Mr. Denby to Mr.
Olney.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, July 8, 1895.
(Received August 23.)
No. 2283.]
Sir: In my dispatch No. 2278, of July 1, I
inclosed a copy of my proposal to the Tsung-li Yamên to refer the
consideration of matters growing out of the Chengtu riots to a
commission consisting of certain Chinese officials and an English and
American missionary.
I have now the honor to inclose a translation of the answer of the
[Page 90]
Yamên to that proposal, from
which it will be seen that it has been accepted.
The personnel of the commission has been, however, modified to the extent
that the Chinese members thereof shall consist of the judge, treasurer,
and prefect of Chengtu, retaining an Englishman and an American as
members. Possibly Her Britannic Majesty’s consul at Chungking may sit on
the commission should it meet at that port.
It is proper to state that should the proceedings before the commission
develop the fact that the Viceroy Liu and other local officials failed
to do their duty in protecting the foreigners their punishment will be
insisted on.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 2283.]
The Tsung-li Yamên to
Mr. Denby.
Upon the 1st of July the prince and ministers had the honor to
receive a communication from the minister of the United States,
wherein he stated that in the matter of the Chengtu missionary cases
he indorsed the proposal of Her Britannic Majesty’s minister, Sir
Nicholas O’Conor, relating to the mode of procedure to be adopted in
dealing with them, and asked that a commission should be appointed,
composed of the new viceroy of Szechuan, the treasurer and judge of
the province, with whom should be associated two missionaries, one
British and one American, for inquiring into and determining the
cases; that Her Britannic Majesty’s consul, Mr. Tratman, at
Chungking, would take charge of American interests and choose a
suitable person to serve as American commissioner with his British
colleagues, and the Yamên was requested to send telegraphic
instructions to Chengtu for the Chinese commissioners to hold
themselves in readiness for the inquiry, and that Her Britannic
Majesty’s consul at Chungking would be notified by wire to nominate
an American commissioner who would be requested to proceed to
Chengtu immediately, etc.
The Yamên would observe that since the riots took place at Chengtu
all the missionaries have left the place, having been escorted to
Chungking. The viceroy has telegraphed, ordering the Chuan Tung
Taotai to confer with Her Britannic Majesty’s consul and make
satisfactory arrangements in this matter.
On the 28th of June the Yamên received a communication from Her
Britannic Majesty’s minister, Sir Nicholas O’Conor, in the same
sense as the communication under acknowledgment. The Yamên have
already wired to the high authorities of Szechuan to appoint proper
and suitable deputies to meet the British and American missionaries
appointed as commissioners on their arrival at the capital, and to
act with them in considering and taking action upon the matters at
stake. The said deputies are to report their action for the
consideration of the high Chinese authorities, and after they have
come to a decision, action will be taken accordingly.
As in duty bound, the prince and ministers send this communication
for the information of the minister of the United States.
Necessary communication addressed to His Excellency Charles Denby,
etc.
