Foreign Relations of the United States, 1901, Appendix, Affairs in China, Report of William W. Rockhill, Late Commissioner to China, with Accompanying Documents
Mr. Rockhill to Mr. Hay.
Peking, China, June 5, 1901.
Sir: In my dispatch No. 54, of April 2 last, I informed you that the representatives of the powers, with the exception of the minister of Russia, had transmitted to the Chinese plenipotentiaries a list of provincial officials and others guilty of crimes committed against foreigners during the troubles of last year, for whom they demanded certain specific punishments.
The penalties to be inflicted on the officials, as originally decided upon by the foreign representatives, included 10 capital sentences and 86 others of various degrees of severity.
Under the influence of the President’s instructions to me to oppose the shedding of any more blood and to urge moderation, the capital demands were reduced to 4, and various reductions were agreed to in the other penalties.
Since this list was communicated to the Chinese plenipotentiaries (see inclosure 1 and list annexed) some of the foreign ministers have received information from their nationals in the interior exculpating certain of the persons whose names were borne on the list, and the Chinese Government has also adduced proof of the innocence of others, or has shown that they were not as guilty as at first supposed. These facts are all set forth in the inclosed copies of correspondence and in the notes I have made on the list accompanying the communication of the ministers to the Chinese plenipotentiaries of April 1.
The Imperial decree of April 29 (inclosure No. 8) orders the decapitation of 3 of the most guilty officials and an investigation of the case of a fourth, the death sentence to be promptly carried out if the charges made are proven to be true. The same decree awards punishment to 48 other persons.
In the case of Hu Tê-hsiu (No. 25), information having been furnished me within the last few days, by Mr. Atwood, an American missionary at Tai-ku Hsien, that this official was in all probablility innocent of the crimes charged to him, I have requested the Chinese plenipotentiaries to ask that the punishment awarded him be suspended and a careful inquiry made to determine on whom must rest the responsibility for the failure to protect our countrymen residing in this place, which resulted in their murder on July 31 of last year.
In the case of Hu Ching-kuei (No. 94), ex-provincial judge of the province of Shantung, I asked that an inquest be first made by the Chinese authorities, as I was assured by the governor of the province, Yuan Shih-k’ai, an old personal friend of mine and an official of great merit, that the charges against the accused lacked proof. This has also been agreed to by the foreign representatives.
It seems probable that some of the cases now under investigation by the Chinese will result in convictions, but I fancy that a number of them will ultimately be dropped, with the exception, perhaps, of the names mentioned in the letter of the representatives to the Chinese plenipotentiaries of May 17 (inclosure No. 11).
[Page 193]I have not deemed it necessary to send yon the second list of suspected officials mentioned in the plenipotentiaries’ note of April 1. The Chinese Government is inquiring into these cases, and it is possible that some punishments may ensue, but they will not be in any case, I imagine, of great severity.
I have the honor, etc.,
Foreign Plenipotentiaries to Chinese Plenipotentiaries.
Highness, Excellency: Yon have been informed on several occasions, and particularly in the meeting which you had on the 5th of February with the representatives of the powers, that the names of the officials guilty of crimes committed in the provinces would be given you, with the punishments which it seemed proper should be inflicted on these functionaries, in conformity with article II of the Joint Note.
The undersigned plenipotentiaries have in consequence to communicate to you:
- First. A list of the officials whose guiltiness they consider established, and for whom they indicate the punishments to be inflicted.
- Second. A list of officials who have been reported to have been guilty, but concerning whom, in the absence of sufficient information, they ask that an inquest be made by the Chinese Government.1
The undersigned plenipotentiaries expect that you will be pleased to request, without delay, from the Throne, so as to finally settle this question, decrees in conformity with the demand which they transmit to you. They hold that without waiting for the results of the inquest to be held by the Chinese Government, as rapidly as possible it would be proper to have posted throughout the Empire, and in compliance with Article X of the joint note, edicts mentioning the punishments which they announced. This will permit of satisfaction being given more promptly to the requests made by your highness and your excellency, the examination of which was deferred until articles II and X of the Joint Note had been carried out.
(Signed by all the representatives of the powers with the exception of the minister of Russia.)
Punishments demanded for principal culprits.
Shan-si.
1. Pai Ch’ang, district magistrate of Yang-chü Hsien, agent of Yü Hsien. Caused the treacherous massacre in the early part of July at T’ai-yuan Fu of over 40 foreign men, women, and children. Decapitation.
2. Chéng Wen-ch’in, taotai of Kuei-hua Ch’eng. Guilty of the murder of Monsignor Hamer, of Captain Watts-Jones, of 4 Catholic missionaries, and of 14 Swedes. Decapitation.
3. Hsu Seng (or Chi)-ju, prefect of Fen-chou Fu. Under pretext of furnishing a safe conduct to the missionaries residing in that city, he gave orders which led on the 16th April to their massacre by the soldiery, in the district of Wen shui, of Mr. and Mrs. Atwater and their two daughters, of Mr. and Mrs. Price and child, of Mr. and Mrs. Lundgren and child. Death sentence.
4. Hsü Kuei-fen, department magistrate of Hsin Chou. Gave the order to massacre Mr. and Mrs. Dixon, Mr. and Mrs. Underwood, Mr. and Mrs. McCulloch, Miss Renant, Mr. Ennals, and other missionaries. They were killed on the 9th of August at Hsin Chou. Death sentence.
5. Kuang Ting-kuang, district magistrate of Ho-chin Hsien. On the 16th July the soldiers of his yamen pursued and killed several missionaries at Ch’ing-chia-wan. These missionaries were Mr. and Mrs. McConnell and child, Miss King, Miss Barton, Mr. and Mrs. Young. Degradation; exile for life.
[Page 194]6. Ma Hsiu-kuo, military officer at T’ai-yuan Fu. Took personal part in the massacre of the missionaries. Degradation; exclusion from all new honors.
7. Chih Féng-chi, commander of the guard at T’ai-yuan Fu. Put Father Elia in chains and caused his martyr. Degradation; exile for life.
8. ——— ———, district magistrate of Hiao-i Hsien. Guilty of the murder of Miss Whitchurch and of Miss Searrell, who were beaten by his order till death resulted (30th June). Degradation; exile.
9. ——— ———, district magistrate of Ta-ning Hsien. Refused to protect Misses E. and M. Nathan and Miss Haysman, who immediately after, with his consent, were put to death at Ta-ning. Degradation; exile for life.
10. ——— ———, district magistrate of Tse-chou Fu. Refused to protect when passing through that city several English missionaries coming from Ping-yao and from Lu-ch’eng, on their way to Hu-pei. Degradation; exclusion from all new honors.
11. Pi Ch’éng, district magistrate of Lu-ch’eng Hsien. Would neither help nor protect the missionaries. Is responsible for the suffering they endured in their flight. Degradation; exclusion from all new honors.
12. Yü Tai-lin, district magistrate of Kao-p’ing Hsien. Cruelly treated on their passage the missionaries coming from P’ing-yao and Lu-ch’eng. Degradation.
13. En Shun, district magistrate of Chang-tso Hsien. Refused to protect the missionaries coming from P’ing-yao and Lu-ch’eng when they passed. Degradation.
14. ——— ———, department magistrate of Hsi-chou. Called the Boxers into the city; is responsible, in consequence, for the death of Mr. and Mrs. Peat, and of the other missionaries who, driven from Hsi-chou, were massacred at Chü-wo Hsien. Degradation and exile.
15. ——— ———, district magistrate of Chü-wo Hsien. Is guilty of not having protected the missionaries, and of having thus caused the massacre, with awful suffering, of Mr. and Mrs. Kay and child. Degradation; exile for life.
