Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
No. 419.]
Legation of the
United States,
Peking, September 27,
1900.
Sir: I have the honor to confirm my telegrams of
the 24th and 27th instants and to say that at this end of the line but
little, if any, progress is being made toward a settlement of existing
troubles.
Better order is being established in the city, and particularly in the
portions under the jurisdiction of the Americans and Japanese; the Chinese
are returning to their homes, opening their shops, etc., but each army is
acting independently and controlling in its own way the section over which
it has charge.
Outside the city the Chinese soldiers and Boxers are as active and hostile as
ever. Scouts and reconnoitering parties are meeting them or being fired upon
from ambush almost daily.
Foreign troops have been sent out in various directions from 5 to 30 miles
and have met and punished them severely in several places, but they return
again or others appear elsewhere.
On the 25th instant a note was received by the dean of the diplomatic corps
from Prince Ching, copy of which I inclose, reciting the efforts of the ad
interim viceroy of Chihli (I think the provincial treasurer, since executed
by the Pao-ting punitive expedition) to exterminate the Boxers, but we have
no evidence of the success of his efforts, and I apprehend they do not
extend much beyond the issuance of orders and proclamations, to which little
or no attention is paid. I also inclose copy of a note received by the dean
of the diplomatic corps yesterday, transmitting copy of an Imperial decree
appointing Jung Lu to assist in peace negotiations, and also ordering Prince
Ching to communicate concerning negotiations with the Viceroys Liu Kun-yi of
Nanking and Chang Chih-tung of Wuchang.
These viceroys are at their homes. Li Hung-chang is at Tientsin, Jung Lu is
at Paoting-fu, and Prince Ching here. None of them has exhibited any powers,
nor has there been any request made to start negotiations.
[Page 37]
The Russian minister, with his whole legation staff, removed to Tientsin on
the 29th. The French are to follow soon. The Germans have been ordered to go
when the others do. The Japanese have expressed a willingness to go, so that
there seems little prospect of beginning early negotiations here. There is
considerable objection to accepting Jung Lu as a negotiator, because during
the siege he was commander in chief of the Imperial troops, and soldiers
belonging to his special corps were often in evidence in our immediate
front. I am not sure, however, that it will be persisted in.
It has been my idea, and with which, upon conferring freely, as directed,
with Mr. Rockhill, I find he agrees, that negotiations of the most
preliminary character should be started here at once, or just as soon as the
Chinese Government showed an earnest effort and a sincere desire to
negotiate.
For instance, declaring the purpose of the foreign powers in landing troops
in China, and the Chinese agreeing at once to suspend hostilities, restore
order, and speedily arrange for just and reasonable indemnity to the several
powers and for full reparation for all wrongs and injuries suffered by their
citizens and subjects, and to guarantee that for the future the treaty and
international rights of all the powers shall be secure and all interests and
property of foreign citizens be adequately conserved, and mutually agreeing
that plenipotentiaries shall be appointed to negotiate an equitable
settlement of all the questions arising out of the recent troubles, and that
as soon as such plenipotentiaries are duly named and qualified the foreign
troops, except adequate legation guards, not to exceed an average of 1,000
for each legation, shall be retired to points near the coast pending the
completion of negotiations, etc. This would make a start, would give a base
for negotiations, which could then be conducted at some convenient place for
the powers, and the presence of the allied forces at Peking and coast points
would compel Chinese to keep faith, at least pending the completion of
negotiations. If this can not be done, and done quickly, complications are
likely to arise and possible differences among the powers result, which will
compel separate settlements and the certain dissolution of the Empire.
The Germans are now insisting upon the surrender and punishment of the
original and real instigators of the crisis in Peking * * * before any
negotiations whatever are begun. This should by all means be accomplished,
and probably can be, before final settlement, but if it is to be insisted on
as preliminary to all, then no negotiations will be possible.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in dispatch No.
419.]
Prince Ching to Mr.
de Cologan.
The 29th the viceroy pro tempore of Ohihli addressed to me the following
communication:
“I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of the communication in which
you say to me: ‘The Boxers of Chihli and of Peking are within your
jurisdiction, and you ought to disperse them without delay. If they dare
to recommence the struggle, exterminate them with your soldiers in order
to prevent new reprisals.’ Mr. de Giers told me in an interview that in
the neighborhood of Feng-tai, where they were repairing the railway,
there were still Boxers armed with guns, who held the country, and
requested me to have them disbanded or destroyed. It is necessary that
you act with vigor.
