Mr. Denby to the Tsung-li Yamên.
Your Highnesses and Your Excellencies: On the 21st September, 1896, I had the honor to address to you a communication, wherein I informed you that my Government proposed to make to you certain representations touching the prevention of the recurrence of anti-foreign riots in China.
On the 24th of September, 1896, you answered as follows:
The Yamên appreciates very much indeed the idea of the honorable Secretary of State devising a plan which may prove beneficial to both countries, and if the plan decided upon is not in contravention to treaty stipulations China will certainly in a spirit of friendliness come to a suitable decision.
Continuing this correspondence, I sent to you on the 11th February, 1897, an elaborate paper, which had been prepared by the honorable Secretary of State and approved by him, wherein the question of the plan for preventing antiforeign riots was discussed. In that paper five prominent points were enumerated as demanding action at your hands, which may be briefly summarized as follows:
- (1)
- Formal recognition of the fact that American missionaries have the right to reside in the interior.
- (2)
- A specific statement of their right to buy land.
- (3)
- The determination of China to hold her officials, including viceroys and governors, responsible for outrages on foreigners.
- (4)
- Suitable punishment for guilty or negligent officials.
- (5)
- The posting of an Imperial decree embodying these provisions in every Yamên in China.
On the 19th February, 1897, you answered the above mentioned paper substantially as follows:
As to the first point you admitted that the right to reside in the interior existed by treaty, and you deemed it useless to issue any formal decree.
[Page 68]As to the second point, you conceded that the American missionaries should be treated like the French missionaries.
As to the third point, you conceded that the local authorities should be punished for not taking precautionary measures to prevent riots, but you did not concede in treating this and the next point that governors and viceroys should be punished when antiforeign riots occur in their jurisdictions.
You argue that if “severe punishment were to be inflicted on officials who have failed to deal properly with missionary cases, it is feared that the people would treat them with contempt,” and you declined to carry out the suggestions presented to you.
In this connection it is proper to refer to the demand made by me November 23, 1896, that certain delinquent officials who failed to do their duty in the matter of the Kutien riots, which took place August 1, 1895, should be punished.
Acting under the instructions of my Government, I demanded that suitable punishment should be awarded to those officials.
On the 29th November, 1896, you replied that “it is not convenient now to pursue the matter any further.”
Thus curtly and cavalierly you disposed of the demand made by my Government. In spite of this inconsiderate treatment, I am disposed to consider the question of foreign riots as one chiefly relating to the future, and if I can secure at your hands a proper treatment of the matter of prevention of antiforeign riots, I might consent to drop ‘the consideration of the punishment of officials who have been heretofore delinquent, else I shall be compelled to keep the question open, subject to such action as international occurrences may require.
What I desire China to do is to make antiforeign riots impossible. Her character, credit, and standing before the world greatly depends on her action in this regard. She no longer occupies a position of seclusion. She has gone into the markets of the world as a borrower. She has undertaken great works of internal improvement. It is a new China which is appearing to the gaze of mankind, and she is to all intents and purposes a member of the family of nations. Yet day by day riots occur. Every newspaper contains an account of outrages perpetrated on foreigners.
On the silliest of pretexts whole, communities are thrown into terror, and ships of war are summoned to be ready to protect the foreigners against rioters.
As a friend of China, as well as a representative of some of these foreigners, I am looking around for remedial and preventive action that may secure peace and tranquillity. It is worth your while to join seriously in this discussion, because ultimately your Government suffers in loss of character, influence, public respect, as well pecuniarily, by riots. You can no longer, as in the past, regard the opinion of the world as valueless. Your financial credit is at stake. Why, then, will you not do the simple things I ask you to do? Why will you not hold your viceroys and governors responsible for outrages on foreigners as you hold them responsible for outrages on Chinese subjects? Why will you not procure an Imperial decree to be issued stating the simple determination to hold viceroys, governors, and all officials responsible for riots and denouncing suitable punishment against all officials in whose jurisdiction riots occur?
Such a decree would put an end to the occurrence of antiforeign riots in China. It would show that you are in earnest in your desire to prevent riots. You have tried for many years the old policy of paying [Page 69] damages and cutting off the heads of a few coolies. Riots have increased instead of diminishing. The people care nothing for the payment of damages, and little for the executions of the coolies. The people do not believe that the local officials are in earnest in reprobating riots, and many foreigners are of the same opinion.
The season of riots, the summer time, is on us. The time to act is now.
A ringing, earnest proclamation sent to every Yamên in China that not only degradation from office, but condign punishment will be awarded to every official, high and low, in whose jurisdiction an anti-foreign riot shall occur, would be hailed by the world with joy, and would insure peace, and would save you in future annoyances and loss.
Not neglecting the other points made, this is the chief of all. You have your opportunity and your warning. I have had long experience in China. I have seen the terrible evils of riots. I have seen murders, arsons, and the driving of scores of innocent people from their homes while infuriated men chased them like rats. I have seen men lose their health and women made crazy by the perils and sufferings put upon them by mobs. For China and for humanity I am anxious to do something to stop these ever-recurring outrages. The stroke of a pen can accomplish it to the honor and glory of China, and to the injury of no human being. Your viceroys and your governors have the undoubted power to prevent riots, if only His Majesty the Emporer will make them understand that their lives will pay the forfeit of their negligence.