393.1163P92/141
The Consul General at Shanghai (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 24.]
Sir: I have the honor to report to the Department the efforts, thus far unsuccessful, made by this Consulate General to secure the evacuation by Japanese forces of property at Soochow, Kiangsu, belonging to the American Presbyterian Mission, North.
The Consulate General was first asked to take action in regard to the looting and occupation of this property by Mr. R. M. White, the Mission’s representative in Shanghai, in a letter dated March 3, 1938.70 On March 14 a protest was made to the Japanese Consul General at Shanghai requesting its immediate evacuation and return to the Mission. A reply, which dealt with this and several similar cases, was received on May 2. In regard to the property in question the Japanese Consul General said:
“There is no truth in the allegation that Japanese troops have occupied the churches of the Presbyterian Mission and that they have destroyed and/or looted the property in the church buildings. On the contrary the circumstantial evidence shows conclusively that the church buildings have been plundered by Chinese troops. Nobody is using these buildings at present. Although two houses on the compound of the Mission’s hospital were seen burning down by fire some time ago, it is needless to state that the Japanese side had nothing whatever to do with the incident.”
It is interesting to compare these statements with the eyewitness accounts of the American missionaries, who were in Soochow on November 24 after the Japanese occupation, and who actually saw Japanese [Page 453] soldiers looting the premises and burning the two buildings mentioned (see this office’s despatch No. 1203, February 5, 1938, enclosure 471).
Meanwhile further information had been received from the Mission concerning the occupation and continuing destruction of the property. A copy of this letter, dated April 19, is enclosed. Another protest was addressed to the Japanese Consul General on April 22 and he answered to this in a letter dated May 5, again dealing with a number of similar cases, in which he stated:
“As regards the buildings of the American Presbyterian Mission (North), of which Mr. Gauss informed me on April 22nd, I am given to understand that the Japanese troops have been taking as much care as possible for the preservation of the property and the allegation that they are actively engaged in tearing out and removing all woodwork, including floors, stairways, doors and windows in those buildings, is not based on the actual conditions.”
It will be noticed that there was a slight change from the attitude of his first letter in that the occupation by Japanese troops was now, by inference, admitted. However, both letters completely ignored the question of the return of the property to the control of the Mission.
There were no American missionaries in Soochow and nothing further was done in the matter until after their return to that city in July. On the basis of information that the occupation of the property was continuing, a letter was addressed to the Japanese Consul General on July 29. Shortly afterwards the Mission complained of the difficulties met with by Dr. O. C. Crawford in his efforts to interview the Japanese military officers at Soochow in charge of the property and their refusal to permit him to enter the premises or to remove any articles therefrom. Another communication was therefore sent to the Japanese Consul General on August 11.
On August 18 the Mission stated that Dr. Crawford had at last been permitted to inspect the premises, that he had found most of the buildings still occupied by Japanese troops, and that he was able to get definite confirmation of earlier reports of damage and destruction caused by the Japanese forces. The Mission requested that representations be continued, that it be given permission to use the buildings not actually occupied by the Japanese, and that it be notified prior to the Japanese evacuation of the property so that its representatives could be present to inspect the buildings and take possession of them. These matters were taken up with the Japanese Consul General in a letter dated August 25.
Today, after nine months of occupancy, this Consulate General has not been able to obtain from the Japanese any statement of their intentions [Page 454] with regard to this American property, nor any promise whether or when they will evacuate and return it to its owners.
Despite the general assurances of the Japanese Government that it will respect American interests in China and desires such questions to be settled on the spot, local attempts to deal with this case have apparently made no progress. Early communications from this office to the Japanese Consul General received unsatisfactory replies while recent letters have remained unanswered. The Mission has also tried to settle the case by direct negotiation with the Japanese military authorities at Shanghai but has received no definite promise regarding evacuation and desires that this Consulate General continue to do all in its power. It is felt that further representations to the Japanese Consul General at Shanghai will serve no good purpose and the instructions of the Department are respectfully requested.
Respectfully yours,