Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Pekin, China, May 21, 1900.
(Received July 3.)
No. 376.]
Sir: I have the honor to confirm on the
overleaf my cipher telegram of to-day.1
In response to the request of the French minister the dean called a
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meeting of the diplomatic
corps yesterday, and upon information furnished in a letter from the
Catholic bishop in Pekin, and verbal reports by the other ministers, the
situation was considered so grave that the corps unanimously instructed
the dean to present it to the Tsungli Yamen and demand immediate and
effective measures, which he did to-day by the note, copy of which is
inclosed.
I also inclose copies of the bishop’s letter and one from Reverend Mr.
Killie, an American missionary who lives in Pekin but travels a circuit
to the north and east.
On the 18th instant during an extended personal interview with the
Tsungli Yamen I called their attention to the fact that notwithstanding
constant warnings from this and other legations the “Boxers” had
continually increased and spread until now they are boldly organizing
inside the wall of Pekin, the existence of thousands is known in the
villages around Pekin, Christian converts are being persecuted and
threatened everywhere, many forced to recant their religious
professions, and some have been compelled to abandon their chapels and
come to Pekin for safety.
I said:
At a London mission near Chou Chow, 40 miles west of Pekin, 2
native Christians have been killed and their chapel destroyed.
Near Paotingfu a Catholic village has been destroyed and 61
Christians murdered, some of them being burned alive.
The foreign Governments can not longer sit idly by and witness
this persecution and murder. I can only speak for my own
Government, but it is becoming very impatient over China’s
continued treaty violation. It always has been, and still is,
the good friend of China, and only wishes it prosperity, but it
is now more than ever determined to sustain the treaty rights of
all American citizens and of the Christian converts, and it will
hold the Chinese Government to the strictest responsibility for
every treaty infraction in this regard. It will do this, not
only for the benefit of its own citizens, but in the interest of
China herself, whose Government is now sadly threatened by these
lawless organizations. At present, it is true, they seem to have
no capable leader, but should one arise, and the populace become
really inflamed, the overthrow of the present dynasty is most
likely to follow, and possibly the destruction of the Empire,
etc.
They replied that I did not understand the many difficulties under which
they labored, but they had succeeded in suppressing the “Boxers” in the
province of Shantung, and would do so here.
I told them that I saw no effective measures whatever being put forth.
They replied that the movement had not heretofore been looked upon as
serious; but that now the Throne was fully aware of the gravity of the
situation and that a recent confidential decree had been sent to the
Viceroy, the Pekin and neighboring officials, which would surely prove
effective, suppress the “Boxers,” and restore order.
I told them that the most alarming telegrams were being sent to the
newspapers of Europe and America of the existing state of anarchy here,
and that the people of the world would be forced to believe that the
Government of China was either abetting these murderous brigands, or
that it was too weak to suppress or control them, and its good name and
credit must suffer irretrievably in consequence. After reading me the
decree, which was much like those heretofore published, they asked me if
I would not wire my Government that they could and were suppressing the
“Boxers.”
I replied that at present I would not; that I had been for six months
telegraphing the issuance of ineffective decrees, but if they would show
me the fact by actual and immediate repression, which they could
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if they would, in three days,
I would gladly and quickly wire it to my Government.
They assured me that sufficient troops had been sent to the disturbed
districts te restore order and afford protection.
I again told them that restored order would be the only possible proof. I
also said that unless the situation was relieved and the threatening
danger from mobs averted, I should be compelled to ask for a sufficient
guard of American marines to insure the safety of the legation.
They said: “Oh, don’t do that; it is unnecessary.” And again promising
energetic action the interview closed.
Unless some energetic action is taken the situation will become fraught
with great danger to all foreigners, not from any intelligent or
organized attacks, but from ignorant, inflamed mob violence. I, however,
believe, as I said in my telegram, that the Government is aroused,
itself alarmed at the situation, and will take more energetic action;
but no one can be certain of this until it is done.