16. ——— ———, district magistrate of Yrieh-yang Hsien. Refused to protect two English missionaries, Messrs. Barrett and Woodroffe, who were massacred by the Boxers. Degradation; exclusion from all new honors.
17. Ch’in Chien-hu, district magistrate of Shan-yang Hsien. Treated with the greatest cruelty the English missionaries; he arrested them, put them in irons, and sent them, without food, to T’ai-yuan Fu, where they were massacred. Degradation; exile for life.
18. Mao Shih-fu, assistant district magistrate of Ho-lin-k’o-erh, and
19. Fan En-ch’ing, assistant district magistrate of To-k’o-t’o Cheng, are accused of having offered rewards to whoever should kill or deliver an European or a Chinese convert. Over 1,500 Christians were killed in their districts under conditions of unexampled cruelty. Degradation; death sentence; exile; imprisonment for life.
20. Li Ming-ho, keeper of the board of punishments at Ning-yuan. Accused of having delivered Monsigneur Hamer to the soldiers. Death sentence.
21. Yung Te, Tartar general at Sin-yuan cheng, and
22. K’uei Ch’eng,1 military lieutenant-governor at Kuei-hua Ch’eng, are probably the principal instigators of all the atrocities committed in the Tai-hai. Their soldiers took part in the massacre of Fathers Heinmann, Hallet, Dobbe, and Zylmans. Degradation; imprisonment for life.
23. Kuo Chih-shu, district magistrate of Kuei-hua Ch’eng. On the 20th of August, 1900, at the head of 300 soldiers, he attacked the mission of T’iehmi-tan-kou; killed and burned ten foreign missionaries. Four other missionaries, who had fled a mile away, were pursued and put to death. One Catholic priest and 13 Swedes, men, women, and children, were put to death. Death sentence, with commutation to life exile.
24. ——— ———, district magistrate of Yü-tzu Hsien. Accomplice in the massacre of foreigners. Degradation; exclusion from all new honors.
25. Hu Te-hsiu,2 district magistrate of T’ai-ku Hsien. All the foreigners who happened to be in this town were massacred on the 31st July, including Mr. and Mrs. Clapp, Mr. Williams, Mr. Davis, Misses Bird and Partridge. Degradation; exile for life.
[Page 195]26. Yang Chün, brigadier-general. Murder of Mr. and Mrs. McKee, Mrs. Janson, Miss Aspden, and Miss Smith. Degradation.
27. ——— ———, district magistrate of Tai-yuan Hsien. Caused several Christians to be put to death. Degradation.
28. ——— ———, district magistrate of Ning-hsiang Hsien, and
29. Kung ———, district magistrate of Lin Hsien, incited the Boxer chiefs to massacre the missionaries and Christians. Degradation.
Mongolia.
30. The Prince of Alashan. Expelled all the missionaries in the portion of the vicariat depending on Kan-su. Censure.
31. The Prince of Djungar. Instigator of persecutions against Christians. Censure.
32. The Prince of Talat. Caused over 800 Christians to be massacred. Degradation; imprisonment for life.
33. Chang Chin-sheng, called Chang ssu;
34. Yang pa-tsung;
35. Ho Shao-kuan, military officers at Ning Niao-liang;
36. Hsü Ta-t’len;
37. Liu ———, military officer at Yu-ling, were at the head of the Boxers who for forty-nine days besieged the mission of Hsiao-kiao pan. Father Gisbert Jaspers was killed. Degradation.
Eastern Mongolia.
38. Wen Hsing, district magistrate of Luan-p’ing Hsien. Caused Father Segers to be massacred. This missionary having succeeded in hiding in the mountains after the pillage of the residency of Lao-hu kou, was taken on the 16th July, beaten, and imprisoned at Jehol. Led before the tribunal of Luan-p’ing Hsien, in the night of the 21st to the 22d July, he stayed there three days. On the 24th of the same month, after a brief examination, he was led by order of the district magistrate to the bank of the river 500 meters from the town to where a grave had been dug, there he was buried alive by six men from the tribunal. Six days after his body was dug up and thrown into the river. Christians of Tien-chiao kou having found the body of their pastor, buried it near their chapel. The pagans of the village having informed the official of Luan-p’ing, he sent men who threw the body back into the river. Decapitation.
Chih-li.
39. Yü Lu, governor-general of Chihli. One of the officials the most compromised in the late troubles. Organized the attack of the Boxers and of the regular troops on the foreigners at Tientsin. Transmitted the edict ordering the massacre of foreigners throughout the Empire. Posthumous degradation.
40. Tso Lo-ling, of the gentry of the village of Wang-hsiao. Sent by the district magistrate of Wu-i Hsien to parley with the Boxers, who were coming to the number of about 200 to attack Wu-i, he falsely stated that all had been arranged, and that there was no more danger. The gates of the town were opened, the Boxers entered, and massacred Fathers Isoré Rémé and Modesta Andlauer. Term of imprisonment.
41. Chang Ping-chih, former district magistrate of Wu-i. Openly protected from the beginning and patronized the Boxers. He made of his district a center from which went the leaders who attacked and ruined the districts of Shen-chou and Ho-chien Fu. Death sentence.
42. Chen Tse lin, provincial judge of Kiangsi. Passing through Chiang-chou, he attacked, at the instigation of the prefect, the Christian community of Chu-chia ho, where Fathers Ignace Mangin and Paul Deure were massacred. Degradation; exclusion from all new honors.
43. Hung Shou-p’eng, prefect of Ching-chou, requested Provincial Judge Chen to attack the mission of Chu-chia ho. Degradation, etc.
44. Wang Lien-san, general at Tai-ming Fu.
45. Miao Yu-ko, district magistrate at T’ai-ming Fu.
46. Wang Ching-yang, district magistrate at Yuan-ch’eng Hsien, expelled the missionaries, despoiled them of everything, and exposed them to be massacred. Degradation, etc.
[Page 196]47. Kung Ying, district magistrate of Nan-lo Hsien, drove the missionaries out of his yamen and delivered them to the mob, exposing them to be massacred. Degradation, etc.
48. ——— ———, district magistrate of Ching-yuan Hsien, refused to help the Green family. Degradation, etc.
Note.—This official is believed to be at present in the Peking (Shun-tien Fu) prefecture.
49. Li Chao-chen, district magistrate of Wang-tu Hsien, guilty of bad treatment of the Green family. Degradation, etc.
50. Ch’ang Tsui, chief of the grainery department at Tung-chou, was head of the Boxers in that city, where he took a very active part in organizing them into a corps. Degradation; not to be given a new office or receive new honors.
manchuria.
51. Chin Ch’ang, military lieutenant-governor of Mukden, gave the order himself to the soldiers to join the Boxers to massacre Mgr. Guillou, Father Emonet, Sister Ste. Croix Grandury, Sister M. A. Roechlin, two Chinese priests, and a great number of Christians. Death sentence.
52. Ch en ———, prefect of Liao-yang, caused to be beheaded the seminarist Fabien Chao and numerous Christians. Degradation; imprisonment for life.
53. Ch’ang Lao-te, head of the train bands of Ya-tzu ch’ang, took an active part in the murder of Fathers Viaud, Agnius, and Bayart on July 11. Degradation; exile for life.
54. ——— ———, military lieutenant-governor of the province of Hei-lung Chiang, responsible for the massacre of Fathers Leroy, Geojon, and Souvignet. Degradation; exile for life.
55. Wo-ko-chin-tai, military lieutenant-governor of Hu-lan Ch’eng, did not protect Father Souvignet, and allowed his head to be exhibited at the gate of a temple. Degradation.
