Mr. Denby, chargé,
to Mr. Gresham.
Legation of the United States,
Peking
,
May 23, 1894
.
(Received July 18, 1894.)
No. 1856.]
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 1839 of the
23d ultimo, regarding the refusal of the authorities at Nanking to
permit the American missionaries to reside during the summer at the
hills, I have the honor to inclose a translation of the Yamên’s reply to
my dispatch.
It will be seen that the viceroy at Nanking reasserts the danger to
missionaries of residence without the city, and on this ground alone
bases his refusal. I do not believe, nor do the missionaries themselves,
[Page 143] that any such danger
exists, and I will again address the Yamên, urging that they be
authorized to make a trial of hill residence to show that their fears
are without foundation.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 1856.]
The Tsung-li-Yamên to Mr. Denby,
jr.
Sir: Upon the receipt of your note with
reference to the desire of the missionaries at taking to resort,
during the heated season, to Hsi Hsia Shan (hills near Nanking),
this Yamên forwarded a copy of the list of names inclosed by you to
the southern superintendent of trade that he, being informed
thereof, might take proper action in the matter. Now we have
received a reply from him as follows:
As China has authorized the building of churches and the
propagation of Christianity in the interior, there would
seem to be no reason in prohibiting to missionaries the
simple privilege of resorting to certain places to escape
the heat. The real reason therefor is to be found in the
fact that the conditions are not the same within and without
the capital. The mountain to which the missionaries wish to
resort is desolate and retired and few people live there.
Since the building of churches at Nanking to the present
time missionaries have never repaired to the mountains
during the summer, and there is no provision in the treaties
authorizing them to do so. Throughout the Yangtzu Valley the
popular mind is in an unsettled condition. Between the
populace and the missionaries exists a great antipathy. Even
within the cities where churches are protected by the
magistrates, the suspicions of the people sometimes lead to
trouble. If at some remote locality in the hills, the local
officials would with difficulty learn of such troubles and
would more than ever be unable to afford protection.
In the ninth year of Kuang Hsü (1883) the consul and
merchants at Chinkiang wished to build summer residences at
the Wu Chou Mountains. The literati and the people were
opposed, however, and it was difficult to accord permission.
Hence the project came to an end.
Now it is to be remarked that the missionaries in this case
live in a locality in the northern part of Nanking which is
half city, half suburb. It is quiet and pleasant to live in,
not crowded and confused, and free from turmoil. Why should
they, under these circumstances, search for other summer
residences in the hills, causing endless trouble?
This Yamên begs to observe that the argument of the southern
superintendent of trade is reasonable and his statements are true.
It is, therefore, our duty to request you to direct the said
missionaries to abandon their project and thus avoid giving rise to
trouble.
We have, etc.
