[Inclosure in No.
1343.—Translation.]
The tsung-li yamên to the
foreign representatives.
Your Excellencies: On the 23d day of June this
year the yamên had the honor to receive your excellencies’ joint
dispatch, in effect as follows: That on the 15th June you had received
the yamên’s dispatch, forwarding a copy of His Majesty’s edict, which
you had carefully perused; that you had attentively noticed the request
therein for certain instructions to be forwarded to the missionaries, as
well as the suggestion of Governor-General Chang, contained in our
dispatch to Mr. von Brandt of the 12th June, to the effect that
telegraphic orders he sent to the missionary churches not to receive
young children; that this seemed to indicate a desire on the part of the
yamên to place the responsibility for the disturbances that have been
going on in the valley of the Yangtse on the missionaries and their
converts; that no mistake could he made in pointing out the cause of the
injuries and misfortunes which have occurred in various localities; and
that you would have to protest most energetically against any such
attempt on our part. You observe that ever since the calamities in
Shansi in 1878 all the missionaries of every denomination resident in
China, without exception, exerted themselves in the work of succor; that
foreigners of all nationalities in the various provinces of China
subscribed not a little money to relief funds, while Europe and America
forwarded hither immense sums; that, although Sir John Walsham, at the
conference of the 9th June, drew attention to these facts, and the
yamên, promised, in the memorial to the Throne asking for a decree, to
utter some words of praise and acknowledgment, up to the present not a
sentence of that character has appeared. Further, you state that the
high officials and the local authorities have not exerted themselves in
any way; that many men were engaged in the disturbances, but, excepting
the single place of Wuhu, you had not heard of any attempt to seriously
deal with them; that at Wuhu the conduct of the taotai and the other
officials had been the cause of the riots, but you had not heard of
anyone being degraded therefor. With respect to what must be done by the
Chinese Government, your excellencies are of the opinion that the edict
now issued must be universally executed as a guaranty against a
repetition of similar outrages, and that the further action of the
treaty powers will depend upon the straightforwardness and energy shown
by the provincial and local authorities in the execution of the
provisions thereof. You further hope that early information will be
given you of the steps taken in the enforcing of the edict in the
various provinces.
This yamên has to observe that in its memorial to the Throne it said that
missionaries rejoice in virtuous deeds and delight in the practice of
charity, nor is their conduct influenced by a love of fame; that truly
they are worthy of praise. The one statement in the Emperor’s decree
pointing out that missionaries practice virtue contains all this by
implication.
In various places missionary troubles unexpectedly occur; they are not
planned beforehand. At present gatherings of the people are frequent and
can not be easily repressed. If it is asserted that the local officials
regard as a public service, and not as wrongdoing, the attacks upon and
destruction of missionary churches, such is emphatically not the case.
This yamên has repeatedly telegraphed, the several governors-general and
governors urging them to pursue and arrest the chief offenders. Thus at
Wuhu two of the leaders in the riot were tried and have already been
beheaded, and orders have been issued for the relentless seizure of the
others who were their accomplices.
Many persons, also implicated in the riots at Tanyang, Wu-hisi, and
Wu-Hsiieh, have been captured; but, the trial having elicited no
trustworthy evidence, it is as yet difficult to render judgment.
[Page 419]
In fact, it can not be asserted that this yamên and the governors-general
and governors have lacked in zeal in dealing with this matter. His
Majesty’s edict having now been issued, the chief provincial authorities
will certainly act in obedience to its commands; but they are removed
from the capital by unequal distances, some being long journeys distant
and others nearer, and it is unavoidable that there should be some delay
before the edict is received and proclamations posted in all their
jurisdictions. The edict is not like a newspaper, which is easily
distributed abroad. Your excellencies should consider somewhat these
circumstances and should not lightly pronounce censure.
As to Governor-General Chang’s proposal that telegraphic orders be sent
to the missionary churches to temporarily cease to receive for support
children of tender age, this practice being the source whence all the
idle rumors spring, arousing amongst the multitude suspicions which can
not be dismissed, like one who imagines he sees the shadow of a snake in
his wine cup,*
this proposal is like pulling out the fuel from under the pot to cause
the boiling water to subside,* a plan to remove from simple people the cause of
their suspicions and to deprive bad characters of any ground on which to
base their statements. This plan is sincerely for the purpose of
protecting all the missionary churches and has no other motive. The
missionaries, we suppose, will recognize the justice of it and will
accede thereto.
As in duty bound, we make this communication for your excellencies’
information with the hope that all the ministers will give the contents
their consideration.
A necessary communication to the representatives of the nine treaty
powers.
