393.1163/1176: Telegram

The Consul at Tsinan (Hawthorne) to the Secretary of State

My November 26, noon. Japanese speaking German priest who acts as liaison between Catholic Church in Shantung and Japanese military yesterday mentioned to Japanese Vice Consul Japanese General’s assurance that American Catholics would be permitted to carry on work even in the event of war and inquired what would be the lot of American and British Protestant missionaries, particularly those connected with Cheeloo University and Cheeloo Hospital, in such an event. The Vice Consul replied, according to the priest, that the Protestants would receive no less favorable treatment than the Catholics.

Sent to the Department, repeated to Chungking. Code text by air mail to Tokyo.

Hawthorne