Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay.

No. 356.]

Sir: I have the honor to confirm, on the overleaf, your telegram of the 15th ultimo,1 and continuing the subject matter of my dispatch [Page 114] No. 338, of March 10, copy of which was inclosed in said dispatch, the five ministers mentioned, after a conference, sent their interpreters separately to the yamen, and requested a reply within forty-eight hours. A reply was received the next day, translation of which I inclose.

It was not just such an one as we desired, nor did they comply with our request and publish the decree in the Peking Gazette. But a most excellent proclamation had, in the meantime, been published by the governor of Shantung, in which both the “Big Sword” and “Boxer” societies were mentioned—translation of which, with note transmitting same, inclosed.

The proclamations had been generally posted, a number of magistrates removed, and the general situation considerably improved; the murderers of the English missionary, Mr. Brooke, had been punished, adequate indemnity paid, and the case satisfactorily closed. * * * It was thought best to send to the Tsungli Yamen an identical reply, copy of which is inclosed, and consider the incident closed so far as the question of publishing the decree or any further cooperative action was concerned.

I shall, however, continue to vigorously insist upon the execution of all treaty obligations toward American missionaries and their converts.

For the purpose of keeping the Department fully informed upon the question, I inclose copies of correspondence with the Tsungli Yamen, since March 10th, the date of my despatch No. 338.

In connection with this incident, two British men of war, one French, two Italian, and one American (the Wheeling) have arrived off the Taku Bar, and two German war ships are lying at Kiaochow, and it is believed their presence has had a most wholesome effect upon the general situation. It would, in my judgment, be of great value to the United States, and all interests of her citizens in China, for one or more of our seagoing war vessels to be kept continually along the Chinese coast. I have advised the retention of the Wheeling in North China waters until the “Boxers” are suppressed, and peace and quiet again prevails.

I have the honor to be, etc.,

E. H. Conger.
[Inclosure 1.]

The Tsungli Yamen to Mr. Conger.

No. 163.]

Your Excellency: On the 11th instant the yamen received a communication from the acting governor of Shantung to the effect that on the 22d of February last he received a decree ordering that the society called the “Fist of Righteous Harmony” be stringently prohibited. The governor adds that in January last, after he had taken over charge of his office, he issued a proclamation stringently prohibiting the above-named society, which was posted throughout the various districts; but now, having received the decree referred to, it is right, in obedience to its injunctions, to issue another proclamation for the information of the people. He has specially compiled a proclamation in verses of five characters, to be posted in every village in regular succession. Further, he has instructed the local officers to act with the country gentlemen and village elders to have the proclamation thoroughly explained whenever a fair or market is held.

The yamen would observe that in the verses compiled by the acting governor reference is made to the “Big Sword” society by name. Further, the instructions [Page 115] to the local officers to act with the gentry and have the proclamation explained when the people gather together (at the market places) shows that the governor is really taking action in good earnest.

As in duty bound, the prince and ministers transmit a copy of the draft of the proclamation with the verses for the information of the minister of the United States.

Note.—Proclamation and verses not printed.

[Inclosure 2.]

Mr. Conger to the Tsungli Yamen.

F. O. No. 183.]

Your Highness and Your Excellencies: I am to-day informed by parties arriving from the neighborhood that at Pa Chow, Hsin Cheng, Hsiung-hsien, Paoting, and several other villages between here and Paoting-fu and south thereof as yet none of the proclamations of the viceroy against the Boxers have been posted in that locality and that Boxers in considerable numbers are still daily drilling and threatening the native Christians.

The missionaries report such a state of affairs as renders it unsafe for them to make their regular expected visits to these villages and do their accustomed work.

Of what use are proclamations unless the people are advised of them and their requirements enforced? None whatever.

Therefore I request that your highness and your excellencies will cause such additional orders to be sent to the proper officials as will insure the immediate enforcement of this decree and effectually prevent further disturbance from these evil and unlawful organizations, and so make it safe for the missionaries to freely visit these localities and peaceably prosecute their work as guaranteed by treaty.

As these places are so near the Imperial capital, almost within sight of the throne itself, there can be no possible excuse for not carrying out the decree, and should not be the slightest danger to anyone lawfully visiting them. But your highness and your excellencies must know of a certainty whether or not missionaries would experience any danger or trouble going there, and I will thank you to inform me, so that I may at the earliest possible moment advise the missionaries accordingly.

I avail, etc.,

E. H. Conger.
[Inclosure 3.]

Mr. Conger to the Tsungli Yamen.

F. O. No. 184.]

Your Highness and Your Excellencies: I have reliable information from Chinan-fu that the provincial judge there is obstructing the proper punishment of the arrested ringleaders of the “Big Sword” and “Boxer” societies, and thus greatly hampering the efforts of the governor to suppress these societies.

I therefore request that your highness and your excellencies will send telegraphic instructions directly to the provincial judge to act promptly and rigorously in the matter, thus emphasizing the assurance which you gave me in our personal conference yesterday that the Imperial Government was determined to put a speedy end to the present annoying and dangerous situation.

I avail myself, etc.,

E. H. Conger.
[Inclosure 4.]

The Tsungli Yamen to Mr. Conger.

No. 164.]

Your Excellency: On the 23d instant your excellency handed the ministers of the yamen a memorandum regarding the troubles caused by the “Boxers” in the Ping Yuan and other districts; also of the seizure of Christians and troubles in the [Page 116] En and Hsia Chin districts. Your excellency requested the yamen to at once telegraph the governor of Shantung to take action in good earnest to preserve order, arrest and punish the outlaws, etc.