[Page 38]
“The beginning of hostilities between China and the powers [said the pro
tempore viceroy of Chihli] had for its origin the existence of the
Boxers. They are the cause of the ruin of Peking and of Tientsin and of
the destruction of the inhabitants. My heart has been most grievously
affected, and I burn with a desire to take and execute their chiefs and
arrest their followers. But thinking of the means to accomplish this, I
consider that the deserted soldiers are also scattered everywhere for
the purpose of creating disorder, and that the first thing to do is to
suppress them. I have not a sufficient military force for both
tasks.
“I have commenced by presenting to the Throne the question of the Boxers
and asking for an Imperial decree ordering all the great military chiefs
to exterminate them. On the 10th instant the Taotai Tan Wen-huan, at the
head of the Boxer chiefs Tsao Fu-tien, etc., nine in all, came to
Tientsin to renew the troubles. I immediately sent some officers to
arrest these Boxers. Eight were beheaded and their (heads) exposed. Tan
Wen-huan escaped by a circuitous route. Three Boxers were taken alive.
Che San, one of them, was examined, sentenced, and beheaded. As to Tan
Wen-huan, I have requested from the Throne his degredation.
“Tsao Fu-tien is the chief of the Boxers of Shantung and was the
instigator of the troubles at Tientsin, but the Tsao arrested at
Tientsin is another individual. The real Tsao Fu-tien has fled with the
Taotai Tan, but his crimes are innumerable and his capital condemnation
is necessary for the public good. As to the other Boxers, they are the
principal leaders in the subprefectures of Ching Hai and Yen Chiu
(Chihli). I think it is necessary to decapitate them or they will
continue to incite uprisings among the people.
“After the destruction of Peking and Tientsin a large number of Boxers
took refuge in the subprefecture of Liang Hsiang, near Peking, and
around Tientsin there are also some. If they are not immediately
exterminated they will recommence their mischief. So I have sent some
large forces to exterminate them. I have also sent a brigadier-general
from Tientsin, Lin Che-piao, and a lieutenant colonel, Tan Tien-kuei,
into the north of Chihli; a general of division, Lu Pen-yuen, in the
region of Ho-chkiu-fu (near Tientsin), with order to confer with the
general commanding at T’sang Chou, Nei Tsung-yi, and I have enjoined all
the camps from south to north to unite their efforts, hoping thus to
destroy the very root of the Boxers. Those which were at Tientsin exist
no longer. This then is the present situation of the question of
suppressing the Boxers.
“I have received the communication in which it is said that the European
powers desire to send out troops to exterminate the Boxers in order to
end the troubles and protect the merchants. Now the Boxers sometimes
show themselves and then disperse. I fear that the arrival of foreign
troops would frighten the people and cause them to flee en masse, while
the Boxers would scatter on all sides. So China herself ought to
accomplish the task of exterminating the Boxers in her own territory and
of protecting the missionaries in order to hasten the conclusion of
peace and the protection of commerce.
“In regard to the region of Feng-tai, where they are at present repairing
the railway, and where there are still some Boxers, it is necessary to
immediately exterminate them; but in these localities there are foreign
troops. If the Chinese troops are sent there it is to be feared that
conflicts will occur.
“I beg you to discuss this question with the foreign ministers. When
European troops may be in the neighborhood they ought to permit the
Chinese troops to pass for the purpose of going to fight the Boxers,
each controlling their own soldiers and not impeded by the operations of
the others. This will facilitate the suppression of the rioters,
etc.”
I (Prince Ching) consider that the viceroy pro tempore of Chihli offers
some excellent ideas concerning the suppression of the Boxers, and that
his letter is very sensible. I therefore submit it to the examination of
your excellency, and beg you to communicate it to your colleagues.
[Inclosure 2 in dispatch No. 419.—Official
dispatch.]
Prince Ching to Mr.
de Cologan.
On September 9 I received an Imperial decree as follows:
“Li Hung-chang has at different times requested us by telegraph to
designate one or more princes and ministers to treat of peace.
“I have named Prince Ching and ordered him to return to Peking and put
himself in telegraphic communication for negotiations with Liu Kun-yi
and Chang Chih-tung. I have besides charged Jung Lu to concert with them
in negotiating; and in order to facilitate their relations Jung Lu has
gone to Huo-lu. I order him to go
[Page 39]
immediately to Paoting-fu and await there until the arrival at
Tientsin of Li Hung-chang, etc. Respect this.”
I hasten to make this known to you and beg you to communicate it to your
colleagues.
