393.1111 Baker, Charles/77: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Acting Secretary of State
Shanghai, April 23,
1932—noon.
[Received April 23—4:38 a.m.]
[Received April 23—4:38 a.m.]
My April 19, 8 p.m., from Nanking43 and the Department’s 144, April 16, 7 p.m.
- 1.
- As directed by the Department I proceeded to Nanking by plane on April 19th. I saw General Chiang Kai-shek at 3 p.m. in the presence of Lo Wen-kan and using Department’s 140, April 13, 6 p.m., as a basis informed him of the importance which the American Government attaches to this case and urged upon him the necessity of something being done to bring about the release of Captain Baker. In my presence General Chiang issued instructions that additional and urgent orders be sent to the National forces in that area to leave no effort untried in this matter.
- 2.
- I then proceeded to see Lo Wen-kan at the Foreign Office and gave him a formal note using the text quoted in Department’s 144, April 16, 7 p.m., amended as authorized by the Department’s April 18, 5 p.m., to Nanking. Lo expressed to me his great concern in the matter and stated that he would do his best to see that all forces of the Government cooperate in an effort to effect Baker’s release. Both he and General Chiang had stated that they were anxious not to start any movement that might result in Baker’s death, but that everything would be done to assist in his release.
- 3.
- Lo accompanied me to see Wang Ching-wei, President of the Executive Yuan, who issued immediate instructions that the civil and military authorities in the province of Hupeh be ordered to leave no means untried to effect Baker’s release.
- 4.
- I have been unable to see T. V. Soong as he has been at Hangchow but I shall see him as soon as I can here at Shanghai.
- 5.
- It was of course unavoidable that my presence in Nanking and the reasons thereby should become public, although I urged upon every one I saw the necessity of keeping the matter quiet lest word of my activities reach Baker’s captors and make more difficult the task of persuading them to release him.
- 6.
- The effort which T. V. Soong is making through his flood relief associates is necessarily being carried on in secret. I hope that it will meet with success but I was afraid that my efforts at Nanking might result in activities in Hupeh Province on the part of the military and provincial authorities which might hamper the activities of the agents of the flood relief.
- 7.
- The use of ransom will of course tend to put a price upon the head of every foreigner in China and make it extremely dangerous for foreigners to go any place but I realize that this method probably offers the only means of effecting the release of Baker.
- 8.
- Firstly, because I consider the publicity attendant thereon would be bad and, secondly, because I consider that it is not yet clear as to where pressure should be brought, I hope the Department will authorize me to delay assigning any special officer to watch this case. The presence of such a person in Hupeh at this time would only serve to attract undue attention to the efforts now afoot and would, I am convinced, do more harm than good.
Repeated to the Legation.
Johnson