Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President, Transmitted to Congress December 2, 1895, Part I

Mr. Denby to Mr. Olney.

Legation of the United States,
Peking, September 30, 1895. (Received Nov. 8.)

No. 2373.]

Sir: In my telegram of the 28th instant I stated that an imperial decree would issue in a few days ordering the punishment of the delinquent officials in Szechuan.

I have now the honor to inclose a translation of that decree which appeared yesterday in the Peking Gazette, and of which a copy was sent last night by the Tsung-li Yamên to this legation.

I beg to say most emphatically that this result is chiefly due to the action of the Department in ordering a commission to go to Chengtu to investigate the riots. It is known to you that from the moment of the happening of the riots the British minister and I have, day after day, in writing and orally, demanded as an indispensable condition the punishment of the guilty officials. The alleged inaction for which I have been blamed did not exist. This charge was based on the proposition that I at one time agreed to act in common with an English commission.

If that commission had been properly organized, and had proceeded at the start to do its work, it would not have been objectionable. It was approved by the Acting Secretary of State. About twenty-five days alter it was proposed I withdrew from it for several reasons, one of which was that it did not appear that it would ever proceed to Chengtu. The Department, on being informed of the delay in organizing this commission, ordered an American commission to be organized. China fought this commission for some days, but was finally forced to consent to its going overland to Chengtu. China also fought with unparalleled obstinacy the proposition to punish the Viceroy Liu, partly on account of his influence with the Dowager Empress, and partly because there was no precedent for this action. The entering wedge in overcoming this obstinacy was the action of the Department in ordering the going of an American commission. After China had accepted this proposition as inevitable, the British minister stepped in with an ultimatum that the officials should be punished. A fleet was ordered to these waters as a menace.

The minister of France then intervened to explain to China that to avoid trouble she must punish the officials.

I have not the least objection that these two gentlemen may reap all the honor that is possible out of their action, but I hope I may say, speaking by this record, that to the Department of State is due beyond all doubt the credit of having broken through Chinese obstinacy, and of having diplomatically and without menace brought about a result which will constitute an era in the treatment of foreigners in China.

In connection with this subject I confirm my telegram to you of September 30, 1895.

I have, etc.,

Charles Denby

.

[Inclosure in No. 2373.]

Imperial decree issued (11th day 8th moon) September 29, 1895.

Since the establishment of foreign missions in China imperial decrees have been repeatedly issued commanding the viceroys and governors to order the local officiate to exert special efforts for their protection, in order that the people and the churches might dwell in harmony. In the fourth moon of this year disorderly characters stirred up trouble at the capital of Szechuan and destroyed a chapel at Tung chiao chang. Thereafter other cases involving missions occurred at other places in the province. The responsibility for all these lies on the local officials, whose inability in times of peace to influence and control the people permitted the germs of trouble to foment, and who, after outbreaks had occurred, failed to act promptly in repressing them.

Liu Ping-chang, the viceroy of said province, was careless in his government. His fault is very grave. The censor, Wu Kuang-kuei, reports in a memorial that Liu Ping-chang took absolutely no notice of the beginning of the outbreaks in his provincial capital, nor did he send soldiers to repress them. Unemployed vagrants assembled in constantly increasing numbers until repeated cases involving missionaries had occurred throughout the province. The said viceroy heedlessly followed his own devices regardless of his great responsibilities.

Let him be at once deprived of office, never to be employed again, to proclaim a warning to others. As to the taotais, prefects, and others who have failed in the proper discharge of their duties, let Lu Chuan-lin¹ vigorously investigate their conduct and report thereon that they may be dealt with according to their respective deserts.

Respect this.

1. Lu Chuan-lin, present viceroy of Szechuan.