Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, August 6,
1902.
No. 1061.]
Sir: I have the honor to report recent serious
antiforeign riots near Chentu, in the province of Sze-ch’uan, in which a
number of native Christians have been massacred and chapels
destroyed.
My only information from our missionaries is contained in two telegrams
from Dr. Canright, which I inclose, together with copy of my telegraphic
reply.
[Page 171]
However, the situation may be pretty well understood from the
correspondence bad with the foreign office, copies of which I
inclose.
I have had, besides, two personal interviews at the foreign office, in
which I have endeavored to impress upon them the importance of immediate
and effective action, and that it was useless to be sending out orders
to officials which were not obeyed.
I told the ministers that, judging from past experience, it was my
opinion that the delinquent officials ought to be removed and others
sent who could and would suppress the riots, preserve order, and protect
life and property. They said they were taking every means possible, and
that I might rely upon the early restoration of order.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.—Telegram.]
Dr. Canright to
Mr. Conger.
Sze-ch’uan repeating 1900. Chapel burned, 10 Christians killed.
Boxers multiplying four months; officials lax.
[Inclosure 2.—Telegram.]
Mr. Conger to
Dr. Canright.
Telegram received. Demand from local officials adequate protection
for missionaries and native Christians and keep me fully
advised.
[Inclosure 3.]
Mr. Conger to
Prince Ch’ing.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, June 23, 1902.
Your Highness: I have this day received
telegraphic information from Dr. Can-right, an American medical
missionary at Chentu, Sze-ch’uan, that 10 Christians have been
killed and a chapel burned by Boxers, who are multiplying.
There are several American missionaries with many chapels and
converts in the province of Sze-ch’uan, and it is my duty to bring
this matter at once to the attention of your highness, in order that
necessary and adequate measures may be quickly taken to preserve
life and property there.
Experience has taught us that the only safety is in stamping out
these troubles at their very inception.
I improve this opportunity to assure your highness of my highest
consideration.
[Inclosure 4.]
Prince Ch’ing
to Mr. Conger.
I beg to inform your excellency that we had the honor of receiving
the following imperial edict:
“Some time ago a number of local outlaws banded together in the
district of Tze-yangand made trouble, whereupon I dispatched troops
to disperse them. The leading criminal, Li Kang-chung, and others,
were arrested and executed; but now the
[Page 172]
magistrate of the place, Ma Ch’eng-chi,
reports that at T’ien-ku-chiao, in his district, outlaws over a
thousand strong suddenly made a night attack and destroyed a church
which the British or American society had built. The preacher,
Chu-ch’eng-wei, and four church members were killed. They also
burned some houses and killed three Christians. I sent troops in all
haste and deputed besides an official with rank of taotai to proceed
with braves to attend to this matter.
“Such fierce and lawless outbreaks should certainly be quickly put
down. They must on no account be allowed to spread. We command
Kwei-chun to strictly order the troops to disperse the rebels and
their followers quickly, to seize the ringleaders and to punish them
according to the rigor of the law, and so nip the rebellion in the
bud.
“We feel great pity for the missionary or preacher, and others who
for no fault of theirs have lost their lives, and command that
adequate relief may at once be given.
“As for Ma Ch’eng-chi, the magistrate of Tze-yang, who, it is said
has not been long in the office, because he was remiss in taking;
precautionary measures we command that he be removed from office and
that he be given a limited time within which to capture the
criminals.
“As there may be outlaws in other places who rouse the suspicions of
people, spread rumors, and make trouble, the local authorities
should be sternly instructed to make careful search and put a stop
to all such things; to take special precautions so as to get rid of
bad characters, and to encourage the law-abiding people. They must
give real protection to the chapels and to the missionaries without
the least remissness.”
Besides sending a telegram to the viceroy of Sze-ch’uan that he
should at once carry out the imperial will, as in duty bound, we
have reverently copied the edict and send it for your excellency’s
information.
With compliments of the season.
Cards of Prince Ch’ing, ministers of the board of foreign
affairs.
Dated 21st day of the fifth moon (June 26,
1902).
[Inclosure 6.]
Foreign office to Mr.
