Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Pekin, China, June 11,
1900.
(Received at the Department of State September
25, 1900.)
No. 391.]Sir: I have the honor to confirm herewith the
telegraphic correspondence with the Department since June 5, and to say
that the situation here has been daily growing worse.1
The Chinese Government has done nothing toward suppressing the Boxers
except to send their friends out to parley with them.
They have ever since the 6th instant had absolute possession and control
of the whole country surrounding the city. The railroad has been open
but one day. They have killed many native Christians, at least 40
belonging to the American missions, and burning numerous chapels. On
yesterday they burned the college of the American Board Mission at
Tung-chow together with all their homes, from which on the 7th instant
all had been compelled to flee to this city, leaving practically
everything behind them. This was done by the Chinese soldiers
themselves, or else in their presence and without their opposition. They
have burned the summer residences of the British legation and all the
houses of the American Board, Methodist and Presbyterian missions, at
the Western Hills. On the 9th were burned all the buildings of the
foreign race course just outside the city walls.
We have four American missions and one international under the control of
an American, widely scattered in this large city. They each wanted a
guard, which was impossible, but I told them they ought to remain at
their missions as long as possible (for desertions here always invite
trouble), and when it became necessary to abandon them, if they would
all assemble in one compound I would furnish them a guard.
On the 7th it was thought best by all to gather in the Methodist
compound, which is the largest, the easiest to defend, and the nearest
to the legation.
There are now 70 Americans there, 51 of whom are women and children. They
have a guard of 20 marines, and the missionaries have some 20 guns and
revolvers besides. If it becomes necessary they can all get inside of a
large church and defend themselves against quite a formidable siege.
We have assembled in the legation compound 32 Americans, 25 of whom are
women and children, with a guard of 35 marines and a rapid-fire gun.
On the 8th the conditions were so ominous that some of us asked the
Tsungli Yamen |or permission to bring additional guards, which was
refused.
On the 9th the Emperor and the Empress Dowager returned to the city from
the summer palace. The Tsungli Yamen was so excited, declared the
Government so helpless, and the Chinese soldiers were so insulting and
threatening that I wired Admiral Kempff that railroad communication
ought to be opened and a movement in force made on Pekin, if possible.
The British minister wired the English admiral in the same tenor.
[Page 145]
The consuls at Tientsin immediately got together and demanded a train
from the viceroy, which was furnished, and at 10:30 a.m. the 10th a
train was started hither with 300 British, 100 Americans, 60 Austrians,
and 30 Italians on board. Another was to follow later with Russian and
French. Immediately thereafter the wires were interrupted, and we have
heard nothing from them since. A reconnoitering train, the day before,
was said to have run over the road and found it in order to a point
about 30 miles from Pekin. From thence much of the road is known to be
seriously damaged. To-day I have tried to send a telegram to the
Department via Russia, but that line is also cut.
On yesterday four new members of the Tsungli Yamen were appointed: Prince
Tuan (Tsai I), Chi Hsiu, Pu Hsing, and Na Tung, all said to be bitterly
antiforeign. Prince Tuan is the father of the heir apparent, and has
been made president of the Tsungli Yamen, and by virtue of these two new
relations will have practical control of affairs. His appointment will
undoubtedly insure harmony between the Throne and the Tsungli Yamen, but
it seems to me an extremely unfortunate appointment. (He is known to be
malignantly antiforeign, a patron of the Boxers, and has many of them in
his division of the army. His policy toward them can not, therefore, be
expected to be a repressive one, but must mean continual persecution and
attacks upon missionaries and their followers, destruction of their
property, hindrance of trade, and constant menace and danger to all
foreigners and foreign interests.)
If he takes his place on the Tsungli Yamen, he will meet foreigners for
the first time, and personal contact with them may somewhat change his
estimate of them. Prince Ching, however, has not as yet been relieved,
and it is creditably reported that Prince Tuan was appointed at his
request. If so, this means some sort of compromise between the cabinet
factions. Prince Ching is of higher rank than Tuan, and it is very
common here to have two presidents for one board, and the Tsungli Yamen
has heretofore had two presidents at the same time with the same
designation.
My present judgment is that under all the circumstances Prince Tuan’s
appointment ought not to be recognized or permitted. But the question of
the moment is that of saving the lives of our people from their present
peril.
