Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
No. 475.]
Legation of the
United States,
Peking,
China, December 12, 1900.
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 461, of November
30 last, with reference to the removal of General Tung Fu-hsiang with his
baneful influence and inordinate power, from the immediate Vicinity and
control of the court, I have the honor to inclose herewith translation of a
communication received from Prince Ching and Li Hung-chang, embodying an
Imperial decree ordering him to Kansuh; and disbanding 5,500 of his
troops.
There is in this action a pretense of punishment, but it can in nowise be
accepted as commensurate with his offense. If, however, the decree is
carried out and he and his troops are removed, the court
[Page 56]
will be left free to punish other criminals, and
to return, in due time, without hindrance, to Peking. Severer punishment for
General Tung Fu-hsiang may be opportunely demanded a little later on.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Prince Ching and Li
Hung-chang to Mr. Conger.
Peking, December 9,
1900.
Your Excellency: We had the honor, some time
ago, to receive your excellency’s note, in which you observed that
General Tung Fu-hsiang should not be near the court, etc.
We at once memoralized the Throne, setting forth the observations made by
your excellency, and on the 3d of December a decree was issued as
follows:
“Tung Fu-hsiang, general of Kansu, formerly rendered meritorious service
in the successive battles he waged against the Mohammedans in Kansu.
After his transfer to Pekin he showed ignorance of the condition of
affairs existing between China and foreign countries, and failed to
respectfully sympathize with the Court’s sincere purpose of cultivating
friendly relations (with the powers). Whenever questions came up he
generally treated them in an abrupt, careless manner, and it is right
that he should be severely punished; hut taking into consideration that
(matters in) the province of Kansu are of great importance, and as the
said general is certainly the right man in the right place there, we
will treat his offense leniently, and order that he be deprived of his
rank but allowed to retain his office. Of the various troops under his
command we have ordered that 5,500 be dismissed. We further order that
the said general, with the various battalions of his bodyguard or own
forces, at once return to Kansu and there take up a commanding or
strategical position and establish defenses, so that we may see whether
he exerts himself.”
As in duty bound we inclose the above decree for your excellency’s
information.
