Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1900

Memorandum left at Department of State by Minister Wu.

Chinese Legation , July 17, 1900 .

Cablegram received on July 17, 1900, from Viceroys Liu Kun Yi and Chang Chih-tung and Director-General Sheng, dated July 16, 1900, retransmitted by the Chinese minister in London, dated July 17, 1900, as follows:

Utmost efforts made to protect all foreign ministers who were well on 13th (July 9). If Tientsin city should be destroyed it would be difficult to restore same in one hundred years. Request the powers to preserve it, as the consequences would affect Chinese and foreign commerce. Earl Li Hung Chang is transferred to north China (as viceroy of Chihli). Please transmit this to Ministers Yang, Lu, Yu, and Wu.