56. Ao ———, a military officer, on arriving at Pa-yen su-su, wanted to put to death Fathers Homner and Roubin, who were saved by the officials of the town. To satisfy his hatred of foreigners, Ao went to the Christian community of Hsiao shih-t’ou ho, caused the body of Father Riffard, deceased thirteen years ago, to be dug up, set fire to the church and to the residency, and massacred the Christians. Death sentence; exile for life.
hu-nan.
57. Yu Lien-san, governor of Hu-nan, compromised in the murder of Mgr. Fantosati and of Father Gambaro. Degradation; exclusion from all new honors.1
58. Lung Wen, taotai of Heng Chou, sent his emissaries to stir up the population against Mgr. Fantosati and Father Gambaro, who had arrived in a boat and who had written to him on arriving at the gates of the city asking him to protect them. These two missionaries had their eyes plucked out and were killed in the most cruel fashion. Death sentence.
59. Yu Ch’ing, prefect of Heng-chou Fu, and
60. Cheng Ping, district magistrate of Ching-chuan Hsien, incurred great responsibility for the assassination of Mgr. Fantosati and Father Gambaro. They refused to protect them, and they must be held as accomplices of the taotai. Yu Ching published incendiary proclamations which led to the destruction of Protestant chapels. Degradation; exclusion from all new honors.
che-kiang.
61. Pao Tsu-ling, taotai of Ch’ü-chou, known for his hatred of foreigners, encouraged the train bands and the rioters to massacre the foreigners at Ch’ü-chou Fu (21st, 22d, and 23d July). It would have been easy for him to have protected them, but he allowed, before the gate of his yamen, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson and their two children, Miss Desmond, Miss Sherwood, and Miss Manchester to be insulted and murdered. When informing the governor of these murders he praised the train bands for the patriotic spirit they had shown. Death sentence.
62. Chou Chih-tē, commander of the town guard of Ch’ü-chou, took an active part in the massacre of foreigners. Not only did he plan the attack on the missionaries, but he led in person the rioters. Decapitation.
[Page 197]63. Liu Shu-t’ang, former governor of Che-kiang, published a secret edict ordering the murder of foreigners. He is likewise responsible for the massacre at Ch’ü-chou. Although he later on withdrew this edict, the massacres began at once. He remained at his post as governor for four months thereafter, and he took no action against the murderers. He should have suspended from duty the principal officials of the city. Degradation; exile for life.1
64. Yung Ch’üan, provincial judge of Che-kiang, at present treasurer, is responsible for the publication of the secret edict, one of the causes of the Ch’ü-chou massacre. He is the head of the antiforeign movement at Hang-chou; never tried to conceal his hatred of foreigners. Degradation; exile for life.
65. Yü Chun-ming, former brigadier-general at Cf’ü-chou, was present with the taotai, in the yamen of the latter, at the massacre of foreigners which took place on the 21st July at the gate of the yamen. He had 5,000 soldiers under his command, and the fact of his not having tried to put down the uprising, which ended in a massacre, proves that these crimes were committed with his consent. Degradation; exile for life.
66. Hung Ssu-liang, former prefect of Ch’ü-chou, refused to give aid and protection to the missionaries who were massacred, and was present with the taotai and the general of brigade at the murder of the foreigners at the gate of the yamen. Degradation.
67. Cheng Lien-sheng,
68. Cheng Yung-hsi, and
69. Lo Lao-ssŭ, son of Admiral Lo, are the most guilty among the gentry who encouraged the massacres. Degradation.
sze-chuan.
70. Li Ch’ang-pei, prefect of K’iung-chou, allowed the missions to be pillaged. Several Christians were killed or wounded. Degradation.2
71. Wang Chi-yin, taotai of Chien-chang,
72. Lu Ting-chin, district magistrate of Ming-shan Hsien,
73. Wang Chih-t’ung, and
74. Li Nien-tzŭ, obstinately refused to interfere to protect the missionaries and to give justice to the Christians. Degradation.3
tibet.
75. Ching Shan, Chinese resident in Tibet, is accused, while going to his post, of having asked the local authorities to get ready to expel foreigners and exterminate Christians. Troubles broke out in Li-t’ang. (Note.—A letter from Chung-king announces the death of this official.) Posthumous degradation.
kuei-chou.
76. Lo Fen-lin, military official, dismissed for dishonesty. A native of Ssŭ-nan Fu. He is the chief author of the attacks against the Christians of that locality and of Lung-chuan, in which twenty persons were massacred. On hearing of the events in Chihli this individual raised a band of adventurers, who plundered all the Christian communities of the region and killed the inhabitants. Term of imprisonment.
ho-nan.
77. Yin ———, brigade general at Nan-yang Fu. Noted for his hostility to foreigners. The massacres of natives in Ho-nan should be attributed to him. He caused the Rev. Father Argento to be maltreated, and he published a proclamation which brought about the destruction of the buildings of the mission of Sha-chi-tien. Degradation.
78. Li Jo-hsien, head man of the village of Hsin-tien, excited the populace against Father Argento, who was maltreated. This missionary was able to escape the massacre by hiding and fleeing. Degradation.
[Page 198]79. Yen Chin, former provincial judge of Ho-nan, recently appointed in Shansi, published the orders against foreigners. Degradation.1
80. ——— ———, district magistrate of Ho-nei Hsien, acted hostilely to the English missionaries when passing on their way to Ho-pei. Degradation.
81. ——— ———, district magistrate of Jung-tse Hsien, refused the magistrate of Wu-chih to the passing missionaries, occasioning them thereby great suffering. Degradation.
82. ——— ———, department magistrate of Cheng-chou, treated with extreme brutality the missionaries coming from Ping-yao and Lu-ch’eng. Degradation, etc.
83. Lin ———, district magistrate of Hsi-hua Hsien, refused repeatedly to protect the missionaries, who were obliged to leave the town when their homes were burnt. Degradation, etc.
84. Wang ———, district magistrate of Chou-chiaho, department of Chên-chou Fu, refused to protect the missionaries; riots occurred on the 10th of July, and they were obliged to leave the town after having been nearly massacred. Degradation, etc.
85. Ts’en Ch’uan-jung, taotai of Ho-pei, published defamatory proclamations and excited the officials and the people against the Christians and the missionaries. Degradation, etc.2
86. Lu Ko-ying (Lu Yueh-ching?), district magistrate of Hua Hsien,
87. Ch’ê Chun, district magistrate of Shê Hsien, and
88. Shih Keng, district magistrate of An-yang Hsien, guilty of the pillage and burning of the churches and goods of the missions and of the Christians. Degradation, etc.
89. Tsêng ———, prefect of Wei-hui Fu, responsible for the killing of Christians. Degradation, etc.
90. Ch’ên Shift-wei, district magistrate of Wu-an Hsien, would not remove the body of a missionary lately deceased and dug up by the populace. The body of this missionary was thrown on the road after the head had been cut off and the limbs severed, and was devoured by dogs. Degradation, etc.
kiang-si.
91. Sung Shan, governor of Kiang-si, in obedience to the commands emanating from the imperial court, he himself stirred up troubles. The delegates sent by him, under pretext of recruiting in the towns, got together bands which they excited to burn and to pillage the Catholic establishments. Degradation, etc.3
92. Teng Hsuan-yu, district magistrate of Nan-feng Hsien, refused to receive an act of accusation from the Christians, and encouraged the people to massacre them. Degradation, etc.
93. Wang Pao-jen (Chiang Pai-jen), district magistrate of Nan-ch’eng Hsien, caused the buildings of the mission to be destroyed. Degradation, etc.
shan-tung.
