493.11/2187: Telegram
The First Secretary of Embassy in China (Salisbury) to the Secretary of State
Peiping, [August 25, 1938.]
[Received August 25—8:15 a.m.]
[Received August 25—8:15 a.m.]
518. Embassy’s despatch 1543, February 7.64
- 1.
- Winter, of Tsinghua University Preservation Committee, informed the Embassy yesterday that Chinese members of the Committee living in the university grounds had the keys taken from them August 14 by Japanese military occupying the property and were forced to remove from the grounds, being told that the military would look after the property. Winter has since been informed by [Page 451] university servants living on the grounds that truck loads of furniture and equipment have been removed from the university by Japanese since August 20. He stated that Yenching University would be willing to use and/or store Tsinghua equipment until Tsinghua again becomes an educational institution.
- 2.
- I subsequently called on the Japanese First Secretary, reviewed American interest in Tsinghua (Department’s telegram 28, January 27, 7 p.m.65), repeated Winter’s statement of facts, suggested the advisability of an investigation and, if reports are correct, [concerning?] preservation of equipment and other property, inquired what the Japanese attitude would be toward the suggestion in regard to Yenching. I said that I would be interested in knowing what the intentions of the Japanese military are in respect of the future of Tsinghua University.
- 3.
- The First Secretary said that he would immediately get in touch with the military in regard to the foregoing matters.
Repeated to Chungking and Tokyo.
Salisbury