Since the U. S. S. Wheeling had already left Taku,
I deemed it prudent to ask the admiral for the presence of another war
vessel, and, responding to the request, Admiral Kempff, with the Newark, sailed hither from Yokohama on the 19th
instant and should arrive soon.
I have the honor to be, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
The Diplomatic Body
to the Tsungli Yamen.
The Prince and Ministers:
I have the honor to communicate to your highness and your
excellencies the text of a resolution prepared yesterday by the
representatives of the foreign powers accredited to Pekin.
“The diplomatic body, relying upon the imperial decrees already
published, which have ordered the dissolution of the ‘Boxers,’
demand:
- “First. The arrest of all persons practicing the drills of
that association, provoking disturbances upon the public
highway; posting, printing, or distributing placards which
may contain threats against foreigners.
- “Second. The arrest of owners or guardians of temples or
other places where the ‘Boxers’ assemble, and the treatment
of these accomplices and criminal abettors as ‘Boxers’
themselves.
- “Third. The chastisement of the public officials who may
render themselves culpable by neglecting to suppress any
disorder with which they are charged, or who may connive
with the rioters.
- “Fourth. The execution of the authors of outrages
(murders, incendiarism, etc.) against persons or
property.
- “Fifth. The execution of persons who are supporting and
directing the ‘Boxers’ in the present disturbances.
- “Sixth. The publication in Pekin, in Chihli, and the other
northern provinces of proclamations bringing these measures
to the knowledge of the people.”
I am, besides, charged by the diplomatic corps to inform your
highness and your excellencies that it expects a satisfactory reply
to this demand without unnecessary delay.
I improve the occasion to reiterate to your highness and your
excellencies the assurance of my highest consideration.
B. Cologan,
Dean of the Diplomatic
Corps.
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[Inclosure
2.—Translation.]
Bishop Favier
to Mr. Pichon, French
minister.
Apostolic Vicarate of Pekin and North
China,
Pekin, May 19,
1900.
Mr. Minister: From day to day the situation
becomes more serious and threatening. In the prefecture of Paotingfu
more than seventy Christians have been massacred; near Icheou, only
three days ago, three neophytes have been cut in pieces. Many
villages have been pillaged and burned, a great many others have
been completely abandoned.
More than 2,000 Christians are fleeing, without bread, without
clothing, without shelter. At Pekin alone, about 400 refugees—men,
women, and children—are already lodged at our house and that of the
Sisters; before eight days we will probably have many thousands.
We will have to dismiss the schools, and the colleges also; use all
the hospitals to make room for these unfortunate people.
Upon the east of us pillage and incendiarism are imminent; we are
hourly receiving the most alarming news. Pekin is surrounded on all
sides; the “Boxers” are daily coming nearer the capital, delayed
only by the destruction which they are making of the Christians.
Believe me, I pray you, Mr. Minister, that I am well informed and say
nothing lightly.
Religious persecution is only one object. The real purpose is the
extermination of Europeans, a purpose which is clearly set forth and
written upon the banners of the “Boxers.” Their associates await
them at Pekin, where they will begin by attacking the churches and
finish with the legations.
For us here at Pekin, the day is practically ended. All the city
knows it; everybody is speaking of it, and a popular outbreak is
manifest.
Yesterday evening forty-three poor women and their children, flying
from the massacre, arrived at the house of the Sisters. More than
five hundred persons accompanied them, saying to them, that if they
escaped this once they would soon die with others.
Mr. Minister, I do not speak to you of placards without number which
are posted in the city against Europeans in general. Each day new
ones appear more explicit than the others. Those who, thirty years
ago, were present at the Tientsin massacre are struck with the
resemblance of the situation then to that of to-day; the same
placards, the same threats, the same warnings, and the same
blindness. Then also, as to-day, the missionaries wrote and
supplicated, foreseeing the horrible awakening.
Under these circumstances Mr. Minister, I believe it my duty to ask
you to kindly send at least forty or fifty marines to protect our
persons and our property. This has been already done under
circumstances much less critical, and I hope you will take into
consideration our humble prayer.