94. Hu Ching-kuei, former provincial judge of Shantung, at present provincial judge of Ho-nan, showed great activity in the antiforeign crusade; used all his influence to prevent the punishment of Boxers and those guilty of the murder of missionaries; encouraged the officials to acts of hostility. Degradation; not to receive new functions or new honors.4
95. Chin Ying-kuei, district magistrate of En Hsien, not only protected Boxers, but allowed several Christians to be killed in his jurisdiction, publicly announcing his hatred of foreigners. Degradation, etc.
96. T’u Nai-hsun, district magistrate of Hsia-ching Hsien, protected the Boxers and refused to do anything to protect the property of the American missionaries at Ho-chia-t’un and the Christians, whom he allowed to be freely persecuted. Degradation, etc.
The Chinese plenipotentiaries to M. de Cologan.
Your Excellency: On the 31st of March (April 1) we received a communication from the foreign representatives, inclosing a list of officials in the provinces whom they requested should be punished. In the list appears the name of Liu Shu-tang, formerly governor of Chekiang, and the former provincial judge of the same province, Yung Ch’uan, whom the foreign representatives requested should be degraded and punished by perpetual banishment to the extreme borders on the frontier.
Although these officers have been guilty of transacting business not altogether in a satisfactory manner, still we can not entirely believe it is true that their purpose was, as it is said, to really massacre foreigners.
Governor Liu is now over 70 years of age, and he has generally taken action in good earnest in transacting public business, and certainly he is to be pitied.
Provincial Judge Yung had only been in office a short time, and there should also be some excuse made in his case.
We beg that your excellency will bring this matter to the notice of the foreign representatives, asking them to consider it, and agree to a more lenient form of punishment being meted out to these officers, and favor us with a reply.
(Card of Prince Ching and Li Hung-chang, with compliments.)
The Foreign representatives to the Chinese plenipotentiaries.
Highness, Excellency: We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated yesterday, in which you request us to grant a reduction in the punishment which we proposed for the ex-governor and the provincial judge of Chekiang, whose names figure in the list of guilty provincial officials.
In reply to this communication we deem it proper to note that Liu Shu-t’ang and Yung-ch’uan have been acknowledged guilty of complicity in the murder of missionaries committed at Chu Chou. The first accused, he who played the chief role in the assassination, was the Taotai Pao, who mercilessly closed his door to missionaries whose murder took place outside it.
But the first responsibility for the crime must, without doubt, be thrown on the governor of the province. The taotai acted in accordance with an imperial decree, which was published by Liu Shu-t’ang, with the active assistance of Yung Ch’uan.
In view of the fact that these officials caused the movement which resulted in the villainous murder of missionaries, they deserve the severest punishment, without the benefit of extenuating circumstances.
In view of the remoteness of the court, they might without danger, as did other high provincial officials animated by feelings of humanity, have treated the decree as an act of folly.
Under these conditions the penalty proposed can not be regarded as disproportionate to their crime. Nevertheless, taking into consideration the age of Liu Shu-tang, who is 70 years old, and the request which your highness and your excellency have presented for him, we consent, as a special act of grace, to the commutation of the original penalty into one removing definitely Liu Shu-tang from the public service with confiscation of his property, and that he be sent back to his country, where he shall be strictly placed under the supervision of the local authorities. In the case of Yung Ch’uan, extenuating circumstances can not be allowed, and the undersigned representatives of the powers insist that his sentence be carried out.
(Signed by all the foreign representatives except the minister of Russia.)
The Chinese plenipotentiaries to the Foreign representatives.
Your Excellencies: On the 1st of April we had the honor to receive a communication from the foreign representatives, inclosing two lists—one giving the names of officials in the provinces who should be punished and the other giving [Page 200] the names of officials in the provinces whose conduct should be subject to an investigation.
We duly submitted these lists in a telegraphic memorial to the Throne, requesting that an imperial decree be issued in regard thereto.
On the 16th of April we received a telegram from the Grand Council, stating that “The lists submitted regarding the punishments of the provincial officials had been presented to the throne, and that a verbal decree had been issued to effect that some of the persons whose names are proposed for punishment should be made the subject of further discussion. Article 10 of the Joint Note strictly defines that punishment shall be inflicted on officials hereafter for failure to protect (foreigners). But it is not convenient in cases occurring previous to the signing of the convention affecting missions in the provinces, where the local authorities did not give full and adequate protection, but where no lives were taken, and where they did not screen or protect the Boxers, that the officers should be forever prohibited from holding any office or honors.
“In a previous telegram the Prince of Talat is proposed (for punishment), but his case must still receive further inquiry and action taken accordingly. It is not convenient to imprison him.
“It is proposed to degrade Governor Liu Shu-fang, and send him to his native place. It is not convenient, however, to confiscate his property.
“As to the case of Yen Chin, transferred as provincial judge of Shansi, it is stated that he treated foreigners with contempt; general instructions were issued to various officials to investigate the matter, but no absolute proof of the charge has been found against him. Telegraphic instructions were also issued to various officials to investigate the charge, but the reports received are that nothing of the kind occurred.
“As to the provincial judge of Shantung, Hu Ching-kuei, the charges against him are mere empty words. In Shantung the authorities exercised every means to protect the missionaries and exterminate the Boxers. The judge was at the time at the capital, and he was quite unable alone to treat foreigners with contempt and screen the Boxers. Further, the said judge issued proclamations prohibiting the practice of the Boxer antics. This can be inquired into. It is requested, therefore, that these officials (the above two) may be acquitted.
“In the case of Kuei Cheng, deputy lieutenant-general, it may be observed that in regard to the missionary case at Kuei-hua Ch’eng the lieutenant-general had control of affairs, but the Kuei Sui taotai, Cheng Wen-chin, managed the case in question. Although Kuei Cheng was there, still he could not prevent (what happened), and his punishment should be reduced.
“As to the case of the taotai of Ho-pei, Ts’en Chuan-jung, at the time he issued a proclamation in which it was stated that those who desired to practice the Boxer antics must first make application to the local officials for permission to do so. The idea of issuing the proclamation was for the purpose of using it as a means of investigating and prohibiting the practice. It was issued at the time of a crisis and revolution, and the taotai could not but adopt a temporary arrangement to meet pressing circumstances. It was a measure of expediency. His case is not one where missionaries or native Christians were massacred, and it might he as well to reduce his punishment.
“In the missionary cases in Szechuan the taotai and prefect of Chien-chang did not exert themselves in giving due protection, but there were no lives of missionaries taken. It is right that the punishment that should be meted out to them should be lighter than that of the department and district officials (in the same province).
“As to the prefect of Chu Chou, Huang Ssu-liang, this officer did not assist in the murder of the missionaries. He was merely connected with the taotai’s yamen. He should be treated leniently.
“In the matter of the other local officials of the provinces, they merely treated the missionaries harshly and did not exert themselves in protecting them on their journey. It is right, therefore, that the circumstances of each case should be clearly ascertained and light and heavy punishment be meted out accordingly. It is not convenient to punish them all by forever prohibiting them from holding any office or honors. We beg you to take up this matter and discuss it earnestly (with the foreign representatives), in the hope that these officers may be justly treated and protected.
“There are 50 officers whose punishment, according to the list, is very heavy. Of this number there are 9 whose names it is necessary to ascertain. We now speedily telegraph you in regard to this matter, and hope you will consider it and lose no time in sending a reply by wire, to the end that we may memorialize the Throne and ask for a decree.
