Mr. Rockhill to Mr.
Hay.
No. 139.]
Commissioner of
the United States to China,
Peking,
China, July 23,
1901.
Sir: In my dispatch No. 75, of April 24 last, I had
the honor to transmit to you a copy of the letter of the dean of the
diplomatic corps to the Chinese plenipotentiaries, dated April 18, asking
for the creation of an international concession on the island of Ku-lang su,
at Amoy.
I transmit to you herewith the further correspondence exchanged with the
Chinese plenipotentiaries on this subject. From this it appears that the
delay in drawing up the regulations for the government of the proposed
concession is mainly attributable to most of the consuls at Amoy not having
been instructed by their Governments to take up the question with the taotai
of Amoy. The statement to this effect, made in the Chinese
plenipotentiaries’ note of July 13 (inclosure 3), is borne out by dispatches
received at this legation from our consul at Amoy.
I am informed by my colleagues that they have, within the last fortnight, had
instructions sent their respective consuls at Amoy to promptly take up the
subject with the taotai. Our consul has had such instructions since the 21st
of May last. I trust the matter may now be speedily settled. The regulations
agreed upon between the taotai and the consular body will be submitted to
the diplomatic corps for its approval.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
139.—Translation.]
Mr. de Cologan to
the Chinese Plenipotentiaries.
Your Highness and Your Excellency: In a letter
dated the 18th of April, I called your attention in the name of my
colleagues to the great interest attaching to the creation of an
international concession on the island of Kulang su.
I have not yet received any reply to this communication.
The appearance of the plague at Amoy gives a specially urgent character
to our request.
The foreign representatives direct me, therefore, to ask you to inform me
without delay what action has been taken on the demand of the diplomatic
corps in this matter.
[Page 279]
[Inclosure 2 in No.
139.—Translation.]
Prince Ching and Li
Hung-chang, plenipotentiaries, etc., to Mr. de Cologan.
Your Excellency: On the 30th of June we had the
honor to receive a communication from your excellency in the matter of
the creation of an international concession on the island of Kulangsu,
Amoy.
Your excellency states that the appearance of the plague at Amoy gives a
specially urgent character to your request, and the foreign
representatives direct you, therefore, to ask to be informed without
delay what action has been taken on the demand made in this matter.
In reply we beg to observe that we have repeatedly telegraphed the
Viceroy of the Min-Che provinces, Hsu, to issue instructions to have
this matter satisfactorily arranged. On the 16th of May we again
telegraphed the viceroy urging action in the premises, and on the 27th
idem we received a telegraphic reply to the effect that in the matter of
the creation of an international concession on the island of Kulangsu,
the United States consul, Mr. Johnson, came to Foochow and discussed the
general plan or outline of the rules (to govern the concession), and the
viceroy ordered Ing Men to assume charge of the Amoy taotaiship so that
he may properly discuss the various details. On an understanding having
been reached and the agreement signed the same is to be transmitted to
the viceroy.
On receiving the above telegram we at once telegraphed to Foochow urging
that the matter be brought to a decision, and on receiving a telegraphic
reply we will again communicate with your excellency asking you to bring
the matter to the attention of the foreign representatives.
[Inclosure No.
3.—Translation.]
Prince Ching and Li
Hung-chang, etc., to Mr. de
Cologan, etc.
Your Excellency: Some time ago we had the honor
to receive your excellency’s communication in which you stated that the
appearance of the plague at Amoy (gives a specially urgent character to
your request) in the matter of the international settlement on the
island of Kulangsu, and we were urged to telegraph the proper
authorities pressing for a speedy arrangement of it.
At the time we telegraphed Viceroy Hsu, of the Min-Che provinces, urging
action in the premises. We have now received a wire in reply,
acknowledging receipt of our telegram and informing us that he in turn
wired Yen taotai, who reported that he had repeatedly urged the consular
body to take up the matter of the concession and discuss it with him,
but they informed him that they must wait until they hear from their
ministers, hence the delay resulting in nothing having been
accomplished. The viceroy begs us to communicate with the foreign
representatives, asking them to telegraph their respective consuls at
Amoy urging them to lose no time in taking up this matter.
In regard to the question of an international settlement on the island of
Kulangsu the foreign representatives, in urging that telegraphic
instructions be sent to Amoy to speedily arrange the matter, no doubt
did it at the request of the foreign consuls. How is it, then, that the
taotai, on approaching the consuls with a view to arranging the matter,
is told that they must await instructions from their ministers? There
must be a reason for this.
We have the honor, therefore, to address your excellency, and will thank
you to lay this matter before your colleagues, asking them to telegraph
their consuls at Amoy to take it up as soon as possible, in a friendly
way, and arrange a satisfactory settlement which may prove beneficial to
both countries.
