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 21, 1898.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose to you a list of the members of the grand council, the Tsung-li Yamên, and of the six boards, which make up the central Government of China.
The list has been prepared with considerable care, especially as to the spelling of the Chinese names.
I have, etc.,
Chinese official list.
Grand council or cabinet, seven members, four Manchu and three Chinese, arranged in order of precedence:
President.—(1) Prince Li (Manchu), hereditary prince, a distant branch of the Imperial family.
Members.—(2) Jung Lu (Manchu), a grand secretary of state, supervisor of board of war, commander in chief of the northern armies, member of the Tsung-li Yamên, ex-viceroy of Province of Chihli, ex-military governor of Peking. (3) Kang Yi (Manchu), junior grand secretary of state, president of board of war, ex-president of board of punishments, ex-governor of Provinces of Shansi, Kiang, and Kwangtung. (4) Wang Wen-shao (Chinese), of Chekiang Province, president of board of revenue, member of Tsung-li Yamên, commissioner of railway and mining bureau, ex-viceroy Provinces of Yunnan and Kuei-cheu, ex-viceroy Province ot Chihli. (5) Chi Hsiu (Manchu), president of board of ceremonies, president of household office. (6) Ch’ien Ying-p’u (Chinese of Chekiang), president of board of works, ex-president of censorate. (7) Liao Shou-heng (Chinese of Province of Kiangsu), junior guardian of heir apparent, president of board of ceremonies, member of the Tsung-li Yamên, ex-president of board of punishments.
The Tsung-li Yamên (foreign office), ten members, six Chinese and four Manchus, arranged in order of precedence:
Presidents.—(1) Prince Ch’ing (Manchu), lord chamberlain of the Imperial court, commandant of the Peking field force.
Members.—(2) Wang Wen-shao member of grand council. (3) Liao Shou-heng member of grand council. (4) Ch’ung Li (Manchu), junior guardian of the heir apparent, president of the board of punishments, military governor of Peking. (5) Chao Shu-ch’iao (Chinese), president of board of punishments, commissioner of railway and mining bureau. (6) Hsu Yung-e (Chinese), vice-president of board of civil office. (7) Hsü Ching-ch’eng (Chinese), vice-president of board of works, ex-minister to Germany and Russia. (8) Yuan Ch’ang (Chinese), ex-treasurer, Nankin. (9) Kuei Ch’un (Manchu), ex-provincial judge, Kansu; ex-taotai of grain transport, Shantung. (10) Lien Yuan (Manchu), ex-provincial judge, An-hui.
[Page 223]In addition to the above members there is a staff of 4 chief secretaries, 4 assistant secretaries, 9 secretaries in the bureau for Great Britain, 12 in the bureau for France, 12 in the bureau for Russia, 12 in the bureau for the United States, 7 in the coast-defense office, and various others, making a total staff, with official rank, of 79.
The six boards in order of precedence:
the board of civil office.
- Presidents, senior.—Hsi Ching, Manchu; Sun Chia-nai, Chinese.
- Vice-presidents.—Ch’ung Kuang, Hsü Yung-e.
- Junior vice-presidents.— P’u Shan, Hsü Hui-feng.
the board of revenue.
- Presidents.—Ching Hsin, Manchu; Wang Wen-shao, Chinese.
- Senior vice-presidents.—Li Shan, Manchu; Wu Shu-mei, Chinese; Tseng Kuang Han (acting).
- Junior vice-presidents.—P’u Liang, Manchu; Ch’en Hsueh-fen, Chinese.
the board of ceremonies.
- Presidents.—Chi Hsiu, Manchu; Liao Shon-heng, Chinese.
- Senior vice-presidents.—Kuo P’u T’ung Wu, Manchu; Wang Hsi Fan (acting).
- Junior vice-presidents.—Sa Lien, Manchu; Tang Ching-ch’ung, Chinese.
the board of war.
- Presidents.—Kang Yi, Manchu; Hsü P’u, Chinese.
- Senior vice-presidents.— Jung Hui, Manchu; Hsü Hui-feng, Chinese (acting).
- Junior vice-presidents.—Wen Chih, Manchu; Shou Ch’ang, Manchu.
the board of punishments.
- Presidents.—Ch’ung Li, Manchu; Shu-ch’iao, Chinese.
- Senior vice-presidents.—A-k’o-tan, Manchu; Li Pei-yuan, Chinese.
- Junior vice-presidents.—K’un Hsui, Manchu; Liang Chung-heng, Chinese.
the board of works.
- Presidents.—Sung Kuei, Manchu; Ying-p’u, Chinese; Hsu Shu ming (acting).
- Senior vice-presidents.—Feng Ming, Manchu; Hsu Ching-ch’eng, Chinese.
- Junior vice-presidents.—Ying Nien, Manchu; Yang Ju, Chinese.
In addition to the presidents, etc., there is a staff of 144 secretaries, 185 under secretaries, 163 assistant secretaries, and 553 clerks, making a total staff of the six boards, with official rank, of 1,081, besides about 1,000 clerks and copyists without rank.