[Page 201]“Of the 17 officials whose names should be ascertained, you should discuss with the foreign representatives the question of a lighter form of punishment being meted out to them.
“The viceroys and governors concerned have been ordered to investigate without delay the cases of the 23 officials (excepting Governors Yu and Sung) whose names appear on the list. On their presenting their reports the Throne will be asked to issue a decree punishing them according as their respective crimes deserve.
“As to the deputy lieutenant-generals of Mukden, Tsitsihar, and Hu Lan, and the military commandant of Pa-yen su-su, these should also have their punishments reduced.”
From the above telegram we would observe that there are four matters to be considered with the foreign representatives, viz:
- 1.
- Are we first to request the Emperor to issue a decree punishing 41 officials, i. e., 50 officials originally suggested, less 9 whose names are to be ascertained, as proposed by the foreign representatives, their cases being comparatively severe as stated in the telegram?
- 2.
- Will the foreign representatives agree to consider the question of reducing the punishments of the 23 officials (not including Governors Yu and Sung) after the viceroys and governors have presented their reports?
- 3.
- Will the foreign representatives agree to the proposal in the telegram concerning officials whose offenses are comparatively light, and await until a statement can be made out by us, doing away, however, with the words “forever prohibited from holding any office or honor?”
- 4.
- Will the foreign representatives agree not to carry out the stipulations in article 10 in regard to the punishments of officials whose cases are to be investigated, as specified in the list, a decree to be issued in regard thereto; but after a report from the various high provincial authorities has been submitted to the Throne, then to take up a further discussion thereof?
The above four matters we received from the Grand Council in obedience to instructions from the Throne, and it is right that we should consider them with your excellencies.
In sending this communication for your excellencies’ information, we beg that you will favor us with an early reply.
The Chinese plenipotentiaries to M. de Cologan.
Your Excellency: We have the honor to inform your excellency that on the 18th of May we received a telegraphic decree from Si-an as follows:
“Yu Yin-lin, on the 18th of April, memorialized us by telegram, stating that in regard to the missionary cases in Ho-pei (Ho-nan) the taotai, Feng Kuang-yuan, and the French bishop, Scarella, had consulted together, and it was agreed that 170,000 taels should be paid as indemnity, covering all the claims of the missionaries. Further, 3,000 piculs of rice are to be given to relieve the native Christians. As to the principal criminals in the murder cases in Wu-an, separate instructions had been issued (to the officials concerned) to take strenuous measures to effect their arrest. In the other cases of riot and disorder the guilty persons, estimated from 10 to 15, have been arrested, some of them put in the cangue and bam booed, and others confined in chains, receiving a light or heavy punishment, as their offenses deserved. All the missionaries have returned to their respective districts, the local officials supplying funds to enable them to rent houses for temporary occupation. Extra care has been taken to protect them, and soldiers deputed to preserve order. Bishop Scarella has explained matters concerning Shih Keng, magistrate of An-yang, who exerted himself in protecting the missionaries. The bishop also reports that the acting magistrate of the Hua district, Lu Yueh-ching, is a very good officer and was diligent in arresting outlaws; that the magistrate of Wu-an, Chen Shih-wei, collected money and repaired the graves of the missionaries. He also gave 11,200 taels for renting houses and providing relief and 200 piculs of rice. The magistrate of the She district, Che Chun, contributed for the purchase of houses 2,000 taels. He also gave 200 piculs of rice and 200 taels for miscellaneous expenses. Bishop Scarella stated distinctly that he wished the above officials acquitted. In the case of the Ho-pei taotai, Ts’en Chuan-yung, as he did not perform his duties properly, the bishop requested that he should be degraded. [Page 202] Of the indemnity, 50,000 taels have been paid on account and a limited time is given to pay the balance of the installments. Bishop Scarella has agreed to the settlement of the various cases and signed an agreement to that effect, so they are now all closed. A petition will be sent by the bishop to the French minister for his information. These cases have now been arranged and settled by the deputies of Honan, in conjunction with Bishop Scarella, and duly signed. As to the request that Ts’en Chuan-yung be degraded and the other officials be acquitted, it is right that action be taken accordingly.
“Let the foreign representatives be at once informed of this and a telegraphic reply sent to us.”
We would observe that it appears that the four officers, viz, Shih Keng, of the An-yang district; Lu Yueh-ching, acting magistrate of the Hua district; Ghen Shih-wei, magistrate of Wu-an, and Che Chun, magistrate of the She district, have contributed money in way of indemnity, also rice; have rented houses and protected missionaries. According to the statement of Bishop Scarella, these officers have performed their duties well, and did not fail to exert themselves in giving due protection. It is therefore requested that they be acquitted. In the case of the taotai of Ho-pei, Ts’en Chuan-jung, he did not perform his official duties properly, and it is requested that he be degraded. The governor of Honan has already memorialized the Throne by telegraph, asking his degradation, and a decree issued agreeing to this request. It is believed that the French minister must have received Bishop Scarella’s telegram informing him of what had been done.
As in duty bound, we send this communication for the information of your excellency, and ask you, after you have made special inquiry (of the French minister about this matter), to favor us with a reply.
Foreign Representatives to Chinese Plenipotentiaries.
Your Highness and Your Excellency: In reply to your dispatch of 17th of April concerning the punishments to be inflicted, in conformity with our demands, on the officials guilty of crimes committed in the provinces, we have the honor to transmit to you herewith the following resolutions:
It is impossible for us to admit that the officials responsible for massacres or cruel treatment of which foreigners have been victims last year shall aspire in the present or in the future to new functions after having been punished with great indulgence for the crimes for which they are responsible. We consequently insist that the officials who shall be degraded shall in no case become again functionaries of the Empire.
The King of Talat can not be pardoned, having been responsible for the massacre of more than 800 persons. We consented in our letter of the 4th of April to a reduction of the punishment of Liu Shu-tang (63), and we can not accept a punishment lighter than the one we have indicated. We consent to an inquest concerning the charges made against Yen Chih (79) and Hu Ching-kuei (94); we consent to the degradation for life, without exile or Imprisonment, for Kuei Cheng (22); we consider Chen Chuan-jung (85) as too guilty to deserve any reduction of his punishment; we consent to a reduction in the punishment of the taotais (70, 71) and of the prefect (70) of Chien-chang. We must insist on our demand concerning Hung Tzu-liang (66), former prefect of Chin Chou; we consent to a reduction in the punishment of Governor Yu (57) and to the omission of the name of Governor Sung (91); we can accept no reduction of any kind in the punishment of the three military lieutenant-governors of Mukden (5), of Hei-lung Chiang (54), and of Hu lu (55) and of the Tartar commander of Payen-su-su (56).
We take note of the fact that you agree to the punishments which we have asked for 50 officials, 9 of whom are to be identified, and we accept your proposition that you should ask at the present moment a decree in this sense. With the reservation made at the commencement of this letter concerning officials for whom we insist on the original demand of punishments made, we accept the inquest and the ulterior discussion which you promise us for those for whom you make a request for reduction of punishment. We can not accept the suppression of the words “without it being possible to ever recall them to new functions,” which would apply to degraded officials. We request you to ask, without any delay, of the Throne an edict in conformity with our propositions, containing mention of [Page 203] all the punishments and of those which you have inflicted, and announcing the inquests for the officials who shall be subjected to this formality.
Please accept, your highness and your excellency, the assurances of our very high consideration.
(Signed by all the ministers, with the exception of the Russian.)
Li Hung-chang to Mr. Rockhill.
