Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 2, 1902
Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay.
Peking , March 19, 1902 .
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copies of telegraphic correspondence with Consul McWade, of Canton, and of notes to and from the foreign office relating to recent disturbances in the province of Kuangsi.
The trouble was caused by disbanded soldiers, and for a short time threatened to become serious. As the inclosed correspondence shows, the Chinese Government recognized the danger, and took prompt and effective measures to suppress the insurrection. The seat of the trouble was near the French frontier, and it was reported that two French officers were killed by the rebels. The facts as to this are, however, that a party of French officers were invited to a Chinese feast across the frontier, and on going home late at night through the mountains, were attacked by robbers and one of them was killed. The others returned to the Chinese post. But the affair seems not to have been connected with the political disturbances in any way. Consul McWade’s telegram of yesterday indicates that the Chinese Government has the rebellion practically crushed.
I have, etc.,
Mr. Mc Wade to Mr. Conger.
Canton , February 27, 1902 .
Learnt almost midnight rebellion Nan-ning. Kuangsi missionaries ordered by me request governor Kuangsi leave immediately under pledged escort to Wuchow. Details later.
Mr. Conger to the Foreign office.
Peking , February 27, 1902 .
Your Highness and Your Excellencies: I have the honor to inform your highness and your excellencies that I have just received a telegram from the United States consul at Canton, saying:
“Learned almost midnight rebellion Nan-ning. Kuangsi missionaries ordered by me request governor Kuangsi leave immediately under pledged escort to Wuchow.”
I hasten to acquaint your highness and your excellencies with the contents of the telegram, and have to request that you will be good enough to inform me if you have any further details of the disturbance.
I avail, etc.,
Mr. Conger to Mr. Mc Wade.
Peking , February 28, 1902 .
Telegram received. Insist with Chinese officials upon complete protection of missionaries and advise later as your knowledge of the situation warrants, urging them take every precaution. Chinese Government acknowledges situation at Nan-ning very serious, and is ordering stringent measures taken. Keep me posted.
Mr. Conger to the Foreign office.
Peking , February 28, 1902 .
Your Highness: I have the honor to again call your highness’ attention to the telegram from the United States consul at Canton, which I forwarded to your higness yesterday, and which is as yet unanswered.
The said telegram reported a serious rebellion in Nan-ning Fu in Kuangsi, and, as there are Americans residing in that city, I am anxious to know the exact condition of affairs there, and must urge your highness to communicate to me at once whatever information you may have received upon the subject.
I trust you will comply with this very reasonable request without further delay.
I avail, etc.,
The Foreign office to Mr. Conger.
F. O., No. 336.]
We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt yesterday of your excellency’s note, saying that you had just had a telegram from the United States consul at Canton, telling you that he had heard that there was a rebellion at Nan-ning and that the missionaries at that place had requested the governor of Kuangsi to send soldiers to escort them to Wuchow, and your excellency asked that we would send you any information that we might have received, etc.
Our board has just received a telegram from the governor of Kuangsi, saying that Su Yuan-ch’un (lieutenant-general or Hupeh, but recently holding the same office in Kuangsi), had discharged some soldiers, and that other soldiers had been discharged at Kuangnan in Yun-nan, and that these men had joined with roving bandits and were pillaging in all directions so that the roads had become impassable; that, moreover, he had already sent troops to attack and destroy them, but that it would be difficult at once to suppress the disturbance; that he had received a telegram from Hui-jung, the prefect of Nan-ning, saying that large numbers of missionaries of various nationalities were traveling about and were in a very pitiable plight; that besides telegraphing him to use extraordinary precautions in giving protection, he had to request our board to communicate with the ministers of the various powers in Pekin, and ask them to telegraph the consuls to telegraph the various missionaries, directing them for the present not to travel about, and to say that, if any of those living in the disturbed districts wished to return to their own countries, or to go to some other port, the local authorities would send them out of the province under safe escort, and that any valuables they might have which they could not carry with them, they could list with their value, and having signed the list, turn them over to the local official who would take care of them, and after peace should be restored, when the missionaries should return, they would be restored to them; that thus any confusion or mistake would be avoided, etc.
Our board has already memorialized, asking that an edict be issued, giving stringent orders for the suppression of the rebellion, in the hope that it may quickly be brought to an end, and directing the most thorough protection to be given to the missionaries and merchants of the various countries, and forbidding the slighest negligence, and we have to earnestly request your excellency that if you have any nationals, merchants, or missionaries traveling or living in the region, you will telegraph them to act in accordance with the suggestions of the governor of Kuangsi, and exercise the greatest caution.
Hoping that you will do this, we avail ourselves, etc.
Cards of the members of the Board of foreign affairs.
Mr. Mc Wade to Mr. Conger.
Canton , March 1, 1902 .
Rebellion Kuangsi; cause, disbanded soldiers. My request viceroy detail additional troops; notified governor hold responsible safety missionaries, converts property. Watching developments.
Mr. Conger to the Foreign office.
Peking , March 1, 1902 .
