Mr. Denby to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, August 31, 1891.
(Received October 16.)
No. 1380.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that on the
19th instant I addressed to the foreign office a communication relating to
the troubles at Chinanfu, a copy whereof is herewith inclosed. I inclose
also a copy of the yamên’s reply to this communication.
The statements made by me were based on reports made to me by Rev. Gilbert
Reid.
It is known to you that the troubles at Chinanfu are of long standing.
Everything was finally settled about a year ago by the granting to the
missionaries of a piece of land and putting them in peaceable possession
thereof. I then confidently hoped to hear no more complaints from Chinanfu,
but from the recent Statements made to me it appeared that, when the
missionaries proposed to build on the land granted, the gentry came forward
again with the old objection that buildings would interfere with the feng shui of the city.
As will be seen from the inclosures, I strongly protested against any action
adverse to the missionaries and demanded that their rights be immediately
secured to them.
It will be noticed that I suggest to the yamên that it should be made
publicly known that taotais and other officials should take up and settle
all missionary cases in a given time, and that rewards should follow
diligence, and punishments should be inflicted when unwarrantable delays
occur.
In view of the communication sent to me by Rev. Gilbert Reid, the answer of
the yamên is a surprise. The yamên informs me that the missionaries still
want a place in the suburbs, and have expressed their willingness to give up
the tract of land they now hold. It proceeds to
[Page 432]
state that the gentry have come to the conclusion that
the newly desired location can not be secured that the missionaries are now
in possession of more than 20 Chinese acres of land situated outside the
western suburbs; that their title to it is assured; and that they should not
now undertake to surrender it, etc. It is distinctly stated in the yamên’s
paper that the ground now held is “fully ample and sufficient for building
purposes,” thereby implying that there is no objection to building
thereon.
These statements do not accord with those made to me by Mr. Reid. Before
again addressing the yamên I shall send to him a copy of the yamên’s paper
and ask an explanation.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 1380.]
Mr. Denby to the
tsung-li yamên.
Your Highness and Your Excellencies: I am
compelled, very much to my regret, to call your attention again to the
condition of affairs at Chinanfu. Your highness and your excellencies
are aware that the long-existing trouble between the gentry and the
American missionaries relative to the procuring of a piece of land on
which the missionaries might carry on their religious and philanthropic
work was supposed some time ago to have been settled.
The missionaries yielded the most of their demands for the sake of peace
and procured a piece of land in the east suburb of the city. Now, when
they propose to build on that land, the gentry have again stepped
forward in opposition and make the same pretense that buildings would
hurt the feng shui of the city.
The taotai has informed the gentry that if they object to the
missionaries building on the land already acquired, they must themselves
point out another piece of ground that the missionaries may procure. The
missionaries, rather than to have trouble, have again consented to
accept another piece of land in lieu of the one now in their
possession.
It is feared, however, that this action of the gentry is simply for
delay, and that, while the missionaries will be prevented from building
on the land now held, nothing whatever will be done as to pointing out
and securing any other tract of land.
As I read the edict of His Majesty the Emperor of June 13. 1891, and your
highness and your excellencies’ memorial to the Throne, I draw from it
the conclusion that reasonable facilities will be afforded missionaries
to enable them in comfort to carry on their business.
The trouble at Chinanfu has existed for four years, and I do not think it
will ever be ended unless your highness and your excellencies will issue
the most stringent orders to the local authorities either to protect the
missionaries in their possession of the tract of land now occupied and
permit them to erect suitable buildings thereon or to put them
immediately in possession of another tract and to secure the right of
building thereon and the peaceable ownership thereof. In such cases as
this delays are dangerous. Officials are changed. The new officials
prefer to have nothing to do with old cases. I therefore most urgently
ask that this case be immediately settled, and that no delays be
permitted to ensue.
As I read the imperial edict above cited His Majesty the Emperor orders
that cases in which missionaries are interested should not be permitted
to drag on but should be rapidly settled.
I beg leave to suggest that it should be made publicly known that
hereafter in all cases of riot or litigation with missionaries, the
officials be made responsible and a limit be set to time for action and
settlement. If the officials succeed in effecting a settlement it would
be wise to commend them therefor, and if they fail and are shown not to
have done their duty that some appropriate punishment be awarded.
While your highness and your excellencies have before you the general
subject of outrages committed against foreigners in China, I hope that
the Chinanfu case will not be passed by, but that an immediate
settlement be had.
I have, etc.,
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[Inclosure 2 in No.
1380.—Translation.]
The tsung-li yamên to Mr.
Denby.