Your Excellency: On the 1st of April I received a communication from the foreign representatives submitting a list of officials in the provinces which they desired punished. In this list appears the name of Li Chao-chen, magistrate of the Wang-tu district, who is charged with having treated harshly certain British missionaries who were fleeing from the difficult position they were in. It is requested that this officer should be degraded and forever prohibited from holding any office or honor.
Instructions were issued informing this officer of the charge, and I received in reply a joint petition from the taotai of Kou-pei and the prefect of Hsuan-hua in the following sense: “It appears that the said officer has been away from his post at Wang-tu for a period of three years. While holding office at Yu-chou there was a sudden rising of the “Boxer” bandits, and the principal leaders, Chia Chi and others—in all, seven persons—were arrested and decapitated. Full and adequate protection was afforded the missionaries at Hsi-ho Ying. The preacher, Tung Shou-i, even up to the present time, expresses his gratitude for what the magistrate had done. The magistrate was transferred as acting magistrate of the Hsuan-hua district. He treated the allied forces, comprising Germans, British, Italians, and Austrians, kindly, and looked after their wants in every respect. The native Christians of Hu-to Tien and the train band of Shen-ching Pao entertained suspicions which led to a feud, each of the parties using guns and cannon in the fray, which nearly resulted in a revolution. The magistrate went in person to the scene to explain and relieve the feelings of the combatants, which resulted in bringing about peace and quiet among them. The preacher Te Mou-chen stated that the magistrate had rendered very great assistance in managing the missionary cases of 13 subprefectures, departments, and districts in the jurisdiction of Hsuan-hua. The preacher Hou Chen-hai said that he would gratefully remember the magistrate’s great kindness. The above statements can be supported by proof. It is not right, in the case of the British missionaries being harshly treated in Wang-tu, when fleeing, that by mistake the officer holding the substantive appointment, but at the time was away from his post, should be falsely accused of doing an act committed by the officer who was acting as magistrate. It is proper to ask the foreign representatives to investigate this matter and remove Mr. Li’s name from the list of punishments.”
Having received the above petition, I beg to observe that there is evidently proof to support the statements made. It is a case of the accused being pointed out by mistake as committing an act of an acting officer, and it is right to request that his name be taken off the list of punishments. Further, inquiry should be made in regard to the harsh treatment of the fleeing missionaries—ascertaining the year, month, and day, so that the full official title of the acting officer (at Wang-tu) may be ascertained, and then he can be impeached to the Throne. This in order to show justice.
I have the honor, therefore, to send your excellency a copy of the original petitions, which I will trouble you to thoroughly look into and favor me at your early convenience with a reply.
Imperial decree issued on the 29th of April, 1901.
Last year the “Boxer” bandits created a state of revolution in Pekin and vicinity, resulting in the loss of many lives. This excited suspicion in the minds of the people of various provinces, which led to repeated cases of destruction of mission property and the massacre of foreign missionaries and native Christians.
We repeatedly issued our mandates ordering the authorities to see that satisfactory protection be accorded the missionaries, but the local officers failed to exert themselves in the proper discharge of their duties, and on that account disorder [Page 204] and, trouble prevailed. The offenders must, therefore, necessarily be punished in propotion to their crimes.
Let Cheng Wen-ch’in (2) taotai, of Kuei-hua Ch’eng, in Shansi; Chou Chih-te (62), captain of the military garrison at Ch’ü Chou, in Chekiang; and Pai Ch’ang (1), formerly magistrate at Yang Chu in Shansi, be decapitated without delay. In the case of Wen Hsing (38), magistrate of the Luan-p’ing district in Chihli, Li Hung-chang is hereby ordered to cause a thorough investigation to be made, and if it is true that he massacred missionaries let him also be decapitated without delay. Let the Prince of Talat (32) be deprived of his rank of nobility; his case is to be investigated and dealt with accordingly. The Prince of Alashan (30) and the Prince of the Khalkha (31) are hereby reprimanded. Yu Lu (39), formerly viceroy of Chihli, and Ching Shan (75), resident of Tibet, are posthumously degraded. Liu Shu-t’ang (63), governor of Chekiang, is hereby degraded and forever prohibited from holding any office or honors; he is to be sent to his native place. The provincial treasurer of Chekiang, Yung Ch’uan (64); the deputy military lieutenant-governor of Mukden, Chin Ch’ang (51); the deputy military lieutenant-governor of Tsitsihar, Fen Hsiang (54), and the military commander of Pa-yen Su-su, Nge Ying (56), are hereby banished to Turkestan to do hard labor. Yu Chun-ming (65), brigadier of Chu Chou in Chekiang; Pao Tsu-ling (61), taotai of Chu Chou in Chekiang; Lung Wen (58) taotai of the Heng, Yung, Ping, Kuei In tendency, in Honan; Hsu Chi-ju (3), prefect of Fen Chou, in Shansi; Kuo Chi-shu (23), acting subprefect of Kuei-hua Ch’eng; Tsui Cheng-huan (14), prefect of Hsi Chou; Hsu Kuei-fen (4), prefect of Hsin Chou; Mao Shih-fu (18), assistant subprefect of Ho-lin Ko-’erh; Fan Ngen-Ch’ing (19), assistant subprefect of To-ko-to Ch’eng; Huang Ting-kuang (5), magistrate of the Ho Ching district; Tseng Li-feng (9), magistrate of the Ta-ning district; Ch’in Chien-hu (17), magistrate of the Shou-yang district; Hu Te-hsiu (25), magistrate of the Hsiao-i district; Li Ming-ho (20), jail warden of the department of Ning-yuan, and Shih Feng-chi (7), military captain of the district of Tai-yuan, are hereby degraded and sentenced to perpetual banishment to Turkestan.
Ch’ang Tsui (50), a vice-president of a board and head of the granary department; Wo-ko-chin-tai (55), deputy lieutenant-general of Hu Lan Ch’eng; Wang Lien-san (44), brigade-general of Ta Ming; Hung Shou-p’eng (43), assistant sub-prefect of Ching Chou; Miao Yu-ko (45), magistrate of Ta-ming; Chang Ping-che (41), magistrate of Yan Cheng district; Jung Ying (47), magistrate of the Nan-le district; Yin Chia-pin (77), acting brigade-general of Nan Yang, in Honan; Hung Ssu-liang (66), prefect of Ch’u Chou, in Chekiang; Tang Ssu-tze (82), assistant subprefect of Cheng Chou, in Honan; Yu Ch’ing (59), prefect of Heng Chou, in Hunan; Cheng Ping (60), magistrate of Ching Chuan district. Hunan; K’uei Cheng (22), military governor of Kuei-hua Ch’eng; Tao Chia-tsou (10), prefect of Tse Chou, Shansi; Pi Ch’eng (11), magistrate of Lu Cheng district, Shansi; Yu Tai-lin (12), magistrate of the K’ao-ping district, Shansi; Ngen Shun (13), magistrate of Chang-tzu district, Shansi; T’u Nai-hsun (96), magistrate of Ngen district, Shantung; Chen Tse-lin (42), provincial judge of Kiangsi; Cheng Chia-yu (92), magistrate of the Nan-feng district, Kiangsi, and Chiang Pao-jen (93), magistrate of Nan-chang, Kiangsi, are hereby degraded and forever prohibited from holding any office or honors.
Ts’en Ch’uan-jung (85), taotai of Ho-pei, Honan, is hereby degraded; Li Je-hsien (78), alias Li Cheng-ying, assistant district magistrate of Hsin-tien district, Honan, is hereby deprived of his rank and office.
It is necessary to hold an investigation as to the offenses of the other officials, and also to ascertain their names; and on receiving reports from the viceroys and governors concerned, another decree will be issued in regard to the punishments to be inflicted on them.
