No. 209, December 14th. One or two groups of Reds which were penetrating southwest Hunan toward Kweichow have apparently encountered resistance on the border and are moving north. Catholic mission Chihkiang telegraphed December 28th that Reds were fighting in the Hungkiang and Kienyang area, and that the situation at Chihkiang was very tense. I telegraphed December 29th to the Provincial Government at Changsha asking for protection of missionaries at Chihkiang of whom there are nine Americans. Telegram from Yuanling December 29th received today states heavy troop movements from there toward Chihkiang and the authorities assure safety Chihkiang.”