123 Ward, Angus I.: Telegram
The Consul General at Peiping (Clubb) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 29—7:45 a. m.]
1854. ReContel 1853, October 29 and Contel 1847, October 28.18 Tung Pei Jih Pao (Northeast Daily, Mukden) October 25 carried following news item on joint charge filed by 35 Chinese workers and employees against Ward:
After outbreak of incident in which American national Ward committed violent act, 35 Chinese workers and employees of former American Consulate at Shenyang sent out charge. Original text of charge has been secured and is as follows:
“Statement of charge: To Shenyang Municipal People’s Government: We beg to bring charge against former American Consul General [at] Shenyang Ward, who unreasonably discharged worker named Chi Yu-heng, refused him annual leave payment, wage deductions, and separation allowance and, moreover, led mob in beating up Chinese worker at 8 a. m., October 1 [11], 1949, culminating in incident in which he caused bodily injury to worker. We earnestly request that People’s Government try case in accordance with law in order to protect human rights and uphold sovereignty of our fatherland. Such are facts of charge.
On September 27, 1949, Ward ordered workers to dismantle house. There was found therein reinforced concrete pillar. Ward personally handed hammer to Chi Yu-heng, instructing him to demolish it himself without any aid. When Chi, having beaten and hammered at pillar for half day, had exhausted himself and could not continue, workers Wu Han-chang and Yu Yung-pin offered to help Chi. Thereupon, Ward ordered that other persons were not permitted to assist Chi, who should work all by himself. Ward together with Hubbard19 and others then looked on from upstairs of building and jeered. That Ward forced Chi Yu-heng to do work beyond his physical strength constitutes concrete manifestation of oppressive exactions of Chinese [Page 990] people by imperialists. At time when Ward, Hubbard and others were ridiculing Chi in building, latter stated: ‘This is really an insult to Chinese people. He made me do this job under unreasonable duress; I really cannot do it.’ At this Ward seized opportunity and expelled him from building at No. 38, San Ching Lu. Unable to do anything about it, Chi moved to live in SVOC20 compound. Next morning, Ward told Chi: ‘You refused to work. I have terminated your service. You are now unqualified to remain in American Government buildings.’ Chi explained to Ward that it was not that he refused to work but merely that he could not perform work which he was incapable of doing all by himself. Ward paid not the least attention to what he said and violently pushed and dragged him out of his office. In spite of repeated requests by Chi for settlement of wages, annual leave payment, separation allowance, and wage deductions due him, Ward refused to pay anything except some wages on pretext that Chi was discharged on account of delinquency.
On October 10, 1949, when Chi had already lived as guest for 2 weeks in SVOC compound, Ward had still ignored his request. Under circumstances, which Chi was unable to do anything to improve, Chi visited Ward for second time to demand payment of the wages, annual leave payment, and separation allowance due him. Ward still insisted that he would pay him only his wages but not annual leave, separation allowance and wage deductions. He also pushed Chi out of his office. Hence, no results were obtained that evening.
On morning of October 11, after Ward came [to] building at No. 38 San Ching Lu, Cicogna, an Italian national, told Ward that Chi had not left there the previous night. Feeling his dignity thus hurt, Ward summoned Chi Yu-heng at 3:15 [8:15?] a. m. and cursed: ‘Muddle-headed egg, get out’. Together with Cicogna, he pushed Chi down cement staircase on west side of former American Consulate building at No. 38, San Ching Lu. When they reached entrance of building downstairs, Shiro Tatsumi also joined group and beat Chi. This was witnessed by workers Chang Chung-ying, Fang Pin-ching and Queh Han-ri [Kuei Han-ji?]. About 9 o’clock, Ward called Chi up to accounts office upstairs, where Rehberg pressed Chi’s hand to sign for drawing money. Finding that sum was deficient, Chi asked for payment of whole sum. Rehberg then said, ‘If you refuse to take money, get right out.’ So saying he pushed Chi violently few steps backward. Seeing that Chi refused to go, he called Ward to place. As soon as Ward appeared he started beating and kicking Chi. When worker Sun Heng-li saw this, he hurried downstairs to tell Chinese workers and employees and asked them to rescue Chi. When they arrived, Chi had already been knocked down in middle of staircase leading to Ward’s office. Ward and others were still holding Chi down and beating him. Chi Yu-feng, younger brother of Chi Yu-heng, who intended to go upstairs to mediate, was stopped before staircase and beaten by Rehberg. Kristan in meantime also came and dealt blows to Chi. Seeing that Chi Yu-heng had been severely injured by Ward and others, we hurriedly sent a worker to report case to Shenyang People’s Government Bureau of Public Security of Shenyang Municipal People’s Government and People’s Court then sent their officials to No. 38 San Ching Lu to mediate and investigate on spot. Results of [Page 991] physical examination made by law court doctor showed that Chi Yu-heng had sustained an injury on his forehead and bruises on his buttocks. Due to concussion of brain from heavy beating on head Chi had become unconscious, lost control over urination and passed water in his trousers. Fact of the beating of Chinese workers by mob led by Ward and of inflicting of serious injuries on this worker was not only witnessed by plaintiff and all Chinese workers and staff members in No. 38 San Ching Lu but has been substantiated by examination of Bureau of Public Security of People’s Government and People’s Court. May be said that neither witnesses nor evidence are lacking. Ward’s beating of Chinese worker and infringement of human rights is consistent with his behavior. When bandit forces of Chiang were still occupying Shenyang, Ward, relying on domination of Kmt reactionary group, had on several occasions violently beaten Chinese workers CPN [sic].
