Office of the Historian

393.1163/1161: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State

Tokyo, October 16, 1941—5 p.m.
[Received October 18—2:47 p.m.]

1641, Embassy’s despatch No. 5403, February 28, 1941,70 withdrawal of missionaries from Shansi. A reply to our representations has been received from the Foreign Office in the form of a note verbale dated October 7, 1941 which is summarized.

Pressure was not used against Chinese believers in Taiyuan or elsewhere in Shansi in order to bring about the withdrawal of American missionaries. However, the Japanese gendarmes found it necessary in some instances to take into custody Chinese mission workers who organized anti-Japanese and Communist groups under the protection of American missionary organizations; this was necessary for self protection and the maintenance of peace and order. The Americans who withdrew from the places named stated that they did so on the advice of American Consuls. End of summary.

Sent to the Department via Peiping. Peiping please repeat to Chungking, Tientsin.

Grew
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