Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay.
Pekin, China, June 4, 1900. (Received October 24.)
Sir: Confirming on the overleaf my telegram of the 3d instant,1 I have the honor to report that, contrary to all our expectations, the general situation is daily growing more serious.
The so-called “Boxers” are increasing, spreading, and instead of contenting themselves with persecuting and murdering native Christians are now threatening the missionaries and attacking other foreigners, particularly those employed on the railways. A well-authenticated [Page 140] report has at this moment come in that an English missionary, Mr. Robinson, has been murdered at Yung Ching, only 40 miles southwest from Pekin, and his colleague, Mr. Norman, held a prisoner.
The Tsungli Yamen insists that everything possible is being done, and promises an early restoration of order, but for the last two months scarcely a Boxer has been arrested or punished. In one case only have they been seriously attacked by the soldiers, in which a few Boxers were killed, but immediately the Boxers ambushed and killed the colonel in command, and his soldiers all fled. In most cases where the soldiers are sent out they fraternize with the Boxers instead of attacking them.
There is good ground for the belief that notwithstanding the imperial decrees issued against the Boxers, they are secretly called patriots and the soldiers ordered not to fire upon them. It is further believed by many that in case of a general contest a large part of the soldiers will join the Boxers, in which case the Imperial Government would be powerless to protect either itself or the foreigners.
The situation is largely due to a serious division in the Imperial cabinet, which, I have from good authority, at present verges close upon a crisis.
On one side are arrayed four of the most malignantly antiforeign officials in China: Kang I, grand secretary; Hsu Tung, general supervisor of the management and education of the heir apparent (both members of the grand council, and having the ear of the Empress Dowager every day); Chang I, tutor of the heir apparent; Prince Tuan, father of the heir apparent and general commanding a division in the army, and in whose command it is known several organizations of Boxers exist.
On the other side is Prince Ching, president of the Tsungli Yamen, and nearly all of the ministers of the Tsungli Yamen, but, except Prince Ching, these men are not often in conference with the Empress Dowager; Jung Lu, the commander in chief of the Imperial army, and a nephew of the Empress Dowager, but now in poor health, although strongly antiforeign and unfriendly toward Prince Ching, is not actively taking sides with either party, but is ready to stand with the Empress Dowager under any circumstances.
It is known by all that the Empress Dowager is naturally antiforeign, as are her most influential advisers, but there is no doubt that if a preponderance of her confidential advice came from the other side she would be proportionately influenced in that direction. The situation, then, is this:
A strong antiforeign sentiment pervades the country generally. The Boxers, constantly increasing, and now organizing, have the sympathy and support of many officers and men in the army.
The Government is unwilling or unable (probably both) to cope with them. The probability is that if the Government attempted in earnest and by severe measures to suppress or exterminate them it would be met by a formidable rebellion, and as soon as this situation became known in the south other revolutions would spring up and anarchy would prevail. If the Government was strong enough, of course the foreign powers could compel them by various means to restore order and protect. It may be that the only way this fact can be demonstrated is for the several governments to take such combined action as will compel them to either employ the necessary strength or acknowledge their lack of it.
[Page 141]The incidents of the last forty-eight hours indicate quite strongly the approaching necessity of such action.
Every minister here has repeatedly, verbally and by note, insisted upon a restoration of order and the protection of his nationals, and strongly presented the peril to and the responsibility of the Chinese Government in case of failure.
I have the honor to be, etc.,
- Printed ante.↩