- (1)
- Toward end of March, 1947, Ward arrived in Shenyang by train via the Peiping–Mukden line. On alighting from train at Shenyang north station, in order to find out if his method of enslaving and oppressing the Chinese people characteristic of imperialists, which he frequently had recourse to 15 years ago when he served as the Consul at Shenyang, was still good, no sooner had he stepped down from train than he beat up a porter by name of Yang on railroad platform. This incident was witnessed on spot by worker Sun Heng-li of former Consulate.
- (2)
- On morning following his arrival in Mukden, Ward ordered a Chinese worker Sun Heng-li to Shenyang north station to bring back his baggage. When baggage was brought to No. 38, San Ching Lu, he beat up driver of horse-carriage which carried baggage. Afraid of provoking unfortunate incident, man swallowed his anger and departed. Incident was witnessed by Sun Heng-li, Yueh Shan-yi and Hao Tze-heng who happened to be around.
- (3)
- On June 2, 1947, Ward personally drove off stall-keeper [named?] Sung who ran cigarette stall on south side outside entrance of house No. 38, San Ching Lu. When Sung refused to budge, Ward beat him with fists and feet and kicked over his stall. After chasing stall-keeper all over street, he finally cut shed over stall with knife. This incident was witnessed by Yueh Shan-yi who happened to be on spot.
- (4)
- On June 28, Ward ordered Lo Hsi-luan, worker of former Consulate, to clear away his cigarette stall. When Ward found that Lo had failed to carry out his bidding, he took Lo by ear, led him into his office and kicked him twice. Forthwith, he issued instruction to have Lo discharged. Since there was nowhere to seek redress, Lo left former Consulate in anger without uttering a word. Ward did not pay Lo money due him. Latter had worked for former Consulate for more than 18 years and since time of his discharge, he has neither received retirement money due him nor the retirement deductions made from his monthly wages up to June 28, 1947, when he was discharged. Two years have elapsed up to present throughout which time Ward held office; but Ward has not yet issued to Lo aforementioned deductions.
- (5)
- On February 6, 1948, former Consulate bought some coal. When coal cart pulled into yard of house No. 38 San Ching Lu, Ward for some reason beat up horsedriver. He also broke his whip and flung stick into western courtyard of house No. 38. The incident was witnessed on spot by Yueh Shan-yi, Sun Heng-li and Huo Wei-hsin.
As result of incident in which American national Ward led his alien employees, Kristan, Cicogna, Shiro Tatsumi and Rehberg, in beating Chinese worker Chi Yu-heng and causing him serious injuries, Chi himself, who had sustained excessively serious injuries, Ward sent to hospital for quick remedy. The undersigned, who are all staff members and workers of former American Consulate at Shenyang, can no longer tolerate Ward’s persistent oppression and beating of Chinese laborers in general and his imperialist and barbarous act of beating and causing serious injuries to worker Chi Yu-heng in particular. Hence, we are sternly filing this charge with People’s Government. It is hoped that People’s Government will from standpoint of safeguarding human rights and upholding laws of new China, mete out to Ward and others punishment due them in accordance with law.”
Petitioners: Entire body of workers and staff members of No. 38 San Ching Lu, October 11, 1949.
Signatures. (Signatures omitted) Will be forwarded if Department desires.
To Tientsin by mail.
Sent Department 1854, repeated Shanghai 1115.