393.1123/45
The Chargé in China (Vincent) to the
Secretary of State
No. 1135
Chungking, May 3,
1943.
[Received May 23.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform the Department
that the Embassy has received a report of an incident which occurred on
April 4, 1943 in which Mr. Arthur Mazat and Mr. Francis Derk, American
citizens of the Seventh Day Adventist Mission, Lanchow, and the Christian
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and Missionary Alliance,
Wenchow, respectively, who are currently registered with the Consulate
General in Kunming, were attacked by bandits at Lo Chia Mo, near Feng Shui
Lin, on the highway between Minhsien and Lintao, south of Lanchow. Mr. Mazat
and Mr. Derk were taken from their automobile and after being maltreated and
robbed were detained overnight. The next day they were partially recompensed
for their losses and were released; it does not appear that they suffered
any serious or permanent bodily harm.
There are herewith enclosed for the Department’s information copies of (1)
Mr. Mazat’s letter reporting the incident, dated April 22, 1943,6 and received by the Embassy April
28, 1943, (2) the Embassy’s note to the Foreign Office requesting an
investigation of the attack, dated May 1, 1943, and (3) the Embassy’s letter
of acknowledgment to Mr. Mazat, dated May 1, 1943.6 Upon hearing of the results of the
Foreign Office’s investigation the Department will be further advised.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure]
The American Embassy to the
Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs
The American Embassy presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and has the honor to inform the Ministry that it has received a
letter dated April 22, 1943 from Arthur Mazat, an American citizen
residing at the Seventh Day Adventist Mission, Lanchow, Kansu, which
reports the following incident:
On April 4, 1943 Mr. Mazat, together with Mr. Francis Derk, also an
American citizen, were attacked by armed bandits at Lo Chia Mo, near
Feng Shui Lin, on the highway between Minhsien and Lintao, south of
Lanchow. The automobile in which they were proceeding was fired upon and
then stopped by a group of bandits numbering over a thousand. Mr. Mazat
and Mr. Derk were taken from the automobile, were bound, and their
clothes were torn. They were threatened with decapitation, were beaten,
and then menaced with guns. Finally they were robbed and the windows of
their automobile were broken. The men were detained overnight and on
April 5, 1943 were released and allowed to proceed after being given an
amount of money equivalent to only a small portion of the value of the
personal possessions taken from them. The military commander at Lintao
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was informed of the
incident, upon their arrival at that place, and he facilitated their
return to Lanchow.
Mr. Mazat states that before making the trip the advice and the approval
of government officials at Minhsien had been obtained. Upon the
recommendation of those officials the trip had been postponed for ten
days and at the time of their departure assurances had been given that
the highway was patrolled by soldiers for its entire length and was safe
for travel. One of the bandit leaders is believed to have been a former
government official at Minhsien named Li. Another of the leaders is
believed to have been called Fu Shih Ling.
The Ministry is requested to investigate this matter and to secure the
apprehension of guilty parties and to obtain restitution of the property
stolen from Mr. Mazat and Mr. Derk and compensation for the damages they
have suffered.
The Embassy would appreciate being informed of the results of the
Ministry’s action.
