Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 5, 1898
Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay.
Peking, China , December 29, 1898 .
Sir: I have the honor to report that at the request of Bishop Earl Cranston I requested the Tsung-li Yamên, November 9 last, to issue special instructions to the viceroy of Szechuan to take such measures as will insure the protection of all missionaries going to and from and attending the annual conference to be held at Chung-king during January next.
[Page 205]The Yamên telegraphed the instructions; but on the 17th instant the viceroy requested that, because of existing disturbances in the province, the conference be postponed.
I telegraphed this request to Rev. Spencer Lewis and asked him to notify Bishop Cranston. He replied that it was too late to postpone the conference, as some parties had already arrived safely at Chung king and others were en route. I therefore communicated this fact to the Tsung-li Yamên, and insisted that extraordinary precautions must be taken to protect these people, in accordance with treaty obligations, etc., which they have promised to do.
The situation in Szechuan is most disturbed; but due and ample warning has been given the Chinese Government, and it is to be hoped that no trouble will result.
I inclose copies of correspondence between the Tsung-li Yamên and the legation on the subject.
I have, etc.,
Mr. Conger to the Tsung-li Yamên.
Peking, China , November 9, 1898 .
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, has the honor to inform your highness and your excellencies that in January next there will be held, at the city of Chung-king, the general annual conference of all the Protestant missionaries in western China, and that of the Methodist Episcopal missionaries. The former will continue from eight to twelve days, and the latter from four to six.
The missionaries from all west China are expected to gather there, and in going and coming will probably occupy the most of the months of January and February. In order, therefore, to allay any fears that just now may possess any of the missionaries, and to avoid the possibility of trouble or danger, the undersigned would respectfully request that your highness and your excellencies take the precaution to cause such timely proclamations to be issued, and such prompt, special, and explicit orders given to the provincial and local officials as will insure the safety of all the missions in west China and the security and protection of all parties going to and returning from the above-mentioned meetings.
The undersigned avails himself of the occasion to assure your highness and your excellencies of his highest consideration.
The Tsung-li Yamên to Mr. Conger.
Your Excellency: The Yamên has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note, wherein you state—
that in January next there will be held, at the city of Chung-king, the general annual conference of all the Protestant missionaries in western China, and that of the Methodist Episcopal missionaries. The former will continue from eight to twelve days, and the latter from four to six, [Page 206] The missionaries from all west China are expected to gather there, and in going and coming will probably occupy two months. In order, therefore, to allay any fears that just now may possess any of the missionaries, and to avoid the possibility of any trouble, the undersigned would respectfully request that your highness and your excellencies take the precaution to cause such timely proclamations to be issued and such prompt, special, and explicit orders given to the provincial and local officials as will insure the safety of all the missions in west China and the security of all parties going to and returning from the above-mentioned meetings, etc.
Upon receipt of your excellency’s note, the Yamên immediately telegraphed the viceroy of Szechuan to instruct the local authorities to afford satisfactory protection at the time mentioned.
A necessary reply to your excellency’s communication.
The Tsung-li Yamên to Mr. Conger.
Your Excellency: We have the honor to inform you that on the 15th instant this Yamên received from the viceroy of Szechuan the following telegram:
I am in receipt of the Tsung-li Yamên’s communication stating that they have received a dispatch from Minister Conger to the effect “that in January next there will be held, at the city of Chung-king, the general annual conference of all the Protestant missionaries in western China, and that of the Methodist Episcopal missionaries, and that instructions be sent to the local officials to insure protection to all those parties going to and returning from the conferences.” I then ordered the local officials to act accordingly, and the case is on record.
Moreover, before the Yu Man-tzu were pacified, banditti everywhere, feigning the names of Yu Man-tzu, have been creating trouble, and the state of affairs is very grave, so that it will be necessary to move troops. Chung-king is a place where trouble frequently occurs, and it is difficult to preserve quietness. Although the missionaries have decided to hold their conferences in January, there is a possibility that these worthless fellows will take this opportunity to cause trouble, making it even more difficult to rectify matters. Therefore, would it not be well to address Minister Conger with the request that he will telegraph the chairman of the forthcoming conferences to delay their meetings temporarily until quiet is restored? etc.
