393.1163 Free Methodist/55: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:20 p.m.]
604. Reference Peiping’s 549, October 20, 2 p.m. Anti-foreign incidents, American Free Methodist, Chenliu, Honan. The Embassy is in receipt of a letter from the Reverend Edwin P. Ashcraft of the American Free Methodist, Chengchow, Honan, in which he refers to the incidents at Chenliu reported by Miss Peterson and reports further incidents in Hankang, Kihsien, and Kaifeng. The last four paragraphs of his letter follow:
“Near the middle of September our compound at Hankang, 12 miles east of Chenliu, was entered by Japanese soldiers and the home of the pastor burned. They also set fire to the home which missionaries occupy when making their home there, but this fire was extinguished before the building was destroyed. The U. S. Consular notice there was taken away. The wife and two children of the Evangelist were rescued from their home after it had been set on fire. We do not know why this was done, since our Christians, as far as we know or have heard, are in no way connected with any anti-Japanese agitation.
Two of our Christian men at Kihsien were taken, one from our church compound, and with 11 others, removed to Chenliu and beheaded. Our missionaries there tried to get in contact with the authorities [Page 408] and find out why these men were taken, but thus far no reason has been offered.
Our workers in occupied territory are very reluctant to pass on any information regarding such matters as mentioned above. Thus far the results seem to be an increased effort on the part of the Japanese to retaliate, and make things difficult for the Christians, as well as for the missionaries. While the Japanese higher authorities at times appear to be in sympathy with the foreigners in Chungking [Chengchow?], the actual working out of reporting irregularities, especially in smaller places, seems to increase the pressure by the military. We are hoping that the visit of Miss Peterson to Peiping will not be followed by more serious incidents than those already experienced.
About 2 weeks ago, about 2:30 one morning, 10 Japanese soldiers, accompanied by a few Chinese, visited our Bible school compound at Kaifeng, and evidently put our two ladies, Miss Wood and Miss Murray, through quite a grilling. As I said, they are so reluctant to write of such matters (for if the Japanese find out that such things are reported, it only increases and intensifies actions of like nature) that it is difficult to ascertain just what the conditions are. Thus far we have not learned the reason for this untimely visit.”
Embassy has today telegraphed to Ashcraft requesting further details. Copy of letter being forwarded.89
Repeated to Peiping, Shanghai, and Hankow. Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo.
- Not printed.↩