Mr. Denby to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Pelting, August 31, 1891.
(Received October 16.)
No. 1381.]
Sir: In my dispatch No. 1261, of the 10th of March,
1891, I gave you the particulars of a riot which had occurred at
Chining-Chow, as a result whereof some of our missionaries were forced to
leave that city.
As nothing seemed to come of my written communication to the yamên or of a
personal interview that I had with its members on the subject on the 20th
instant, I addressed the prince and ministers a communication, of which a
copy is inclosed. I received an answer on the 26th instant, of which a
translation is inclosed,* it being the concluding part of a
communication relating to Chinanfu.
It will be seen that the governor of Shantung has been ordered to take prompt
action.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 1381.]
Mr. Denby to the
tsung-li yamên.
Your Highness and Your Excellencies: I beg
leave to call attention to the fact that I addressed a communication to
your highness and your excellencies on the 25th of February, 1891,
wherein I informed you that certain American missionaries had been
driven out of Chining-Chow by a mob.
A few days afterwards I had a personal interview with your highness and
your excellencies on the subject, wherein I understood that the
missionaries would be permitted to return to Chining-Chow, but that it
could not immediately be arranged. I understood that the same assurances
were made to his excellency Mr. Von Brandt as to some missionaries of
his nationality. Nothing, however, has been done toward settling either
the damages that have accrued or permitting the ejected missionaries
[Page 435]
to return. Rev. Gilbert Reid,
who has charge of the matter in the absence of Dr. Hunter, represents to
me that he has frequently petitioned the taotai on the subject, but that
he has done nothing. I must therefore request your highness and your
excellencies to issue orders to the local authorities that they
investigate the matter, and that the men who headed the riot be
punished, and that compensation be made to the missionaries for their
losses, and that they be allowed to assume their residence in
Chining-Chow.
It is the direct command of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, in his
edict of June 13 (to which I have alluded in another communication to
your highness and your excellencies), that there be no delay in settling
troubles affecting missionaries.
I trust that the Chining-Chow case will not be permitted to drag on, but
that an immediate settlement thereof will be ordered.
I have, etc.,
