Legation of
the United States,
Peking, October 5, 1891.
(Received November 18.)
No. 1399.]
Having obtained from Rev. Gilbert Reid more specific information as to the
condition of affairs at that city, I sent to the yamên on the 1st instant a
communication, of which I inclose a copy. I therein briefly recite the steps
that have been taken in this troublesome affair, and I urgently ask that
stringent orders be sent to the local officials that the missionaries be
allowed to hold, occupy, and build on the lot in the east suburb which they
bought last March.
[Inclosure in No. 1399.]
Mr. Denby to the
tsung-li yamên.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, October 1,
1891.
Your Highness and Your Excellencies: In reply
to your communication of August 25, relating to the Chinanfu troubles, I
beg leave to make a statement in brief of the case, as it seems to me
that it is not properly understood.
[Page 452]
In the autumn of 1887, with the consent of the officials, the American
Mission leased a house of Mr. Lin Meng Kuei. Opposition on the part of
some persons arising, the officials desired the missionaries to consent
to an exchange. The missionaries consented, provided a suitable exchange
could be made.
In the winter of 1888 Robert Coltman purchased a piece of land a few li
from the west suburbs. The taotai asked the mission to take the land in
the country as an exchange for the property in the south suburb, but the
mission refused to do so, as the cases were distinct.
The deed to the country land was stamped; the other case remained
unsettled. Later on the mission consented to give up the property in the
country and continued to press its desire for a suitable piece of
property in the suburbs. On the 14th of February of the present year the
taotai wrote to the mission in regard to finding an exchange in the
suburbs. This was done in obedience to the orders of your highness and
your excellencies.
That there was no difficulty in procuring land in the east suburb was
shown by the fact that a man named Fu leased to the mission a piece of
land in that suburb. This is the land in question.
When the purchase thereof was reported to the taotai, the missionaries
stated that they would be willing to let all other matters be regarded
as settled, provided they were allowed to retain possession of this
piece of land lying in the eastern suburb.
But opposition on the part of a few persons has again arisen. The
missionaries are willing to grant another exchange if suitable land be
furnished them. There is now no sign of an exchange being made. The
missionaries have occupied this land for eight months. They have raised
a crop on it. I urgently ask that your highness and your excellencies
will issue stringent orders that the missionaries be allowed to hold,
occupy, and build on the lot in the east suburb without let or hindrance
from anyone.
If this is not done, the whole Chinanfu question will be opened up again,
and four years’ discussion will go for naught.
I have, etc.,
