Mr. Denby to Mr.
Olney.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, September 12,
1895. (Received Oct. 21.)
No. 2347.]
Sir: I inclose a copy of a communication to the
Tsung-li Yamên wherein I represented that Mr. Hsü Hsing-i, a taotai by
rank, had not gone to Kutien to sit on the investigating commission,
although in their communication to me of the 23d August they had stated
that this gentleman had been directed to cooperate with the consuls in
dealing with the Kutien massacre.
I have now the honor to inclose a translation of a communication of the
Yamên in answer to the communication sent them by me.
The Yamên states that the gentleman named was appointed to cooperate with
the consuls at Kutien, and that no matter what may be the rank of
deputies sent to investigate the case they can only investigate the
cases of criminals according to law, and that their decisions must be
submitted to the viceroy for his opinion thereon.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
2347.]
Mr. Denby to
the Tsung-li Yamên.
Your Highnesses and Your Excellencies: In
your communication to me of the 23d ultimo you stated that you had
received a telegram “from the governor-general of Fuhkien stating
that additional
[Page 133]
appointment had been made in the person of Mr. Hsü Hsing-i, a taotai
by rank, who is to cooperate with the consuls in dealing with the
Kutien affair, so that extra care may be taken in the matter.”
I have the honor to inform you that I have been very much surprised
to hear from the consul that the Taotai Hsü was appointed to the
foreign board at Foochow, and that no official of high rank has been
appointed commissioner to Kutien. I am informed that a high official
whose decisions shall be final is absolutely necessary to Kutien.
The prefect who is now there does nothing without consulting the
viceroy, thereby producing great delay and inconvenience.
It is just as important for China as for Great Britain or the United
States that the investigating commission should be well organized
and endowed with full powers, and I ask that you issue orders that a
high official proceed to Kutien and that the judgments of the
commissioners be final.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
2347.]
The Tsung-li Yamên to
Mr. Denby.
Your Excellency: We have had the honor to
receive your excellency’s note (of September 5) wherein you stated
that in the Yamên’s communication of the 23d of August we informed
you that we had received a telegram “from the governor-general of
Fuhkien stating that an additional appointment had been made in the
person of Mr. Hsü Hsing-i, a taotai by rank, who is to cooperate
with the consuls in dealing with the Kutien affair;” that you had
heard from the consul by telegraph that the taotai Hsü was only
appointed to the foreign board at Foochow, and that he had not been
appointed as commissioner to Kutien and that no official of high
rank is there. The prefect who is now there does nothing without
consulting the viceroy, thereby producing great delay and
inconvenience. Your excellency asked that we issue orders that a
high official proceed to Kutien and that the judgments of the
commissioner be final.
As your excellency some time ago addressed us a note asking that
telegraphic instructions be sent to Foochow to appoint a high
official to go to Kutien to cooperate with the consuls in
investigating the recent massacres, we wired Foochow, and received
an answer to effect that Hsü, taotai, had been appointed to go there
to cooperate with them. It is not the case that he was merely
detained at the foreign board.
In regard to the appointment of deputies to investigate this case, it
matters not whether they be of the rank of taotai or chih fu, they
can only investigate the cases of the criminals according to law,
and render a decision; such decisions, however, must still be
submitted to the viceroy for his opinion thereon.
Kutien is about 200 odd li from Foochow, and copies of the
proceedings and evidence in each case can from time to time be
submitted to the viceroy without causing much delay.
We beg that your excellency will again instruct the United States
consul at Foochow to cooperate with the deputies appointed from
Foochow in a friendly manner. The decisions in the cases of the
criminals must still be left to the viceroy.
