Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Pekin, China, April 12,
1900.
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.,
[Inclosure 1.]
The Tsungli Yamen to
Mr. Conger.
Pekin, March 15,
1900.
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.
Legation of the United States of America,
Pekin, China, March 16, 1900.
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.,
[Inclosure 3.]
Mr. Conger to
the Tsungli Yamen.
Legation of the United States,
Pekin, China, March 23, 1900.
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.,
[Inclosure 4.]
The Tsungli Yamen to
Mr. Conger.
Pekin, March 25,
1900.
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.
Pekin, April 2,
1900.
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.
Pekin, April 7,
1900.
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.
Legation of the United States of America,
Pekin, China, April 12, 1900.
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.,