811.22/12–3046: Telegram
The Consul General at Peiping (Myers) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 30—12:55 p.m.]
331. Although joint investigation of alleged rape of Chinese girl student (reference Consulate’s telegram No. 330, December 29) not yet concluded and no statement has been released by marines other than that reported in reference telegram, Chinese papers have already tried case ([with] verdict of guilty) and public feeling, particularly among students, is running high. Results of medical examination conducted by Chinese and American doctors, however, inconclusive with no positive evidence of rape.
In a letter of protest to Commanding Officer of Marine Headquarters, Mayor stated that incident constituted joint plotting by two marines “to commit criminal act of rape on adolescent virgin girl”. Article 240 of Chinese criminal code, however, defines statutory rape as carnal knowledge of female under 17 years, while girl involved in present case is 19. Moreover, it should be pointed out that it is not common for Chinese girl of good breeding to go to late evening moving pictures unaccompanied by friends or family.
Mayor Ho called on me yesterday afternoon to express regret over growing public reaction to press account of incident and I accompanied him to call on General Gillem3 and Colonel Frisbie, Commanding Officer [U. S.] Marines. Executive Headquarters has issued instructions ordering civilian personnel to bring lunches and remain in office until 5:30 p.m. and has restricted dependents of Executive Headquarters personnel to compounds or quarters for day. All marine liberties have been cancelled. Two marines who were sent to [Page 3] Peita University this morning for further investigation into case were met by students at gate who stated they would not be responsible for consequences if marines entered compound. Marines showed good discrimination by returning.
Last night [student meeting at] Peita to decide whether to hold protest demonstration reportedly attended by about 700 students. Meeting broke up in fist fight brawl and no definite plans made to hold demonstration. According to reliable Chinese observer (professor at Peita), students violently divided over issue. Approximately 40% adopted passive disinterested attitude, while 60% split almost evenly between those desiring active demonstrations and those opposed to such action. Latter conservative group apparently as rabid in viewpoint as those advocating action, and disagreement between these two factions reportedly responsible for converting meeting into brawl.
This morning reports received that approximately 2,000 students from Tsing Hua and Yenching gathering at latter university in preparation for march to Peiping; also smaller group at Peita waiting to join Tsing Hua-Yenching students but planning no individual action. Mayor Ho sent representative to Yenching in attempt to dissuade students from carrying out demonstration, with apparently no results. Reports now received that total group numbers about 6500, all but 800 to 865 of whom are students, and has been marching through city in orderly demonstration. English slogans carried on banners and being shouted are: “Drive all American armed forces out of China” and “Let’s establish a real democratic China”. Slogans in Chinese merely request people to protest actions American troops. Some students believed to be carrying firearms, but no disturbances yet reported. Demonstrators apparently exhausted from long march and believe chief concern at present is long return trip to universities.
Repeated to Nanking as No. 268.
- Lt. Gen. Alvan C. Gillem, Jr., was American Commissioner of Executive Headquarters at Peiping. The latter was set up during General of the Army George C. Marshall’s efforts in 1946 to mediate the Chinese civil war; see Foreign Relations, 1946, vols, ix and x .↩