We are just now very anxious about the additional troops “en route” and
about ourselves as well. We could, with our present guards, probably
defend ourselves against the Boxers, but hardly against combined attack
of Boxers and soldiers. No reliance whatever can be placed upon the
Chinese soldiers. They are under no control and yield no obedience. They
are themselves continually looting and murdering. To-day the chancellor
of the Japanese legation was attacked by soldiers at one of the gates,
pulled out of his cart, and brutally murdered.
The probability, of which I telegraphed on the 4th, is now a fact. We are
besieged in Pekin, entirely cut off from outside communications, and our
deliverance depends on the concerted action of the naval squadrons at
Taku in coming to our relief. The entrance into the city of these
additional guards may be opposed by the Chinese army. If so, it may
become necessary to wait until considerable reenforcements shall arrive,
but they can arrive very soon. The Russians are sending 2,000 infantry
and cavalry to-day from Port Arthur to Taku, the
[Page 146]
Japanese will soon have a large contingent there,
and, with those already at Taku, an amply sufficient force can speedily
move in this direction.
In a civilized country of course there would be no question as to our
safety, but here, with practically no government, and the army only a
mutinous horde of savage ruffians, there can be no predicting what they
may attempt.
We regret exceedingly the presence of so many women and children, but are
doing the best we can for safety of all. * * *
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Translation of an imperial decree published in
the manuscript Pekin Gazette, June 6, 1900.
The propagation of Christianity has been carried on in China for
years, the missionaries teaching men to do good, and the converts
have not presumed on their being Christians and caused trouble.
Hence the people and converts have all shown a good feeling toward
each other, and each have carried out the principles of the religion
they believed in.
Recently the missionary chapels have become numerous in the various
provinces, and the converts are in large numbers. There are,
however, reckless and worthless fellows among them; but it is
difficult for the missionaries to examine into the character and
ascertain complete knowledge of all the good and bad. These outlaws
avail themselves of the name of Christian and insult and oppress the
people and do the part of the “best man” in the country round. We
believe that the missionaries do not approve of such conduct.
As to the society of the Fist of Righteous Harmony in the reign of
Chia Ching it was prohibited by law. Up to recent times they had
been practicing to be skillful in the art of protecting themselves
and guarding their villages, but they did not create trouble. We
issued, however, repeated decrees ordering the local authorities to
repress and keep the society from committing acts of violence. It
matters not whether it is the society or not the society. We can
only consider the question of banditti or no banditti, and when
trouble arises it is urgently necessary that the guilty should be
rigorously arrested and punished. The native converts and the Boxers
are all the people of our country, and the court regards them all
with equal kindness, irrespective of their being Christians or
Boxers. We have issued our commands that when cases of litigation
arise between the people and the Christians the local officials
should deal with them justly, but of late the officials of the
prefectures, subprefectures, departments, and districts have
followed the long-standing practice of acting in a careless and
perfunctory way in dealing with such cases. They can not have had
relations or intercourse with the missionaries; further, they have
been unable to show any consideration for the feelings of the
people; and whenever cases have come up between the non-Christians
and Christians they can not with their entire minds have
investigated them and rendered proper decisions. This has caused a
feeling of intense anger and resulted in the people and converts
being on bad terms with each other. The Boxers—in name an enemy of
Christianity—therefore established their train-band society. There
are outlaws and rebels who have joined the society and have caused
trouble. They have destroyed the railway and burned chapels. The
railway was built by the Government, and the Christian chapels are
the places where the missionaries and their converts live. How is it
that the Boxers have of their own free will and accord burned and
destroyed these? The acts committed by them have placed the
Government in a difficult position, and they are certainly
unreasonable.
Yesterday we deputed the privy councilor, Chiao Shu chiao, to go and
make known our decree to the Boxers and others, and admonish them
that they should at once, in obedience to our mandate, all disperse
and each person pursue quietly his respective occupation. Should
there still be any traitorous persons or banditti among them who
stir up and arouse suspicion in the minds of the people, with the
avowed purpose of doing injury to any place or locality, the Boxer
society must at once deliver up the principal leaders and they will
be punished according to law. If any still remain obstinately fixed
in a delusion, they will be regarded as rebels, and when they are
killed by the soldiers they will then be separated from their
parents, wives,
[Page 147]
and
children and their homes ruined—the result of death. They would
further have to bear the name of being disloyal and not patriotic,
but it will then be too late for repentance. The court feels the
deepest pity for you people.