Your Highness: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt last night of the note of your highness in reply to mine of day before yesterday, with regard to the rebellion at Nan-ning Fu, in Kuangsi.
[Page 164]I note that you have a telegram from the governor of Kuangsi, who reports that not less than 10,000 soldiers have been discharged in Kuangsi and Yunnan, and that it will be difficult to quell the disturbance at once, etc.
I am very much astonished to learn that such a large number of troops should be discharged at one time in one district, and I beg to remind your highness that when the “Boxer” disturbance first occurred there was the same excuse of inability to suppress it at once.
I must urge upon your highness the importance of immediately issuing to the provincial authorities concerned the most stringent orders for the most thorough protection of the missionaries in the region affected by the rebellion. I have already telegraphed to the United States consul at Canton to advise the missionaries to use every precaution to secure their safety.
I avail, etc.,
The Foreign office to Mr. Conger.
F. O., No. 340.]
We have the honor to inform your excellency that on the 23d of this moon (March 2) we received a telegram from the viceroy of the Two Kuang, saying that the rebels in Kuangsi were very numerous, and that he had the day before received a telegram from Governor Ting telling him that he had already sent two camps of irregular troops to seize the road to Lien-chou and hasten to Nan-ning, there to consult with the civil and military authorities of the place and join them in exterminating the rebels; that he had also ordered the taot’ai of the Kao-Lien-Ch’en circuit, Mr. Ch’in Ping-chih, to take advantage of his nearness to direct their movements, etc.
As in duty bound we send this letter to inform your excellency, and avail, etc.
Cards of the members of the Board of foreign affairs.
The Foreign office to Mr. Conger.
F. O., No. 341.]
Prince of Ch’ing, Imperial commissioner, President of the Board of foreign affairs etc., sends this dispatch:
“On the 21st of the first moon of the XXVIII year of Kuanghsu (February 28), I received the following Imperial edict:
“‘We have received a telegram from Ting Chen-to, saying that Su Yuan-ch’un had discharged his soldiers, who had not given up their arms, and had joined themselves to discharged soldiers in Yunnan and south Kuangsi to the number altogether of not less than 10,000 men, who had united with local bandits and were plundering in all directions, so that the roads were impassable; that he had already sent soldiers to attack and destroy them, but that it would be difficult at once to suppress the disturbance; that he had received a telegram from the prefect of Nan-ning Fu, Hui-jung, stating that large numbers of missionaries of various countries were traveling about, etc.
“‘The discharged soldiers and local bandits having joined together and raised a rebellion, it is of the utmost importance that they should be quickly attacked and destroyed, in order to pacify the district. Let T’ao Mu, Ting Chen-to, Wei Kuang-t’ao, Li Ching-hsi, and Teng Hua-hsi at once send troops and earnestly attack and destroy them, and take the rebels who have raised the disturbance and quickly exterminate them, that the whole district may be speedily tranquilized, but it will not be allowed to act oppressively and bring calamity (upon the district).
“‘As to the missions and missionaries of various countries, and the native Christians, they must all be given complete protection. Let there be extra precautions taken to furnish protection, every place being thoroughly secured. There must be no carelessness to the production of further revolution. If the trouble is allowed to spread it will involve other places in calamity, and the said viceroy, governors, and other officials, will be held responsible. Let them, as occasion may require, telegraph and memorialize us, reporting the real facts as to the situation.’
“Respect this.”
[Page 165]Our board has already promptly telegraphed, transmitting the above edict to the said viceroy and governors, directing them to reverently obey the same and deal with the matter as ordered.
And, as in duty bound, we have reverently copied the edict and dispatched it to your excellency for your information.
The Foreign office to Mr. Conger.
F. O., No. 342.]
Prince of Ch’ing, Imperial commissioner, President of the Board of foreign affairs, etc., sends this dispatch:
“On the 25th of the first moon of the XXVIII year of Kuanghsu (March 4, 1902), I received an Imperial edict, saying:
“‘We have received a telegram from Ting Chen-to to the effect that discharged troops and bandits had combined together on the borders of Kuangsi and were plundering that region; that he had already sent troops to attack and destroy them, etc. We have already strictly charged T’ao Mu, Ting Chen-to and others to quickly consult together to suppress the disorder and at once exterminate the rebels, and to thoroughly protect the missions and missionaries. Let it be the duty of Su Yuan-ch’un to hasten back to Kuangsi, and again take general command of the troops guarding the frontier, and to earnestly search out and seize these rebels and destroy them, and make a satisfactory settlement of the affair. Wherever the said lieutenant-general may be at present, let T’ao Mu and Ting Chen-to at once send him word to proceed at double pace, and let there be no delay.’
“Respect this.”
Our board telegraphed the same day to the viceroy and governor to reverently comply with this edict.
As in duty bound, we have reverently copied the same and forwarded it to your excellency for your information.
Mr. McWade to Mr. Conger.
Canton , March 18, 1902.
Viceroy reports rebellion Kuangsi almost crushed.