Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Pekin, China, March 10,
1900.
No. 339.]
Sir: Referring to Department’s instruction No.
223, of January 18, and my dispatch No. 289, of December 7, which must
have crossed en route, concerning the outrageous conduct of the late
Governor Yu-Hsien of Shantung, I have the honor to report that, acting
upon a communication received from the missionaries at Chinanfu, I filed
with the Tsungli Yamen on the 6th instant a formal protest against his
future appointment to any place where he will have under his control
either missionaries or their work. Copy of note inclosed.
The missionaries suggested that he ought to, in some way, be severely
punished, but he is so strongly intrenched in imperial favor [Page 109] that it would be useless to demand
this, unless prepared to enforce it by force of arms, and since he has
been withdrawn from the governorship, I have thought best to content
myself with this protest.
I have the honor to be, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Conger to
the Tsungli Yamen.
Legation of the United States,
Pekin, China, March 6, 1900.
Your Highness and Your Excellencies:
Without repeating in detail what has already been so fully and
forcibly brought to the knowledge of your highness and your
excellencies concerning the action of the late Governor Yu Hsien of
Shantung, I must insist that the rapid increase and spread of the
Boxers during the last three months of his rule, the continued
looting, robbery, despoiling, and persecuting native Christians,
culminating in the most horrible murder, while he did practically
nothing to suppress them, but repeatedly and falsely reported to
Pekin that all was quiet and peace being restored, together with
much more convincing evidence, proves conclusively that this man was
acting in sympathy and collusion with the Boxers and is consequently
an officer totally unfit to govern territory where foreigners,
missionaries, or their followers are located or interested.
His conduct is in most flagrant disregard of treaty stipulations and
can not be either tolerated or overlooked.
Therefore, because of all this, and in the interest of safety for the
American missionaries and their followers, I herewith file a formal
and most emphatic protest against his future appointment to any
place where he will have under his control either missionaries or
their work.
I avail myself of the occasion to renew to your highness and your
excellencies the assurance of my highest consideration.