After the promulgation of this decree, if the outlaws still do not
reform, the grand secretary, Jung Lu, is to forthwith issue
instructions to Tung Fu-hsiang, Sung Ching, and Ma Yu-kun to move
the troops under their respective commands, and to energetically
attack and destroy them. A discrimination, however, must be made
between the leaders and followers (if caught), but it is important
that the followers should all be dispersed. The rank and file are
specially appointed to guard and protect the people; but we hear
that among the forces dispatched by the province of Chihli there are
soldiers who not only have not offered protection to the people and
taken steps to repress (the outlaws), but they have actually taken
part in creating disturbances.
Let the viceroy of Chihli, Yu Lu, hold a stringent investigation and
deal with the matter. Further, let Jung Lu appoint officers to
investigate and inquire into it, and if there are any worthless
officers who are unable to maintain strict discipline among their
soldiers they are to be at once punished by martial law, and no
leniency be shown. Let this decree be forthwith proclaimed by
putting out yellow notices of it everywhere for the information of
the soldiers and people.
[Inclosure 2.]
Translation of an Imperial decree published in
the manuscript Pekin Gazette, June 8, 1900.
On account of the Boxers having created trouble in the neighborhood
of the capital, and the minds of the people having become excited,
and a feeling of unrest prevailing, we repeatedly issued our
commands that stringent measures be taken to investigate and deal
with the matter. But of late there are vagabonds and rowdies armed
with swords and weapons who roam about the streets and market places
in gangs of from three to five persons. They assemble together and
disperse at uncertain times, and if they are not at once stringently
prohibited a state of disorder will certainly prevail. The
gendarmerie, the governor of Pekin, and the police censors of the
five cities are charged with and responsible for the arrest of
outlaws and patrolling and guarding the place. How is it that this
class of persons are allowed to band together at the very gates of
our court and cause excitement in the minds of the people?
Now, besides having issued our commands to the princes and high
officers in command of the Pekin field force and the Hu Sheng force
stationed in Pekin to depute their entire garrisons, together with
certain cavalry forces, to keep patrol both day and night, and to
arrest at once any outlaws who create trouble, we now command the
general commanding the gendarmerie, the governor of Pekin and the
police censors of the five divisions of the city and suburbs of
Pekin, to dispatch soldiers and police under their jurisdiction to
keep strict watch and patrol in every district, and where there are
any traces of suspicion of bad characters or armed bands circulating
false reports for the purpose of causing trouble, the persons
suspected are to be forthwith arrested and severely punished. There
must not be the least carelessness shown by the officials in the
discharge of their duties, so as to prevent a general outbreak or
rebellion, and that peace and quiet may prevail.
[Inclosure 3.]
A decree published in the manuscript Pekin
Gazette, June 10, 1900.
Let Prince Tuan (Tsai I) be appointed president of the Tsungli Yamen.
Let Chi Hsiu, president of the board of rites, Pu Hsing, junior
vice-president of the board of works, and Na Tung, subchancellor of
the grand secretariat and holding the brevet rank of vice-president
of the board of rites, be appointed ministers to the Tsungli
Yamen.
At the present time we are confronted with difficulties and
troublesome questions, and it is absolutely necessary that the said
prince and ministers should sincerely apply their minds to the
performance of the duties of their post so as to aid us. They will
not be permitted to decline appointment.
[Page 148]
[Inclosure 4.]
Mr. Conger to
the Tsungli Yamen.
Legation of the United States,
Pekin, China, May
31, 1900.
Your Highness and Your Excellencies: I
hasten to inform Your highness and your excellencies that I have
just received word from the American missionaries at Tung Chou that
the situation there is very alarming, and there is trouble ahead.
Some days ago a body of Boxers left there for the purpose of
destroying the railway, and they have now returned with leaders of
Boxers from elsewhere, who threaten an attack upon the city, the
American missionaries and their college.
It is important that effective measures be taken at once to prevent
trouble, and I request that a guard of soldiers be sent to Tung Chou
without delay to preserve order and that the soldiers be warned that
in the event of their failing to properly discharge their duty they
will be held responsible and punished.
