393.1111 M Nielsen, Niels/35: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received July 7—6:47 a.m.]
578. Legation’s 508, June 9, noon, and Tokyo’s 115, June 10, 8 p.m., to the Department. Following from American Consul General at Mukden:
“July 4, 11 a.m. The authorities have had no developments to report since my telegram of June 8, 4 p.m., but are aware of Mrs. Nielsen’s efforts to enter into negotiations for her husband’s release. About a fortnight ago I endeavored to secure permission of Japanese authorities for a Danish missionary to proceed to Siuyen under military protection to assist Mrs. Nielsen to which objection was raised on grounds that it would increase demands of bandits. Mrs. Nielsen telegraphed July 2d that her husband has diarrhoea and that she is sick.”
“July 5, 3 p.m. Referring to my telegram of July 4, 11 a.m., it was learned from the Japanese Consulate General this morning that both the Consul General and the military authorities consider it inadvisable to attempt to negotiate at this time for Nielsen’s release by the payment of ransom and further that they believe that the bandits’ demands will continue to be exorbitant. The Japanese Consul General perceives no objection to a representative of the mission visiting Siuyen but the military authorities assert that as conditions there have become worse they are not in a position to arrange for a missionary to travel under their protection.”
Myers’ confidential comments on both of the above messages following by cable with my recommendations.34
- Infra.↩