Mr. Tsui to Mr.
Blaine.
Chinese
Legation,
Washington, March 22, 1892.
(Received March 23.)
Sir: I have to write to you now respecting a
matter about which it is not pleasant for me to trouble you, and which I
would not do if my duty to my Government did not compel me.
As you know very well, the minister who represented the Imperial Chinese
Government before me sent you and Secretary Bayard long notes about the
violation of the treaties by the American Congress, and, no replies
having been sent, I also, instructed to do so by my Government, have
written you more than once on the subject. It has made me very sorry to
have been the minister of my country in Washington so long without being
able to obtain a reply to these notes about a matter in which China is
so much interested.
You will not forget that I have frequently taken occasion in my visits to
you at the Department to speak to you about this subject, and that I
have been promised by you a reply. I have written of this promise to my
Government, and you will not be surprised when I say that it can not
understand why the promised reply on so important a subject is not sent.
Before my late visit to Cuba I spoke to you about it, and again when I
called on you at the Department after my return, and on both occasions
you assured me that an answer should be sent very soon.
I would not trouble you now, but I have very lately received urgent
inquiries from the tsung-li yamên and from the Viceroy Li Hung Chang,
instructing me to again press for an answer to those notes of the
legation. I beg, therefore, that you will do me the favor to send me a
note about this matter very soon.
I am more anxious than ever to know what you think about this matter,
because I hear that more bills are proposed in the American Congress
which, if they are favorably voted, will make still further violations
of the treaties. Thus it seems to me that while the Congress is so
anxious to enact laws against the Chinese, it does not consider how
[Page 146]
much it disregards the
observation of the treaty stipulations; but this is not what my
Government expects of the United States Government.
Accept, etc.,
Circular note of the foreign office in Peking,
left with Mr. Wharton by the Chinese minister March 24,
1892.
[Translation.]
Whereas the posting up of anonymous cards in the streets is
prohibited by laws which are very strict in that respect. Ever since
the suppression of the Long-haired and Nienfei rebellions, peace has
been reigning all over the country; but the scattered militiamen who
have been discharged, as well as the idle people, whenever they
intended to revolt against the Government, would invariably make the
preaching of the foreign missionaries as their good cause, with a
view of enlisting popular sympathy. Thereupon they spread about
prophetic songs and idle tales in tracts printed by them with
illustrations, which being so vulgar and disgustful that no decent
person would read or glance at them. However, the ignorant people,
like some credulous persons who could easily be scared by a false
alarm that there is a tiger at large in town, would always be apt to
be incited to the commission of some very serious crimes; hence the
cases of missionary riots during the present year have been the
results of the above-mentioned prophetic songs and false rumors.
Some time ago we received a telegraphic dispatch from the viceroy of
Hukwong, in which he stated that such prophetic songs and false
rumors are the root or cause of all troubles, and that any
perpetrator of the said crime, when, convicted thereof, should be at
once executed, which is a proper measure consistent with the
excellent method of timely removal of fuel from a lire. It is
therefore necessary that all local authorities should use their
strenuous efforts in searching for, apprehending, and punishing the
offenders; and, furthermore, it is also necessary that the
authorities of all provinces should unitedly work together in the
same direction, to the end that any approaching danger may be nipped
in the bud.
We have repeatedly received from Mr. Brandt, the German minister at
Peking, printed tracts and statements slandering the western
religions and all kinds of prophetic songs and pictures, and what
was worse still, forged official documents of our yamen, as well as
false official proclamations and letters of governors-general and
governors, and also forged memorials to the throne, which were
apparently the works of crafty and malicious persons. We have sent
copies of the above-mentioned tracts, etc., to all the
governors-general and governors who are affected thereby, with a
request that they make inquiries, cause the apprehension and severe
punishment of the perpetrators, for these false rumors would not
only interfere with national intercourse, but would easily cause a
rupture between nations. It is more necessary that the offenders
should be severely dealt with for the maintenance of the domestic
government of China.
It is therefore our duty to communicate with you on the subject and
request that you command all the officials under you to make inquiry
and prohibit the posting of anonymous placards in the streets, etc.,
which, when seized, should be destroyed by fire, and to arrest and
severely punish any person guilty of same, in order that possible
danger may be averted. We hope to receive an answer from you.
