893.00/13470: Telegram

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

204. The Consul General at Mukden55 reported in despatch 247, April 14,56 that he had advised Americans residing at Sinpin to [Page 118] evacuate. Prior to issuing the warning, Ballantine had been informed by the commander of the gendarmes at Mukden that banditry was rife in the Sinpin area and that there were not enough troops available to afford adequate protection. A part of the danger apparently arose from the attitude of the authorities toward the missionaries at Sinpin, some evidence of which is contained in Mukden’s despatch 234, March 12.56a It is understood that of the five or six Americans who were at Sinpin, only one or two remain and that those remaining expect to evacuate within 1 or 2 days.

By mail to Tokyo.

Johnson
  1. Joseph W. Ballantine.
  2. Not printed.
  3. Not printed.