Your Excellency: Upon the 20th of August the
prince and ministers had the honor to receive a communication from the
minister of the United States in regard to the American missionary case
at Chinanfu, wherein he stated that the missionaries had procured a
piece of land in the east suburb of the city; that when they proposed to
build on that land the gentry have again stepped forward and make the
same pretense that buildings would hurt the feng
shui of the city; that the taotai has informed the gentry that
if they object to the missionaries building on the land already
acquired, they must themselves point out another piece of ground that
the missionaries may procure, but it is feared that the action of the
gentry is simply for delay, and that nothing whatever will be done as to
pointing out and securing any other tract of land; and the minister
expressed the hope that while the prince and ministers have before them
the general subject of outrages committed against foreigners in China,
measures would be adopted to bring about an immediate settlement of the
Chinanfu case, etc. The prince and ministers would state that the yamên
has just received a report from the governor of Shantung as follows:
With regard to the case of the leasing of property by the American
missionaries at Chinanfu, they still want a place in the suburbs and
have expressed their willingness to give up the tract of land they now
have. Under instructions, the taotai reported that he had invited the
gentry of the city and suburbs together, and clearly explained matters
to them so that the question could be properly considered and action
taken in the premises. A general petition was presented by the gentry
signed by Wu Meing Lung and others, wherein they stated that “there were
no homes available in the northern suburb of the city of Chinanfu, and
the eastern suburbs are small in area with a thick population. Hitherto
there have never been many vacant houses or pieces of land in these
suburbs. Of recent years the country people who have suffered from the
floods have brought their families there and rented places to live in.
They have been coming incessantly, and if there happen to be a vacant
lot there sufferers have erected mat sheds for their accommodation. At
other places affecting the geomantic influence of the city the gentry
and people could not themselves of their own will and pleasure erect
buildings. The gentry have for days made inquiries and searched (for a
place). At present, in all the suburbs the people are living close
together, and there are no available houses or ground whatever that the
people are willing to sell. Action can not be forced in the premises
under the difficult condition of things. The American missionaries some
time ago purchased from Tan Tang Ching a tract of land measuring over 20
Chinese acres situated in Hwang Chia Tung, outside the western suburbs.
On account of its being public property held by the family Tan, an
action at law was commenced, but the former magistrate commanded the
gentry to devise a plan whereby the question could be satisfactorily
arranged. After a great deal of labor and pains in talking over the
matter, the land was finally sold to the missionaries, thus giving them
a place where they could carry on their religious work. The deeds and
tax receipts were handed over to the missionaries. This all took place
about a year ago. The Rev. Gilbert Reid now comes forward all of a
sudden and says he is willing to give up the land. Considering that the
land has already been purchased and the sale completed, it is not in
accordance with reason and governing principle to give it back or to
refuse to accept it. Furthermore, there is no objection on the part of
the people to their holding their land, and hence there is no need for
them to surrender it. In presenting this petition the gentry beg that it
be laid before the governor.” The taotai would observe that
missionaries, in renting or leasing houses for the propagation of
religion, are to be protected by the officials as provided by treaty
stipulations. Now, the Rev. Gilbert Reid is desirous of leasing house
property within the suburbs of the city for the purpose of preaching the
gospel and for medical missionary work, and it would be right and proper
to try to devise means to assist him, thus showing a desire to regard
with respect the Emperor’s wish to be kind and gracious to strangers;
but the gentry have been hunting to find a place, and in each of the
suburbs the population is dense and there are no vacant houses that can
be rented or leased. The taotai has carefully investigated the matter
himself, and finds that the representations made by the gentry are
perfectly true. Besides, as to the tract of land purchased some time ago
by Mr. Reid from the Tan family, the deeds were made over to the
mission, the original owners finally agreed to the sale, and there is
now no use to surrender it. The taotai at the time instructed the deputy
of the office of foreign affairs to tell Mr. Reid to hand over the deed
to the house property of Lin Ming Kuei, which was sent to the magistrate
of the Li Cheng district, who after examining it canceled it. The
purchase money, 2,400 tid Peking cash, was on the same day handed over
to Mr. Reid,
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and a receipt
given for the amount. This case should therefore be regarded as
canceled, and the correspondence relating to it closed.
The governor submits the above report for the information of the yamên.
The yamên would state that with reference to this case, according to the
report of the governor of Shantung, the rev. Gilbert Reid has returned
the deed (to the original property purchased), and has received the
purchase money, so that the case is closed. The minister of the United
States has stated that the said missionaries did not insist on any
particular spot for the purpose of erecting buildings, but they only
wanted peace. This is right and proper. The yamên, in carefully
considering the governor’s report, would state that the tract of land
purchased by the missionaries-measuring over 20 Chinese acres—is fully
ample and sufficient for building purposes, and it is proper to request
that they be instructed not to show a feeling of ungratefulness, but
should abide by the original course they agreed on, close the case, and
not again wrangle over the matter.
The yamên were about sending this reply when the United States minister’s
communication of the 20th of August was received, in the matter of Dr.
Hunter being arrested and driven out of Chining-Chow, wherein the
minister requested that instructions be issued to the local authorities
to arrest and punish the men who headed the riot; that compensation be
paid to the missionaries for their losses; and that they be allowed to
resume their residence in Chining-Chow. In this matter the prince and
ministers would state that they have addressed the governor of Shantung
to investigate and take proper action, and on a report being received
they will inform the United States minister of its contents.
The prince and ministers, as in duty bound, send this reply to the two
communications received.
A necessary communication, addressed to his excellency, Charles Denby,
etc.