I also request that a telegram be sent to the taotai at once,
instructing him to take extra precautionary measures to avoid a
calamity to the missionaries, of whom there are nine gentlemen and
twenty-five ladies and children. They can not leave Tung Chou in the
present condition of affairs, and I must warn you that the Chinese
Government will be held responsible for any attack made upon them
and their property.
I avail myself, etc.,
[Inclosure 5.]
Mr. Conger to
the Tsungli Yamen.
Legation of the United States,
Pekin, China, June 2, 1900.
Your Highness and Your Excellencies: I have
the honor to bring to the notice of your highness and your
excellencies further cases of persecution of Christians by the
Boxers, which have been reported to me by the American missionaries,
and to request that proper and efficient measures be taken to
prevent such unlawful acts, and give due protection to those
innocent people in the future.
On Sunday, May 27, at dusk, men came by the chapel of the American
Board Mission, in Liang Hsien, armed with bricks. The helper stepped
outside to expostulate with them. They threw bricks at the chapel,
smashing window frames badly, and then pounded him with the bricks,
giving him bruises from which it will take some time to recover.
Some of the men he knew to be from the Hsien’s yamen. The helper
(Chang Ting-kuei) went to the yamen to seek redress, and called for
Kao An, who came out, but would do nothing. The underlings struck
and kicked Mr. Chang. Then the Hsien official himself went to the
chapel, but he would not take up the affair and do anything about
it. The missionaries then sent a cart and had the helper come up to
Pekin.
Yesterday several church members came from the mission’s outstation
at Nan Meng, in Pa Chou district. There the Boxers have taken the
chapel for a drilling ground. They give the church members a choice
of three things—either recant, or flee and leave their property to
be looted, or stay and be killed. In the village of Hsueh Ko Chuang
there are some Christians belonging to the Methodist mission who
have been killed. Catholics have been murdered, and Christians
seized and compelled to pay ransom. On May 29 a Christian, named
Chien Wutai, who lives at Ta Shang, was seized at Nan Meng, in the
Feng Hsing Chang shop, by Chu Hung and Kuo Ya-tou, compelled to
recant, and fined 600 strings of cash. The two men above alluded to
are leaders of the Boxers. There are many, many other cases of
persecution in the jurisdiction of the governor of Pekin which are
daily occurrences.
May I ask what the governor of Pekin is doing? Can it be said that he
is carrying out the injunctions of the imperial decree of May 30?
Your highness and your excellencies have assured me that action is
being taken in good earnest to suppress these unlawful outrages. I
ask, Can this be the case when they are occurring every day?
I avail myself, etc.,
[Page 149]
[Inclosure 6.]
Mr. Conger to
the Tsungli Yamen.
Legation of the United States,
Pekin, China, June 4, 1900.
Your Highness and Your Excellencies: I have
the honor to bring to the attention of your highness and your
excellencies the fact that the situation at Paoting Fu is very
threatening, and as there are many American missionaries there I
request that telegraphic instructions be sent to the high
authorities there to take stringent measures to protect them and
prevent any trouble. It is important that prompt and efficient
action be taken at once.
I avail myself, etc.,
[Inclosure 7.]
The Tsungli Yamen to
Mr. Conger.
Your Excellency: We have the honor to
receive your excellency’s note of June 4, in which you state that
the situation at Paoting Fu is threatening, and as there are many
American missionaries there you request that telegraphic
instructions be sent at once to the high authorities there to take
stringent measures to protect them and prevent any trouble.
In reply we beg to inform your excellency that the yamen telegraphed
the viceroy of Chihli to take prompt and efficient action to protect
the missionaries at Paoting Fu, and have now received a reply from
him stating that the missionaries there are not in extreme danger
and that he has again instructed the provisional treasurer and judge
to report to him the actual condition of affairs at Paoting Fu and
at the same time take proper measures to protect the missionaries
living there.
Cards of ministers with compliments.
[Inclosure 8.]
The Tsungli Yamen to
Mr. Conger.
Your Excellency: In the matter of the
troubles committed by the outlaws of the society of the Fist of
Righteous Harmony, the prince and ministers have the honor to inform
the minister of the United States that an imperial decree was to-day
issued as follows: “After the promulgation of this decree, if they
(the outlaws) still do not reform, the grand secretary, Jung Lu, is
to forthwith issue instructions to Tung Fu-hsiang, Sung Ching, and
Ma Yu-kun to move the troops under their respective commands, and to
energetically attack and destroy them.”
