393.1163P92/99: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Tsingtao (Gourley)
Your May 25, 2 p.m., and May 25, 8 p.m.25 As it appears that the Japanese now desire to question several members of the family of the suspected plain-clothesman, it would seem that that purpose could be effectually accomplished by an examination of the persons concerned conducted by Chinese and Japanese authorities on the Mission premises. The Department therefore considers that the Mission authorities should offer to permit such examination on the Mission premises in the presence of a representative of the Consulate, but considers that they have no obligation to surrender to the Japanese military the Chinese in question, who, it is understood, are not accused of any crime.
It is suggested that you approach your Japanese colleague in regard to this matter and that you endeavor to impress upon him the unfortunate reaction on public opinion in the United States if the Japanese military authorities should insist upon the delivery of the Chinese in question.
Please repeat to Peiping and Hankow.
- Neither printed. The Japanese were insisting that the American Presbyterian Mission School deliver to them the mother, two sisters, and a young brother of a Chinese suspected plain-clothes man. The mission feared that these relatives might be tortured or maltreated and requested the views of the Department of State. (393.1163P92/98, 99.)↩