No. 228.

Mr. F. F. Low to Mr. Fish.

[Confidential.]

No. 24.]

Sir: In my dispatch, No. 18, I reported to you that the French chargé d’affaires was in Tien-tsin, where he had gone to attend to the interment of the unfortunate victims of the late riot; that a large naval force had collected at Tien-tsin and its vicinity; that the French admiral was expected to meet the chargé at that place; and that affairs generally looked troubled; I also stated that instructions were daily expected from France by telegraph, via Russia, indicating the reparation which would be demanded for the outrages of the 21st June; and that until such instructions should arrive, no specific demands would be made on the Chinese, and consequently all speculation would be at fault in forecasting the result.

A few days after the arrival of Count Rochechouart at Tien-tsin, the legations here were surprised to learn through the Chinese officials that he had demanded the punishment (decapitation) of the two local officials who were suspected of complicity in the riot, for he had investigated the matter and satisfied himself of their guilt, and that if condign punishment was not meted out, without delay, he should feel himself at liberty to withdraw his legation and the French subjects front Pekin, turning the whole matter over to the admiral, who would take such action as he deemed necessary to enforce the demand and maintain the honor of France.

The government notified the other foreign ministers of this demand, and intimated that it would not be complied with; but said that the officials referred to had been deprived of office, degraded from their rank, and handed over to the board of punishments for trial, and if found guilty would be punished with extreme rigor. Further than this they could not and would not go, and if war was the alternative, it must be accepted as the inevitable result. I presume that this answer was communicated officially to M. Rochechouart, but am not sure. It is believed that Admiral Dupré refused, in the absence of specific instructions from his government, to enforce the demand, and perhaps the news that hostilities were imminent between France and North Germany caused the French naval officers to be more cautious than they otherwise would. The French chargé denies having received any instructions; and it is likely that the preparations for war in Europe have absorbed the entire attention of the French government, so that this affair is lost sight of for the moment; consequently, thus far, nothing [Page 378] has been done. M. Rochechouart has returned to Pekin, and the whole matter is in abeyance.

The situation is much less satisfactory than it was a month ago. The Chinese government then appeared willing to accede to any reasonable demands for redress; now they seem indisposed to adopt any active measures. Undoubtedly the news of hostilities in Europe leads them to believe that there is small probability of France being able to commence offensive operations this autumn, and the rigors of a northern winter will delay all action until next summer.

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No more favorable opportunity could have occurred to carry out the principles of the coöperative policy than the present, and by a united movement, by which I think all other foreign representatives would have strengthened the hands of the French chargé, this vacillating and weak government would probably have been brought to take a decided course of action toward their own subjects, and made the stronger for feeling that they had the moral aid and sanction of all treaty powers in dealing with a most difficult and serious matter. Whether the result would have been acceptable to all, or equal to my wishes in avoiding a war, may be doubted; but the prospect of keeping that influence with Prince Kung and his associates, which this united action would have brought about, has been very greatly weakened.

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FREDERICK F. LOW.