Mr. Denby to Mr. Olney.
Peking, August 10, 1895. (Received Sept. 26.)
Sir: In my dispatch No. 2303, of yesterday’s date, I had the honor to inclose a translation of the Yamên’s reply to my dispatch concerning the murders at Kutien. The subsequent disturbance at Yung-fu, resulting in the destruction of an American chapel, I found it desirable to bring to the Yamên’s notice not in writing but in a personal interview.
To my remark to the Yamên that their previous promises of protection appeared, in view of the Yung-fu affair, to have been futile, they replied that they regretted to admit that such was the case. The disturbed condition of the province they said was such that local officials could not guarantee the safety of foreigners in remote places. They stated, however, that every effort would be made to restore order and secure redress for injuries already done; that to this end two imperial decrees had been sent by telegraph to the provincial authorities, and they requested me to rest in the assurance of their earnestness in the matter.
The consul at Foochow having telegraphed this legation that cholera was raging there, and having requested that orders be issued from Peking to prohibit the burying of the victims of this disease within the limits of the foreign settlement, I submitted this matter to the Yamên. They stated that they had not been previously informed of the prevalence of the disease, but they undertook to telegraph at once satisfactory instructions as to the burial of the dead.
I have, etc.,