Conger.
We have received a telegram from the viceroy of Sze-ch’uan to the
effect that Chu ch’en wei was a Chinese, and that during the last
few days telegrams from various officials report the capture and
punishment of quite a number of the leading Boxers, and that they
are on the sharp lookout for those still at large.
As in duty bound, we send this for your excellency’s information, and
with compliments of
- Wang wen-shao.
- Ch’u hung-chi.
- Na-tung.
- Lien-fang.
Dated 2d
of sixth moon (July 3, 1902).
[Inclosure 6.—Telegram.]
Dr. Canright to
Mr. Conger.
Demanded protection in vain. Massacre and robberies daily. All in
great danger.
[Inclosure 7.]
Mr. Conger to
Prince Ch’ing.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, July 30, 1902.
Your Highness: On the 23d of June I called
the attention of your highness to the burning of a chapel and the
murder of a number of Christians in the province of Sze-ch’uan, near
Chentu.
[Page 173]
On the 25th of June your highness replied, sending me a copy of an
edict ordering the viceroy Kwei-chun to seize and punish the
criminals, nip the rebellion in the bud, restore order, and give
real protection to the missionaries, their chapels, etc.
But I regret to inform your highness that this edict has not answered
the purpose, for I am just in receipt of a telegram from Dr.
Canright, from Chentu, saying that he has demanded protection in
vain; that robberies and massacres are occurring daily, and that all
are in great danger.
It is evident, then, that some more effective measures must be taken
by the Imperial Government in order to avoid the fearful
responsibility of a further loss of life and property.
There are many American missionaries in that province and it is my
duty to demand their full and complete protection.
I will thank your highness, also, to ascertain quickly the actual
situation, and to inform me of the real condition of affairs
there.
Confident that your highness will appreciate the necessity of prompt
and effective action, I improve the occasion to reassure your
highness of my highest consideration.
[Inclosure 8.]
Prince Ch’ing
to Mr. Conger.
We are in receipt of your excellency’s letter, drawing our attention
to the burning of a chapel and the murder of a number of Christians
in Chentu, province of Sze-ch’uan; and that according to a telegram
from Dr. Canright, who demanded protection, robberies and massacres
are of daily occurrence, and that all are in great danger. Your
excellency points out that some more effective measures must be
taken to avoid the fearful responsibility of a further loss of life
and property, and asks us to ascertain quickly the actual situation
and to let you know the real condition of affairs there.
With regard to the above, several edicts have been issued instructing
the viceroy of Sze-ch’uan to take strong measures for the capture of
the leading criminals, and to suppress the troubles at an early
date, and not to be again remiss in his duty.
We are now in receipt of a telegram from the viceroy of Sze-ch’uan
who states that the rebel, Hsiung Ch’ing-he, of Jen-shou-hsien, made
his appearance suddenly at the head of a crowd and burned a chapel
and some thirty odd (chien) houses early in the present moon, and
also killed a Christian.
That the same crowd also disturbed the peace of P’eng-shan hsien,
killing in that place three members of the family of a Christian,
Yuan Tsu-sheng.
Whereupon, the viceroy instructed Taotai Ts’ao wei to proceed without
delay at the head of a squad of soldiers, to capture and punish
these otulaws; and as there were Boxers at Hwa-yang, Chin-t’ang, and
Ch’ien-chow, committing plunder and murder, he dispatched troops to
those places, who killed some twenty or more people.
According to a later telegram, the leader of the riot against the
church at Jen-shou hsien, Hsiung Ch’ing-he, was captured by Ts’ao
taotai, and orders were given to have him beheaded and his head
exposed.
The rebels at Hwa-yang, Chin-t’ang, and Chien-chow were on the same
day attacked by the Government troops, who fought all day and routed
the rebels, killing from three to four hundred of them.
The judge of the province is superintending the suppression of the
rioters, and he has given strict orders to afford adequate
protection.
He further states that there is no need for the missionaries to seek
temporary refuge.
As in duty bound, we send this for your excellency’s information,
with compliments.
Cards of Prince of Ch’ing and members of the board.
Dated 29th of sixth moon (August 2,
1902).
