Office of the Historian

393.115 President Hoover/76: Telegram

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

Washington, November 19, 1937—2 p.m.

360. Your 799 [779], October 8, 1 p.m.42 Please present to Chinese Government as soon as practicable under local conditions information regarding extent of injuries sustained by passengers and members of crew of steamer President Hoover as contained in Department’s 296 of October 5, 3 p.m., together with following explanations.

  • 1st. According to communication from Canadian Legation Haskell and surviving parents are Canadian nationals.
  • 2d. Department has no evidence that injured passenger Whitfield is an American citizen and Dollar Line reports that according to passenger manifest he is British subject.

For your information it may be stated that American nationality of passengers Ruffner and Cowen definitely established and that no information obtained casting doubt upon alleged American nationality of injured members of crew except Haskell. Moreover, irrespective of nationality of surviving members of crew, they are, as American seamen on American vessel, regarded as entitled to this Government’s assistance.

If any question of nationality is raised by Chinese Government in connection with matter of payment to Haskell’s parents, Department should be informed promptly in order that Canadian Legation here may be advised.

Hull
  1. Not printed.↩