Upon investigation we find that the facts given in the viceroy’s telegram are truly so. The special object in view is to prevent any misfortune from springing up in order that the missionaries may be protected.
We send this note for your excellency’s information, and would beg you to telegraph the chairman of said conferences to put off their meetings in Chung-king for the present, in order that any future trouble may be avoided.
Cards of ministers, with compliments.
Mr. Conger to the Tsung-li Yamên.
Peking, China , December 19, 1898 .
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, has to-day received the note of your highness and your excellencies, in which it is stated that the viceroy of Szechuan telegraphs, in reference to the proposed missionary conference to be held in Chung-king in January next, that the—
State of affairs is very grave and that there is a possibility that worthless fellows will take this opportunity to cause trouble, aud he therefore recommends that Minister Conger be requested to telegraph the chairman of said conference to postpone their meetings for the present, etc.
The viceroy’s suggestion has been telegraphed to Rev. Spencer Lewis, a leading American missionary at Chung king; but he must inform your highness and your excellencies that only one of the conferences is wholly American. The other is a general conference, composed of English, Americans, and all other Protestant missionaries.
He, however, apprehends that it is now too late to stop the gathering of these people at Chung-king, because some of the delegates are already en route thither, and others are sure to start before they can be communicated with, so that whether or not the conferences are held many of the missionaries will be going to or from their homes and will require protection. Besides, it is the annual meeting of the American Episcopal Mission, over which the bishop presides and makes important communications and suggestions. For this supervisory purpose Bishop Earle Cranston has come from the United States and is now somewhere on his way from Shanghai to Chung-king, and it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to reach him.
It seems, therefore, that it is not likely that the gathering of the missionaries at Chun-king can now be prevented, and having once gathered there a quiet and orderly conference could do no harm.
The undersigned feels that he is in duty bound to lay before your highness and your excellencies these facts, in order that such further precautionary measures may be taken as the exigencies of the occasion require.
Since the viceroy himself acknowledges the existence of danger from some worthless fellows, any lack of watchfulness or failure on his part to provide means to restrain and control these fellows will be inexcusable and indefensible.
Although the undersigned has telegraphed the missionaries at Chungking, yet because of the several nationalities interested and of the impossibility of informing the delegates in time, a postponement of the gathering may be impossible, he insists that under these extraordinary circumstances extraordinary efforts should be put forth by the Chinese Government to meet the obligations which treaty obligations fix upon it.
The undersigned avails himself, etc.,
Mr. Conger to The Tsung-li Yamên.
Peking, China , December 22, 1898 .
In reference to the proposed missionary conference to be held in January at Chung-king, and in reply to his telegram suggesting a postponement thereof, the undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, has this day received a telegram from Rev. Spencer Lewis, of Chung-king, as follows:
Too late postpone conference. Parties arriving safely. Others already starting, require viceroy’s protection,
which he has the honor to bring to the immediate attention of your highness and your excellencies.
Since the conference can not be postponed, the undersigned requests that the viceroy may be ordered to take whatever extra precautions may be necessary to prevent trouble.
The undersigned avails himself, etc.,
The Tsung-li Yamên to Mr. Conger.
Your Excellency: We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s communications of the 19th and 22d instants, respectively, relative to the missionary conferences to be held at Chungking in January next.
You therein state that you have wired Rev. Spencer Lewis to postpone said conference and that you have received his reply as follows:
Too late postpone conference. Parties arriving safely. Others already starting, require Viceroy’s protection.
Since the conference can not be postponed, your excellency requests that the viceroy may be ordered to take whatever extra precautions may be necessary to prevent trouble.
In addition to wiring the viceroy to adopt measures for protection, as in duty bound, we sent this note for your excellency’s consideration.
Cards of ministers with compliments.