Mr. Adee to Lord Gough .

No. 171.]

My Lord: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 7th instant, in which you communicate the report received by telegraph from Her Majesty’s consul at Foochow, describing the attack on missionaries at Kutien in which 8 women, 1 man, and 1 child, British subjects, were killed, and others wounded, some of whom were American citizens. You add that Her Majesty’s minister at Peking has demanded from the Yamên, as a first step, a military escort for the consul, in order that he may visit the scene of the massacre and hold an inquiry; also that stringent measures should be taken for the protection of other missionaries. He has also asked for the immediate issue of an Imperial proclamation for the punishment of the guilty parties. In view of this, you are instructed by Her Majesty’s Government to express the hope that the representative of the United States at Peking may be instructed to consult with Her Majesty’s minister at that capital and to act in concert with him; and you add that, in the opinion of Her Majesty’s Government, it is of great importance that no question of money compensation should be raised or entertained until after the punishment of the offenders, and that the mandarins, who are generally responsible for such outrages, should not be allowed to escape.

In reply I have the honor to inform you that the representative of the United States at Peking has to-day been instructed by telegraph to consult with Her Britannic Majesty’s minister at Peking and to cooperate with him, so far as such cooperation will promote the security and welfare of citizens of the United States. Mr. Denby has been instructed further that, if he has not already done so, he should make demand upon the Chinese Government covering the same points as those embraced in the British demand as stated in your note.

This Government cordially concurs in the opinion of Her Majesty’s Government concerning the deferment of any question of money compensation until after the punishment of the offenders, and Mr. Denby has been instructed to lay stress on the necessity of first bringing to justice any high provincial officials whose indifference or silent connivance may have contributed to bring about the distressing condition of affairs now reported.

I have also cabled to Mr. Denby authorizing the appointment of a United States consul and a commanding officer of one of the United States war vessels in Chinese waters as members of the proposed commission to visit Kutien and investigate the massacre perpetrated at that place.

I have, etc.,

Alvey A. Adee,
Acting Secretary.