Mr. Denby to Mr. Olney.
Peking, September 30, 1895. (Received Nov. 8.)
Sir: I have the honor to state that from information received here it appears that the total number of foreigners who were driven from their homes during the recent riots in Szechuan was 87. Of these 53 were British subjects, 30 were Americans, and 4 Swedish or Norwegian ladies. Of this total 18 British and 4 Swedes living at Kia-ting, Pao-ning, and Kwang-yüan, have now returned to their homes. The feeling of hostility to foreigners is not abating.
Chungking is kept quiet by pressure. Whether such pressure will be maintained is questionable. The recent imperial decree degrading and punishing the former viceroy will have some effect no doubt.
The proposal to take from the lekin revenue the funds necessary to inaugurate and keep up a “train-band” system in Chungking has been vetoed by the viceroy, on the ground that other cities support train bands without such assistance.
The taotai at Chungking is being pressed to settle British and American claims, and, as an incentive to haste, it is said that all the French cases, both at the capital and elsewhere, have been completely settled.
There are still rumors at Chengtu that children are being stolen for the use of foreigners. The French missionaries have begun to build one of their establishments at Chengtu, and their other sites are fenced in. The Protestant sites are being used for theatrical and other shows or as places for depositing rubbish.
I have, etc.,