Office of the Historian

Mr. Rockhill to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.—Paraphrase.]
Peking, March 15, 1901.

(Mr. Rockhill reports that rules for estimating all private claims for losses were adopted on the 14th instant by the diplomatic corps, subject to approval by their Governments. The principal points are as follows:

  • First. Only those claims which result immediately and directly from the antiforeign movement of 1900 are allowable.
  • Second. Proof of loss must be made to the satisfaction of claimants’ diplomatic representative and proved conformably to the laws and usages of his country.
  • Third. After examining claims made by his nationals, each of the diplomatic representatives shall make an approximate estimate of the total, and the grand total will be asked in a lump sum of China, without any details or explanations. Nothing unusual except allowing claims for objects lost or disappeared during the troubles, which covers [Page 365] looting of foreigners by foreigners. Interest at 5 per centum on personal claims and 7 per centum on commercial ones is allowable from date of loss when asked on productive property. So far as he knows there is no rule to the prejudice of just American claims. All speculative claims are excluded; those for breach of existing contracts are allowed. Thinks rules, copy of which is forwarded by mail, should at once be approved by the United States. The Russian minister reserves the right to present his claim separately, unless otherwise instructed. With the exception of the Russian minister, the foreign representatives are in favor of putting war and other indemnities to States, including those for legation guards killed and wounded, into the general lump sum demanded. Final agreement on the general subject of the presentation of indemnity is reserved for future consideration. At the proper moment he will urge the views expressed in the Department’s telegrams of November 16 and 20, and subsequent ones, which Mr. Conger made known to the diplomatic corps on February 16. France, Russia, and most of the other powers agree in the principle that China is to be credited with treasure, etc., seized by troops during operations.)