393.1163/1062
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of the International Missionary Council (Warnshuis), of New York
My Dear Mr. Warnshuis: With reference to conversations which you have held with various officers of the Department and to correspondence exchanged concerning the withdrawal of certain categories of American missionaries from China or their transfer from one section of that country to another, I desire to bring to your attention the following information regarding developments in the Foochow district, which the Department has received from a reliable source.17
According to this information, general living conditions in the Foochow area have deteriorated steadily in recent months. Supplies of goods such as are usually considered essential by foreigners residing there have either run low or have been entirely exhausted, and when the importation of fresh supplies is possible at all it is said to be attended by much difficulty and delay and, except in the case of articles of small bulk, by almost prohibitive transportation charges. Such food staples as beef, eggs, flour and pork are reported to be scarce or unobtainable, and many hotels and restaurants in the area are no longer able to serve meals. Furthermore, it is said to be increasingly difficult to obtain overland transportation facilities and it appears that in consequence of these conditions, Americans who have been traveling in the interior not infrequently return to Foochow ill.
With respect to the missionaries still in the Foochow area it has been pointed out that they include many women, children and elderly men, as well as a number of persons who are in poor health, and it is feared that some of these people might not be able to withstand the rigors of emergency travel under existing conditions, should that become necessary, or a further marked deterioration of living conditions.
In view of this situation, the Department earnestly hopes that the Americans still in the Foochow district will not fail to weigh carefully the suggestions that have twice been made to Americans in China and certain other sections of the Far East, with special regard to women and children and to men whose services are not considered urgently or essentially needed, that they consider the advisability of withdrawing to the United States. It would be appreciated if you would bring this matter to the attention of the boards of organizations having missionaries in the Foochow area or that might otherwise contemplate transferring missionaries there from other parts of China. In the circumstances it of course appears particularly desirable that [Page 414] there should not be a net increase in American personnel in the Foochow area at this time.
Sincerely yours,
Chief, Special Division
- Telegram No. 3, March 5, 9 a.m., from the Consul at Foochow, not printed.↩