The promulgation of this decree inside and outside of Pekin where
trouble has occurred will, it is believed, within a certain time
cause peace and quiet to be restored.
As in duty bound, the prince and ministers send this communication to
the minister of the United States, and would say that there is no
need for him to be too anxious about the matter.
[Inclosure 9.]
Mr. Conger to
the Tsungli Yamen.
Legation of the United States,
Pekin, China, June 7, 1900.
Your Highness and Your Excellencies: I have
the honor to inform your highness and your excellencies that
yesterday morning before daylight the chapel of the Methodist
mission at Huang Tsun was destroyed by fire by the Boxers and 11
church members killed, also 2 Catholics belonging to the village.
The houses of those killed, as well as those who escaped, have been
destroyed.
[Page 150]
I may also mention that reports are coming in from other places
continually of murders of Christians and destruction of property by
these oulaws. These unlawful acts will continue unless the
Government of China punishes those who commit them by death. There
can be no difficulty in finding out the real culprits if the
officials act in good earnest.
I inclose a list in Chinese of the prominent places of meeting of the
Boxers in the western section of the Southern City and the names of
the prominent leaders at each place. I ask that these men be
arrested and severely dealt with.
I avail myself, etc.,
[Inclosure 10.]
Mr. Conger to
the Tsungli Yamen.
Legation of the United States,
Pekin, China, June 8, 1900.
Your Highness and Your Excellencies: In
accordance with suggestions made during my visit at your yamen
yesterday evening, and to which your highness and your excellencies
assented, I have the honor to report that all the Americans left
Tung Chou this morning and came to Pekin for safety.
In doing so they have been obliged to leave to the protection of the
Chinese Government all their school buildings, chapels, and homes,
together with all books, scientific apparatus, furniture, clothing,
and other property of great value therein. I therefore request that
such orders shall be immediately wired to the proper local officials
as will insure adequate and complete protection until order is
restored and it will be safe for them to return and again take
possession themselves.
I avail myself, etc.,
[Inclosure 11.]
Mr. Conger to
the Tsungli Yamen.
Legation of the United States,
Pekin, China, June 10, 1900.
Your Highness and Your Excellencies: In
view of the danger to which foreign lives in Pekin are exposed by
the serious developments of the Boxer movements, I have the honor to
inform your highness and your excellencies that I must reserve the
right to take whatever further measures may be necessary to protect
the lives of American citizens.
I avail myself, etc.,
[Inclosure 12.]
The Tsungli Yamen to
Mr. Conger.
Your Excellency: The prince and ministers
have the honor to state that to-day they received a communication
from the minister of the United States, in which he states that in
view of the danger to which foreign lives are exposed by the
development of the Boxer movements, he must reserve the right to
take whatever further measures may be necessary to protect the lives
of American citizens.
In reply, the prince and ministers would observe that with regard to
the society of the “Fist of Righteous Harmony,” on the 6th and 8th
of June, imperial decrees were issued, and it is believed peace and
quiet will be gradually restored. The minister of the United States
should not by any means lightly listen to the reports in
circulation, but should cease feeling uneasy in his mind.
As to the remark in the communication that “he must reserve the right
to take whatever further measures may be necessary to protect the
lives of American citizens,” it may be stated that it is evident
that this would really prove of great injury to the existing
friendly relations (between the two Governments), and the Chinese
Government would find it certainly difficult to allow it to be
done.
As in duty bound, the prince and ministers send this communication in
reply for the information of the minister of the United States.
[Page 151]
[Inclosure 13.]
Mr. Conger to
the Tsungli Yamen.
Legation of the United States,
Pekin, China, June 12, 1900.
Your Highness and Your Excellencies:
Referring to my note of the 8th instant, wherein I informed your
highness and your excellencies that American missionaries at Tung
Chou had come to Pekin for safety and requested that immediate
orders be issued to the proper authorities at Tung Chou by telegraph
to render adequate and complete protection to all their school
buildings, chapels, and homes, together with all books, scientific
apparatus, furniture, clothing, and other property of great value,
which they left there, I now have the honor to inform your highness
and your excellencies that all the property of the mission and the
missionaries have been completely burned, destroyed, and looted.
I avail myself, etc.,