Note.—Numbers in brackets refer to list inclosed with foreign representatives, note of April 1, 1901. (W. W. R.)
Chinese plenipotentiaries to Foreign representatives.
Your Excellencies: On the 1st of May we received a telegram from the members of the Grand Council at Si-an in regard to the punishments proposed by the foreign representatives to be inflicted on the provincial officers, in which they point out those whose punishment should be reduced and made more lenient.
(32) Prince of Talat. This is a prince of the Outer Mongols, and hitherto a prince of this order has never been incarcerated. His punishment should be [Page 205] reduced to depriving him of his title of nobility, and his case be subject to an investigation and dealt with accordingly.
(63) Liu Shu-tang, former governor of Chekiang. Under Chinese law, property is confiscated in cases of criminals stealing property and concealing it. The governor’s case should be modified to punishment by degradation and forever prohibited from holding office; he should also be sent to his native place.
In the cases of the former provincial judge of Chekiang, Yung Ch’uan (64), the deputy military lieutenant-governor of Mukden, Chin Chang (51), the deputy military lieutenant-governor of Hei lung chiang, Feng Hsiang (54); and the military commandant at Pa-yen-su-su, Nge Ying (56), it may be stated that their crimes do not come under the Chinese statutes of cases where forgiveness is not shown. The punishment “Forever forbidden from holding office” should be omitted in their cases. A decree has already appeared in regard to these cases. The foreign representatives, in asking punishment of Chinese officials, naturally can not desire that it should be in violation of the statutes of China.
In the case of the acting prefect of Tai-yuan, Hsi Han-tu (27), the governor of Shansi, T’sen, reports that at the time Yu Hsien had planned the massacre of the missionaries, the said officer was at his own post as prefect of Lu-an. He had not at the time reached Tai-yuan as acting prefect, and did not assist in the massacre. He should be acquitted, and an examination instituted as to who the Tai-yuan prefect was at the time and whether or not he took part in this cruel work.
In the case of Yang Hung-li, brigade general of Ta-tung (26), it may be observed that there were missionary cases in his jurisdiction, and due protection was not accorded. His punishment should be degradation, but allowed to retain office.
In the case of Tseng Pei-chi (89), prefect of the Wei-hui prefecture, this officer duly protected the British and French missionaries and safely escorted them outside of his jurisdiction. He had nothing to do with the murder of missionaries. He should be acquitted.
In the case of Fu Feng-yang (?), prefect of Nan-yang, this officer duly protected the missionary chapels, and acted in good earnest in the proper discharge of his duties. There is a record of the French missionary, An Si Man, and the British missionary, Kung Hai-i, having sent a note to the prefect thanking him for the services he had rendered them. He did not maltreat the missionaries in any way and should be acquitted.
In the cases of Chen Shih-wei (90), magistrate of the Wu-an district; Shih K’eng (88), magistrate of the An-yang district; Ch’e Chun (87), magistrate of the She district; Lu Yueh-ching (86), magistrate of the Hua district, it may be observed that these officers have all paid the missionaries the amounts of their losses and have arranged with Bishop Scarella a settlement of the cases. The bishop has reported the matter to the French minister asking that the matter be dropped. No decree has, therefore, been issued in regard to the above eight officers.
We ask that your highness and your excellency lay before the foreign representatives the reasons here given for a reduction in the form of punishments and for acquittal, and to say that the Emperor has no intention whatever of screening these officers. His Majesty’s wish is that the punishment inflicted be as the crime merits; that is all.
Excepting the case of the Chien-chang taotai (71), whose punishment has been reduced, as requested by the foreign representatives in a previous communication, to degradation but allowed to retain office, the others must await a report from the various provinces, and if there be any cases in which the circumstances vary from those given, then they can be subject to further consideration and action taken accordingly. In the case of the Wang-tu magistrate, Li Chao-chen (49), as he was really away from his post at the time, it has been agreed that he should be acquitted.
As in duty bound, we send your excellencies the above telegram from Si An for your consideration.
Chinese plenipotentiaries to Foreign representatives.
Your Excellencies: On the 1st of May we received a telegram from the Grand Council at Si-an, stating that in regard to the punishment proposed for the officials in connection with the missionary cases in the province of Kiang-si, the governor of that province has now reported that, with the exception of the cases of Cheng Chia-yu and Weng Pao-jen, which have been disposed of by decree, there [Page 206] are the cases of the former acting taotai of the Nan, Kang, Ming, intendentcy, T’u Chun men, and the brigade general of Kang Nan Chen, Ho Ming-liang. It appears that last year they issued proclamations protecting the missionaries, and that the missionaries and converts did not charge them with refusing to put out the viceroy’s proclamation or refuse to dispatch soldiers to maintain order. The request is made that either nothing further be done in their cases or that they be treated leniently. In the case of the prefect of Chi-an, Hsu Tao-pei, it appears that he was removed from office a long time ago. There is no absolute proof that he permitted the literati to attack the missionary establishments. This officer has been instructed to go to Chi-an and act with the present incumbent of office, arrest the criminals, and arrange to pay the claim of the missionaries. In the case of Jen Yu-shen, magistrate of the Fou-liang district, in which a missionary chapel at the village of Ching-te was destroyed, it may be observed that this officer has already been removed from office. It was not his purpose, however, not to protect the mission property. In the case of Wei Chu-kuei, acting magistrate of the Shang-kao district, it may be stated that there is no proof on record of the burning or looting of missionary property in that jurisdiction. There are, however, many cases of litigation there pending between the people and Christians. Again, the prefect of Lin-chiang is not named Shih; but the magistrate of Ching-chiang district in this prefecture is named Shih Shou-chen. The missionaries recently sent a note stating that there were a good many cases at law there pending between the people and non-Christians, and in consequence a deputy has been sent there to investigate them. As to the other cases in which missionaries have been subjected to trouble in various districts, it may be stated that Chang Wen-Ian and other literati—in all, 15 persons—have been deprived of rank and office.
Again, the governor of Honan has reported as follows: Yu Kuang-ming (80?), magistrate of the Ho-wei district in Honan, deputed soldiers to escort missionaries out of the province. There is proof of this on record. Lien Kuei (81), magistrate of the Jung-tse district, is dead. As to Lin Teng-keng (83), magistrate of the district of Hsi-hua, this officer dispatched official police to escort and protect the missionaries. There is a record of this. In the case of Wang T’an (84), assistant subprefect of Chou-chia-kou, on the missionaries reaching his jurisdiction he deputed official police to escort and protect them, and when there was trouble the rioters were suppressed and dispersed. There is a record of this. The Ho-pei missionary case is settled, and the request is made that it be not further considered.
In regard to the above officers, it is requested that a dispatch be addressed to the foreign representatives asking that they consider the circumstances of each case and in accord therewith either modify the punishment demanded or acquit the accused as the case may be. On receipt of reports re the other officers, a telegram will be sent to your highness and your excellency to await the action of the Throne.
As in duty bound, we send the above for your excellencies’ information.
Chinese plenipotentiaries to M. de Cologan.
Your Excellency: Some time ago we had the honor to receive a communication from the foreign representatives inclosing two lists, one giving the names of officials in the provinces who should be punished, and the other giving the names of officials whose conduct should be subject to an investigation. A decree was issued punishing certain officials, and we duly communicated to your excellency at various times the circumstances reported in regard to the cases in the provinces of Kiang-si and Ho-nan.
We have now received a telegram from the grand council at Si-an, stating that a report has been received from the viceroy of Szechuan in regard to the various officers in their connection with missionary cases.
