No. 32.
Mr. Avery
to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, August 23, 1875.
(Received October 20.)
No. 92.]
Sir: Referring again to the late assaults upon and
placards against foreigners in and about Peking, I now send a translation of
the proclamation issued under the orders of the Tsung li Yamen, with a view
to preventing such things in future.
Accompanying the Chinese text of this proclamation, which was furnished me,
on application, by the Yamen, is a list of thirty-six places where copies
were posted. This is not as wide a circulation as could have been desired,
but the tone and language of the paper are satisfactory.
I have, &c.,
[Page 43]
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
The military commander of Peking herewith issues a prohibitive
proclamation:
Having been informed by the Lsung li Yamen that certain ignorant and
evil-minded persons had posted placards in the vicinity of the three
front city gates, both without and within the wall, insulting and
threatening foreigners; and that at Tien Chiao and other places assaults
have been made upon foreigners and their horses; and that the guilty
ones have by the military posts been handed over to that Yamen for
investigation and punishment, and that in case of a repetition of such
occurrences in future, the offenders will not only be most severely
punished, but the local officials within whose jurisdiction these
outrages may occur will be degraded, in order to put a stop to such
things:
Now, therefore, this proclamation is issued in order to warn the local
officers and soldiery at each post that, in case of a repetition of such
lawless acts, the parties implicated must be arrested and brought to
this Yamen for severe punishment, and no leniency will be shown.
After this prohibition, do you, people, Manchus and Chinese, conduct
yourselves with propriety, and go not in that former way to the bringing
of punishment upon yourselves.
Let all take heed.
Disobey not this special order!
