Mr. Denby to Mr.
Olney.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, July 12, 1895.
(Received August 23.)
No. 2288.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I have
designated Rev. Spencer Lewis, a resident of Chungking, to act as the
American member of a commission to examine into the causes and results
of the Szechuan riots.
I have addressed to Mr. Lewis a communication, of which a copy is
inclosed, wherein the purposes of this commission, the constitution
thereof, and its duties are set forth.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 2288.]
Mr. Denby to
Mr. Lewis.
Sir: It has been arranged by the Chinese
Government, Her Britannic Majesty’s minister, Sir N. R. O’Conor, and
myself that a commission consisting of three Chinese
officials—probably the prefect of Chengtu, the provincial treasurer,
and the judge—Her Britannic Majesty’s consul, Mr. J. W. Tratman, an
English missionary, and an American missionary, should sit either at
Chengtu or Chungking for the purpose of inquiring into the causes
and results of the recent riots in Szechuan.
I have designated you as a member of this commission and hope, in the
general interest, you will consent to serve.
It is proper to state that I have consented to the organization of
the commission without consultation with my Government, there being
no time to do so fully, and that I can not hold out any inducement
that any compensation will be paid to you, or even that your
expenses will be reimbursed. All that I can say is that when the
labors of the commission are concluded, and a report made of
services rendered, I will represent the matter to the State
Department for its consideration.
The duty of the commission will be to inquire into the causes and
origin of the riots; to find the facts and to determine from them
whether the provincial officials took adequate measures to prevent
disorder and to suppress it after it broke out, and to assess the
damages suffered by each individual and corporation.
The findings of the commission will not be final and conclusive, its
object being to find the facts and submit them for the further
action of the two foreign representatives chiefly interested
therein.
It is desired that a full report of the proceedings of the commission
be made and forwarded to this legation.
I am, etc.,