Please accept Mr. Minister, the assurances of the respect and the
profound gratitude with which I have the honor to be
Your excellency’s very humble and obedient servants,
- Alf. Favier,
Bishop Apostolic Vicar at
Pekin.
- S. Jarlin,
Bishop Coadjutor.
- G. Guilloux,
Vicar-General.
[Inclosure 3.]
Mr. Killie to
Mr. Conger.
Ling Shan, San Ho County (35 miles east of
Pekin),
May 16,
1900.
Dear Sir: I have delayed giving you the
list of villages in this district where the “I Ho C’huan” (or T’uan)
is in active operation, until I could verify, beyond question, the
statements heretofore made concerning the same. I am now prepared
with proof to show that the members of that organization practice
(“lien”) practically daily in each of the following thirteen places,
viz: (1) San Ho City, the county seat.
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(2) Ling Shan, a village 35 li northwest of
San Ho City, where the Presbyterian mission owns twenty “chien” of
improved native buildings, and where two American missionaries spend
the most of their time. Here the “Boxers” come to our very doors to
practice, and I have personally seen them at it twice. (3) Chang Ko
Chuang. (4) Cheng Kuan Ying. (5) Shi Kuan Ying. (6) T’ao Chung Tsi.
(7) C’hu T’ou. (8) Tsung Chia Tien. (9) Siao Sung Ko Chuang. (10)
Siao T’sui Ko Chuang. (11) Chia Kuan Ying. (12) Siao Koo Hsien
Chuang, where the American Presbyterian has a boarding school for
girls and where there is also located one foreign lady missionary
evangelist.
(These places are all in the neighborhood of Ling Shan, our
headquarters.) (13) Pao Ti Hsien, the county seat, one hundred li to
the southeast of this place, where we have had a native evangelist
at work for over a year. At this place great numbers of men (said to
be as many as two or three hundred) practice openly every day.
It is only recently that open threats of violence have been made
against the foreign missionaries here and against the native
Christians, but they are now almost of daily occurrence. For
example, at the sixth village mentioned above, T’sao Chuang Tsi, 8
li from this place, where every evening the people from several
villages meet to practice the I Ho C’huan maneuvers, on the 12th
instant, Mr. Wang T’ing Hsiang, one of the owners of the ground
where the practising is done, forbade one of our evangelists, who is
a native of that place, to come where they were practicing, saying
to him, among other threatening things, that they were preparing to
destroy the foreigners at Ling Shang, and their followers, the
native Christians.
Furthermore, yesterday, May 14, when two of our native preachers went
to the San Ho yamen with a letter from me to the official, they were
recognized as Christian evangelists and followed by people to the
yamen, and repeatedly threatened with death. There were many calls
for knives to kill them with. The official was absent from the city,
so they did not see him. They actually suffered no physical
violence, but that was doubtless only because of their own patience
and forbearance.
All about us men are actively stirring up feeling against us by
saying that we are poisoning the wells, and many villages have
already purchased native medicine to put into the wells to
counteract the effect of the supposed poison.
The recent rains which you have had in Pekin have not reached this
part of the country, and hence, as no farming can be done, the
people are idle and distressed at having no crops, and consequently
easily misled by the designing men who are so actively propagating
this society.
The I Ho C’huan is spreading like wildfire all over this district.
Where two months ago it was practically unknown, today there are
scores of active societies, which are rapidly becoming aggressive
ones, and unless your excellency can secure the immediate and
vigorous action of the Chinese Government in suppressing it and in
punishing a few ringleaders, it is certain (humanly speaking) that
it is only a question of a very short time until there will be a
violent uprising in all this district. I believe that it is not yet
too late to suppress it if taken hold of in earnest by the Chinese
officials; but in my judgment (and I have passed through several
such experiences in my ten or more years in China) there is not a
day to spare.
Praying your excellency’s kindly offices on our behalf,
I am, your obedient servant,
P. S.—Any message sent to me in care of Rev. John Wherry, D. D.,
will be promptly forwarded to me.