In reply we beg to inform your excellency that the yamen at once telegraphed the Shantung governor, informing him of your request, and have now received a reply by wire from him, stating that after the 10th instant the outlaws created trouble. They were pursued and several arrests were made. After the 15th instant peace and quiet prevailed in all the districts, and no further cases have occurred. It is the above cases, in which arrests were made to which his excellency Mr. Conger evidently refers.

The yamen have now sent another communication, giving full details, to the Shantung governor for his action in the premises, and, as in duty bound, we send this note in reply for your excellency’s information.

Cards of ministers with compliments.

[Inclosure 5.]

The Tsungli Yamen to Mr. Conger.

No. 165.]

Your Excellency: We have had the honor to receive your excellency’s note of the 10th of March, in which you state that in the neighborhood of Pa Chou, Hsin Cheng, Hsiung Hsien, and several other villages between here and Pao Ting Fu, and south thereof, none of the proclamations of the viceroy against the “Boxers” have been posted; that the “Boxers” at all these places are still daily drilling and threatening the native Christians. Your excellency requested that orders be sent to the viceroy, etc.

In reply, we beg to state that the yamen at once sent a note to the minister superintendent of northern trade, requesting him to cause the proclamations to be widely posted and made known. That officer has just reported to the yamen that he had issued instructions to the officers of the various jurisdictions to ascertain whether the proclamations had been posted in the various departments and districts and to submit a report of the places where it had been posted.

We were just about writing your excellency when we received your note of the 30th of March, in which you stated that the Rev. W. S. Ament, who had just returned from Pa Chou and other places, had informed you that in a circuit of several hundred li he only saw two posted proclamations, and that in the villages of Hei Pai mu Ch’iao, in Pao Ting, Hsien, and Nan Meng, in Pa Chou, the local officer had received the proclamations several days before, but would not post them. He also reports that in the villages of Ku An, in Ku Cheng; Nan Meng, Sha Cheng, and Chin Chia Cheng, north suburb of Pa Chou; Chang Ch’ing Kou, Hsiao Wei Ho, and Tung Yang Lin Tan, in the district of Pao Ting, and Chao Tsin, in the district of Wen An, he found men organizing, initiating, and instructing “Boxers,” who were armed and drilling, and that the native Christians are being continually harassed and persecuted. Your excellency requested that measures be taken to forthwith suppress the “Boxers” and restore order.

We have the honor to inform your excellency that the yamen have again addressed the minister superintendent of northern trade, requesting him to cause a thorough investigation to be made and strenuous action taken to suppress the “Boxers.”

Cards of ministers with compliments.

[Inclosure 6.]

The Tsungli Yamen to Mr. Conger.

No. 167.]

Your Excellency: The Prince and ministers have had the honor to receive a communication from the minister of the United States, in which he states that the yamen’s reply of March 7 is in no way either an adequate or satisfactory reply to his notes or verbal requests concerning the suppression of the two societies known as the “Big Sword” and “Fist of Righteous Harmony;” that he is obliged to repeat the request that an absolute prohibitive decree for all China, mentioning these two societies by name, be forthwith issued and published in the Pekin Gazette, and [Page 117] should he not receive a favorable answer without delay he will report the matter to his Government and urge strongly the advisability of the adoption of other measures for the protection of the lives and property of American citizens in China.

In reply the Prince and ministers would observe that in February last the yamen memorialized the Throne, requesting the suppression of the societies called the “Big Sword” and “Fist of Righteous Harmony,” and a decree was issued and sent to the viceroy of Chihli and governor of Shantung to issue proclamations. These were issued, embodying the decree verbatim.

In the proclamation of the governor of Shantung the “Big Sword” society is mentioned. The yamen duly addressed two communications to the minister of the United States in regard to the action taken as above. It is clearly manifest that the essential points presented by the minister of the United States have all been truly and sincerely acted upon by the yamen in accordance with the request made.

On the day it was issued the decree was sent direct from the palace to the high provincial authorities of Chihli and Shantung, and as a matter of course it would not furthermore be sent to the grand secretariat to be made public by insertion in the Pekin Gazette. This fact was fully presented to the minister of the United States in a previous communication. It may be pointed out in regard to this matter, the yamen is restricted in its action and must conform to existing rules; and the difficulty in the way, it is believed, is thoroughly appreciated by the minister of the United States. But the yamen will await an opportunity presenting itself when the Prince and ministers will again deliberate upon and consider the views expressed in the communication under acknowledgment.

[Inclosure 7.]

Mr. Conger to the Tsungli Yamen.

No. 191.]

Your Highness and Your Excellencies: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your highness and your excellencies’ note of April 7, it being a rather long-delayed answer upon the request contained in my note of March 10.

In requesting the publication of an Imperial edict in the Pekin Gazette I was merely actuated by the desire to provide for the security of my missionaries and of my countrymen in general, and I am still of opinion that this would be the only adequate measure to be adopted under the circumstances.

Taking, however, into consideration the difficulties which, according to the statement of the note under acknowledgment, the Imperial Government is said to encounter, for the present I do not insist upon this point. I beg, however, to state that I will hold the Chinese Government entirely responsible for any further disturbances.

I avail, etc.,

E. H. Conger.
  1. Printed ante.