393.1163 Free Methodist/65: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 7—9:55 a.m.]
665. Our 531, October 18, 2 p.m.,1 situation at Chenliu. In reply to our representations the Foreign Office sent us a copy of a report received from the military authorities in China to whom the matter was referred. Our translation of the report follows:
“Because of an anti-British movement which arose in Chenliu, a British subject named Ryding, who is a member of the Free Methodist Mission at that place, withdrew to Tsingtao but on September 9 he returned to Chenliu. Early in the morning of September 13 there was an attack on that city by Chinese forces, and about 300 Chinese civilians, erroneously believing that the attack was caused by the abovementioned British subject being in communication with the enemy, agitated for his expulsion. He therefore withdrew from Chenliu on September 17. At that time the residence of an American woman missionary named Peterson belonging to the same mission, which adjoined the residence of the British subject, incurred some damage. Subsequently on September 28, Miss Peterson came to Chenliu and heard reports evidencing anti-British movement, and she, apprehensive lest she herself be made the object of similar agitation, withdrew from Chenliu on or about October 22 on her own initiative. The above-mentioned circumstances were exaggerated and finally the rumor circulated that anti-British agitation had arisen in Chenliu.
The facts are as above stated. Nothing has been heard of any anti-American movement in Chenliu. Furthermore, the Japanese authorities are on the alert for any such movement and are taking strict precautionary measures.”
Repeated to Chungking, Shanghai, and Hankow.
- Not printed.↩