Office of the Historian

Mr. Wu to Mr. Hay.

Chinese Legation,
Washington, July 13, 1901.

My Dear Mr. Secretary: In respectfully calling your attention to the inclosed newspaper clipping containing a dispatch, dated at Washington, June 26 last, to the effect that your Government has decided to return to China the $375,000 in silver bullion taken from the salt-tax yamen in Tientsin by American troops, I beg to inquire whether this money is still in China or in this country; whether the reported decision has actually been reached by your Government, and if it has been, how you propose to return the money.

If you desire to return the money through me, I should be pleased to place my services at your disposal and would undertake to see that the money is returned to the proper authorities in China.

With renewed assurances, etc.,

Wu Ting-fang.
[Inclosure.]

Newspaper clipping.

Washington, June 26.

the united states to return to china the $375,000 in silver bullion taken at tientsin.

The Government has decided to return to China the $375,000 in silver bullion taken from the salt-tax yamen in Tientsin by American troops. This bullion was deposited in a bank in China, and a check covering the amount sent to the Treasury Department in Washington. Under the terms of the settlement China is to pay the United States $25,000,000 indemnity, and the authorities here regard it as unfair to keep the money seized as a military measure. When the peace negotiations have been concluded the Government will arrange to return the bullion. It may require the authority of Congress, however, to do this.