Mr. Denby to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, June 18, 1891.
(Received August 8.)
No. 1324.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a
translation of the communication of the foreign office covering the text of
the imperial edict just issued on the subject of the late antiforeign riots
in China. It is the first paper of the kind that has appeared during the
present reign, and if its injunctions are obeyed by the local officials and
the people we may reasonably hope for peace and quietness.
The edict condemns in the strongest manner the rioters, and orders that they
be punished, and that unrelenting measures be taken to prevent the
recurrence of the riots. Protection to missionaries is enjoined. It is
plainly hinted that the object of the ringleaders is to fan discontent
against the Government, and incidentally to plunder and rob.
The local authorities are ordered to arrest, try, and decapitate all
rioters.
It is stated that the doctrine of Christianity has for its purpose to teach
men to do good. Chinese converts are none the less Chinese subjects.
The Tartar generals, governors-general, and governors are ordered to issue
proclamations warning the people not to listen to false reports. Rigorous
punishment must be meted out to persons putting up inflammatory placards.
Local officials who fail to protect foreign merchants and missionaries will
be degraded. Prompt action on all missionary cases is enjoined.
This decree has been sent by couriers traveling 600 li (200 miles) a day all
over China.
In its communication transmitting this decree the yamên expresses the desire
that the consuls should inform the missionaries that their converts are
still amenable to the local authorities; that Chinese professing to become
converts should not be received unless they are of good character; and that
missionaries should not protect converts in their lawsuits before the local
authorities or interfere in such cases.
These propositions, as far at least as American missionaries are concerned,
are all truisms. None of them, I think, has been violated by any
American.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No.
1324.—Translation.]
The tsung-li yamên to Mr.
Denby.
Your Excellency: On the 8th of June the prince
and ministers had the honor to receive a joint note from the foreign
ministers, wherein they acknowledge to have received the prince’s and
ministers’ note addressed to them on the 30th of May in reply to their
joint note of the 20th of May, and stated that they can not but consider
the yamên’s note as entirely unsatisfactory, and asked that the demands
which
[Page 410]
the representatives of
France, Germany, and Great Britain addressed to the yamên at the
interview of May 25 and in the “note verbale” of the 27th of the same
month be complied with. The yamên look upon the various outrages against
missionaries in the provinces bordering on the Yangtse as a matter of
serious importance, and the representations expressed in the
communications under acknowledgment are viewed by the prince and
ministers in the same light as the foreign ministers. The yamên
therefore memorialized the Throne, asking His Majesty to issue an edict,
and on the 12th instant the imperial commands were issued in the
following sense:
“imperial decree of june 12,
1891.
“The tsung-li yamên has memorialized us in regard to the missionary cases
that have occurred in the various provinces, asking that we issue
stringent instructions to the governors-general and governors to lose no
time in devising means for a settlement thereof. It is represented by
the yamên that in the month of May the missionary premises (Catholic) at
Wuhu, in the province of Nganhni, were fired and destroyed by a mob of
outlaws. At Tan Yang Huen, in the province of Kiangsu, and at Wusueh, in
the province of Hupeh, similar outrages have been committed on
missionary establishments there, and it is now necessary that the
miscreants should be arrested and unrelenting measures taken in good
time to provide against further outrages of this kind. The propagation
of Christianity by foreigners is provided for by treaty, and imperial
decrees have been issued to the provincial authorities to protect the
missionaries from time to time. For years peace and quiet have prevailed
between Chinese and foreigners. How is it that recently there have been
several missionary establishments burnt out and destroyed, and all
happening at about the same time? This is decidedly strange and
incredible. It is evident that among the rioters there are some powerful
outlaws, whose object is to secretly contrive and plan to fan discontent
among the people by circulating false, rumors and causing them to become
agitated and excited, and then to avail themselves of the opportunity to
rob and plunder, and peaceable and law-abiding persons are enticed and
led to join them, resulting in a tremendous uprising. If strenuous
action is not taken to punish the miscreants, how can the majesty and
dignity of the law be maintained and peace and quiet prevail? Let the
governors-general and governors of the Liang Kiang, Hu Kwang, Kiangsu,
Nganhui, and Hupeh issue without delay orders to the civil and military
officers under their respective jurisdictions to cause the arrest of the
leaders of the riots, try them, and inflict capital punishment, upon
them as a warning and example to others in the future. The doctrine of
Christianity has for its purpose the teaching of men to be good. Chinese
converts are subjects of China and are amenable to the local
authorities. Peace and quiet should reign among the Chinese and
missionaries. But there are reckless fellows who fabricate stories that
have no foundation in fact for the purpose of creating trouble. Villains
of this class are not few in number, and are to be found everywhere. Let
the Tartar generals, governors-general, and governors issue
proclamations warning the people not to listen to the idle rumors or
false reports which lead to trouble. Should any person secretly post
placards containing false rumors with a view to beguile the minds of the
people, strenuous steps must be taken to cause his arrest and vigorous
punishment be meted out to him. The local authorities must protect the
lives and property of foreign merchants and missionaries and prevent bad
characters from doing them injury. Should it transpire that the measures
taken to protect them have not been adequate, and trouble in consequence
ensues, the names of those officers that have been truly negligent are
to be reported to us for degradation. In the matter of all missionary
cases that are still pending, let the Tartar generals,
governors-general, and governors cause a speedy settlement of them. They
must not listen to the representations of their subordinates that the
cases are difficult to settle and thus cause delay, to the end that a
settlement of them may be effected. Let this decree be universally
promulgated for the information of the people.”
Copies of the above decree have been reverently prepared by the yamên and
transmitted to the Tartar generals, governors-general, and governors of
all the provinces, to be observed and action taken in accordance with
its terms. The yamên, as in duty bound, also transmits a copy of it for
your excellency’s information In the communication to which this is an
answer it is stated that the representatives of France, Germany, and
Great Britain, at the conference, agreed to instruct their respective
missionaries to exercise the greatest prudence in the selection of
Chinese converts, and to investigate and ascertain the facts regarding
each. The foreign representatives also recognized and stated that
Chinese, whether converts or not, are all amenable to the jurisdiction
of the local authorities. The prince and ministers are very desirous
that their excellencies should instruct their consuls at the treaty
ports to enjoin upon the chiefs or superintendents of the various
missionary bodies to act accordingly; that in future, when Chinese
present themselves for admission
[Page 411]
into the Christian faith, they should thoroughly investigate their
character and standing, and if it be found, beyond doubt, the persons
are orderly and virtuous, then they may be admitted into Christian
fellowship. Actions at law arising between Chinese and converts are to
be tried and determined by the local authorities. The missionaries must
not protect nor interfere with converts in such cases, thus showing due
observance of treaty stipulations.
A necessary communication addressed to his excellency Charles Denby,
etc.