The taotai of Chien-chang, Wang Li-yen (71); the prefect of Hsu Chou, Wen Yuan; the prefect of Ya Chou, Li Nien-tze (74), and the former acting prefect of Ya Chou, Wang Chih-tung (73), ordinarily issued particular orders to their subordinate officers to protect the missionaries in their several jurisdictions, and their work in this respect was done in good earnest. Wang Li-yen, in particular, exerted himself in this direction. But his jurisdiction covered a vast territory; the minds of the people were aroused, and in some instances unexpected trouble happened in certain [Page 207] districts, which could not he helped, in spite of the instructions issued; hut the taotai did not purposely tolerate or allow it with his consent. There are extenuating circumstances in this case. It is right that the question of diminishing the punishment of the taotai of Chien-chang, Wang Li-yen, and the former and present prefects of Ya Chou, Wang Chih-tung, and Li Nien-tze should he considered. It is therefore proposed to alter it to degradation with retention in office. In the case of Wen Yuan, prefect of Hsü Chou, it is proposed to transfer him to another post. In the original memorial to the Throne the name of this officer is given as Wen Kuei; this was a mistake.
In the cases of the former acting magistrate of the Department of Tsung-ching, Chen Chao-tang; the acting magistrate of Chung-ning, Chen Ting-hsun; the former magistrate of Nan-kuo district, Yuan Yung-pin, and the acting magistrate of the Ta-tsu district, Chao Sui-chih, after the missionary troubles occurred these officers exerted themselves in protecting the missionaries and acted energetically in effecting the arrest of the rioters. Although some of the native Christians were injured, no harm was done to the missionaries themselves. Excepting Chen Chao-tang, who has been removed from office and left the province, it is decided that the others—Chen Ting hsun, Yuan Yung-pin, and Chao Sui-chih—should also be removed from office and to leave the province.
As to the former acting magistrate of Chiung Chou, Li Chang-pei; the former acting magistrate of Kuan district, Wang Hu; the former acting magistrate of Wen Chiang district, Chou Ching-jen; the acting magistrate of I Pin district, Wang Tien-chia; the former acting magistrate of the Shuang Liu district, Kung Pao-lang; the acting magistrate of the Pi district, Huang Shu-hsun, and the acting magistrate of Ming Shan district, Lu Ting-chih,1 there is absolute proof that they did not allow the bandits to insult the Christians: but in managing the missionary cases these officers were either punctillious and obstinate or they merely looked on and dillydallied. They are all to be degraded, but retained in office. These officers have been severely punished—more severe than the circumstances warrant. We (the grand council) beg that you will communicate the above to the foreign representatives, clearly explaining this and asking them to agree to the decision arrived at. We would also observe that all above officers are in the list of officers whose offenses should be subject to investigation, as their cases had not originally been looked into. We hope that the foreign representatives will lose no time in settling this matter and not be too hard in the way of punishment.
We have also received from the Mongolian Superintendency a dispatch stating that on the 3d of May the following decree, issued on the 29th of April, was received by it from the Grand Secretariat:
“Last year the Boxer banditti created a state of revolution in Peking and vicinity, resulting in the loss of many lives; this excited suspicion in the minds of men of various provinces, which led to repeated cases of the destruction of mission property and the massacre of foreign missionaries and native Christians. We repeatedly issued our mandates ordering the authorities to see that satisfactory protection be accorded them, but the local officers failed to exert themselves in the proper discharge of their duties, and on that account disorder and trouble prevailed. The offenders must therefore necessarily be punished in accordance with their respective crimes. Let the Prince of Talat be deprived of his title of nobility, his case investigated, and action taken in the premises. The Prince of Alashan and the Prince of the Khalkha are hereby reprimanded.”
On investigation it appears that the Prince of Alashan-Dzassak is named Tolo-tessuleng, and his pasturages are near Ning-hsia and in the jurisdiction of Ning-hsia. It is right to address the military governor of Ning-hsia, to have him reprimanded in accordance with the terms of the Imperial decree. We have looked over the records of the Inner and Outer Mongols, of their banners and names and styles of the princes, but can not find any Prince of Talat or Prince of Chung Khalkha. In order to carry out the terms of the decree, it is necessary to ascertain where their pasturages are, whether they are princes of the first or second rank, their residences, and the jurisdiction they are under. There are many difficulties in translating Mongol names into Chinese, but to translate the vulgar tongue into Chinese is still more perplexing.
We have the honor, therefore, to address your excellency this communication, and beg that you will confer with your colleagues and agree to the punishments decided upon in the cases of the Szechuan officials, and ascertain the banners and names of the above-mentioned Mongolian princes, and favor us with a reply.
Foreign Representatives to the Chinese Plenipotentiaries.
Highness, Excellency: In reply to the demands for punishments which we made you on the 4th and 22d April for the officials responsible for the crimes committed in the provinces, you informed us by your dispatches of the 27th April and 2d May of the punishments which you had inflicted on these criminals.
We have noted that among these punishments did not figure that of suspensive death, which we had demanded for the following officials: The prefect of Pen Chou Fu (No. 3); the prefect of Hsin Chou (No. 4); the assistant subprefects of Ho-lin-ko-ehr (No. 18); and of To-ko-to Ch’eng (No. 19); the keeper of the board of punishments of Ning-yuan (No. 20); the subprefect of Kuei-hua Ch’eng (No. 23); the ex-subprefect of Wu-i (No. 41); the military lieutenant-governor of Mukden (No. 51); the military official Ao (No. 56); the taotai of Heng Chou Fu (No. 58); the taotai of Ch’ü Chou Fu (No. 61).
Furthermore, you have modified the demands of punishments which we had made in our letter of April 4 for the exgovernor of Chekiang, Liu Shu-tang (No. 63), and the treasurer of the same province, Yung Ch’uan (No. 64).
We deem it necessary to insist on our first demands, as well in the cases of the officials for whom we have thought it necessary to demand the penalty of suspensive death as for the two latter.
Your highness and your excellency remarked in connection with some of these punishments that they were incompatible with Chinese law. This is an argument which we can not take into consideration. Our preoccupation has been to repress with moderation and justice crimes against the law of nations, against the laws of humanity, and against civilization, crimes which, being without precedent, had not been foreseen by Chinese law.
We consequently request you to solicit from the Throne a supplementary decree in conformity with our reclamation.
(Signed by all the representatives of the powers except by that of Russia.)
- List omitted.↩
- Degradation for life agreed upon. Letter of F. R. of April 22.↩
- Dr. Atwood, of the T’ai-ku mission, having informed me that this official seemed to be wrongly charged, I have asked the Chinese plenipotentiaries to make inquest and punish only responsible person. W. W. R.↩
- Reduction agreed to. Letter of foreign representatives, April 22.↩
- Degradation, with confiscation of property and police surveillance in his home, agreed to. Letter of foreign representatives to Chinese plenipotentiaries of April 4.↩
- Reduction of punishment agreed to by letter of foreign representatives of April 22.↩
- In the case of No. 71 a lesser punishment was agreed to by letter of foreign representatives of April 22.↩
- Inquest agreed to by letter of foreign representatives of April 22.↩
- By letter of April 27 the foreign representatives informed the Chinese plenipotentiaries that they agreed to simple degradation for these three (85, 86, and 87). See letter of Chinese plenipotentiary to foreign representatives of April 21.↩
- Charges dropped by letter of foreign representatives to Chinese plenipotentiaries of April 22.↩
- Inquest agreed to by letter of foreign representatives to Chinese plenipotentiaries of April 22.↩
- Most of the above names are on the list of suspected persons whose cases were to be inquired into by the Chinese authorities. This list is not published—W.W.R.↩