Mr. Denby to Mr. Blaine.

No. 1146.]

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that since I sent to you my dispatch No. 1125 of the 26th of July, relating to the Chi-nan-fu troubles, I have received a communication from the American mission at that place which furnished me the information I desired. This communication was sent in advance of the receipt of the one sent to the mission by me.

I have accordingly addressed to the foreign office a communication, of which I inclose a copy.

It will be seen that I strongly urge a full and final settlement of these long-standing troubles.

I have, etc.,

Charles Denby.
[Inclosure in No. 1146.]

Mr. Denby to the Tsung-li yamên.

No.—.]

Your Imperial Highness and Your Excellencies: I am constrained by my high respect for the Government of China, as by the orders of my own Government, to bring to your attention again the troubles existing at Chi-nan-fu between the American missionaries located there and the local officials. It is known to Your Highness and Your Excellencies that the American missionaries several years ago bought and paid for a small lot in Chi-nan-fu to be used for a dispensary and other purposes connected with their charitable and philanthropic work. They did this with the firm belief that their conduct was authorized by the treaties and by the universal practice of religious toleration which exists in China, under which the Roman Catholic and Protestant missionaries are permanently located in all or nearly all the nineteen provinces of this great Empire.

When they made the purchase of this city lot, they understood that no objection to its acquisition would be made by the local authorities or the people. The owner sold in good faith, and they bought in entire innocence of doing anything contrary to the wishes either of the local authorities or the people. But dreadful results have followed this simple act. Mr. Reid, when he went to take possession of the lot, was driven out by a mob and beaten and bruised and left insensible on the ground.

From that day to this, more than 2 years ago, no redress has been tendered to Mr. Reid, no apology has been made to him, no indemnity has been offered to him. His case has been simply ignored and passed over.

I am now informed of the horrible sequel to these events which has befallen the innocent landlord. The mission writes to me that “the landlord, though guilty of no crime, has been repeatedly imprisoned, beaten, and starved, and lately there was extorted from him $250, with a peremptory order that he speedily collect an additional $350. A few weeks ago he was taken out of prison in a weakened condition and after a day or two of further suffering died at his home, his death being largely due to his sufferings in the yamên.”

This is horrible, and I am stirred with wonder that such things should happen under the mild and paternal Government of China. I can understand that sudden mobs will sometimes do violent acts in a country so densely populated as China, but I can not understand how local officials worthy of their places can lend themselves to such wanton cruelty and oppression.

I am aware that a valuable tract of land outside of the city walls has, with the consent of the local officials, passed over to the American mission. For this kindness I am truly grateful. But the missionaries represent that for the proper prosecution of their work they require a small city lot, either in the city proper or in the suburbs. My Government has distinctly and specifically, on representation of the facts by myself and the mission, directed me to aid and assist the missionaries in all proper modes to secure peaceable possession of a lot in exchange for the lot already bought.

The American mission are entirely willing to arrange all their difficulties amicably with the local authorities. They distinctly agree to forego all claim to the original lot and to accept at the hands of the local authorities another suitable lot in a different [Page 196] locality in lieu thereof. They insist, however, that this exchange of property shall he made with the full knowledge of all concerned, with the distinct pledge that their possession of the new lot shall be peaceable, and that, should for any reason disorder grow out of their taking possession of it, they shall be fully and entirely protected by the local authorities.

I regard it as important, also, in order to secure future protection of the missionaries, that some notice should be taken of the wrongs and injuries done to Mr. Reid by the mob and some compensation tendered to him. I have to ask that some punishment should be meted out to the ringleaders of the mob which assaulted him, and that redress of some kind be afforded to Mr. Reid.

It would seem to me to be the easiest thing in the world for Your Highness and Your Excellencies to direct the local authorities to come to a fair and equitable agreement by which the American mission may secure another and different small lot in Chi-nan-fu or its suburbs, to be used for the public purposes of the mission.

There can be no difficulty in making a public example of the ringleaders of the riot in which Mr. Reid was injured and in tendering to him some redress for his personal injuries.

What he wants and what the mission wants is to secure their present and future safety in Chi-nan-fu, to reëstablish their destroyed prestige, and to enable the members of their mission to retain their self-respect, so that they can hereafter, as heretofore, boldly and efficiently devote themselves to their charitable and philanthropic work.

What a grand thing it would be for Your Highness and Your Excellencies if we could settle this ancient trouble. What a fine effect it would have on all the foreigners in China and among the nations of the world, and particularly in my own country.

I most earnestly beg that Your Highness and Your Excellencies will hearken to these words and will order an immediate settlement to be made on the lines indicated.