Mr. Denby to Mr.
Olney.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, July 10, 1895.
(Received August 23.)
No. 2286.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose a copy of a
communication sent by me to the Tsung-li Yamên the 9th instant, asking
that the ex-viceroy, Liu, be ordered to come to Peking to await an
investigation into his conduct, so that he may be punished should the
evidence to be taken show that he is guilty of complicity in the
riots.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 2286.]
Mr. Denby to
the Tsung-li Yamên.
Peking, July 9,
1895.
No. 16.]
I have heretofore requested that troops should be sent from Chengtu
to Chungking to assist in preserving order. If this request is not
acceded to, the responsibility will rest with the Government of
China, and this I desire to place on record. I think it desirable
also that the examination at Chungking should be postponed, and this
also I place on record.
I desire also to reiterate the ideas heretofore conveyed to the Yamên
that the time has come to China when officials who are negligent or
criminal in their conduct toward foreigners must be punished, and
that simple payment of damages is not enough to secure future
immunity from destruction. To that end I request that the late
viceroy of Szechuan be ordered to come to Peking, in order that if
inquiry into the causes of the riots shows him to have been in fault
he may be properly punished. I will make the same demand as to all
other officials who may be shown to be guilty.
Unless the guilty officials are punished, no settlement of matters
appertaining to the riots will be satisfactory. It is clearly in the
interest
[Page 95]
of China to make a
grave public example showing her intention that riots shall be
prevented.
The experience of many years shows that this can not be done unless
there be condign punishment of guilty men.
