Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, July 2,
1902.
No. 1035.]
Sir: Continuing the subject-matter of my
dispatch No. 1013, of June 11 last, and confirming my telegram of the
28th ultimo concerning the proposed return of the city of Tientsin to
the Chinese Government, I inclose copy of a note to the dean by his
excellency the German minister, in which he transmits draft of a
proposed note to be sent to the foreign office by the diplomatic corps,
I do not inclose
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copy of this
note, because it simply repeats the conditions sent you in my No. 1013,
of the 11th ultimo.
Although the Russian minister joined in the preparation of the note
addressed to the foreign office, yet at the meeting of the corps he
notified his colleagues that he had been instructed by his Government to
take no part in the proposing of conditions for the return of Tientsin,
and to withdraw from all responsibility therefor. I refused to take
part, for the reasons given in my telegram. All the other
representatives signified their willingness to join in sending the
proposed note to the foreign office, but as it was not unanimous,
nothing could be done.
The probability is that the powers taking part in the provisional
government and being responsible for its continuance will be obliged to
surrender the city on such terms as they themselves can exact from the
Chinese.
I inclose also copy of a letter from the military commandants, giving a
list of important contracts entered into or concessions granted by the
Tientsin provisional government.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. von Mumm to
the Dean of the diplomatic
corps.
Mr. Dean and Dear Colleague: I have the
honor to transmit to you herewith, in the name of my colleagues, the
British, French, Russian, Japanese, and Italian ministers, and in
mine, draft of letter addressed to the Chinese plenipotentiaries in
answer to their communication of March 5 last, on the subject of the
return of the city of Tientsin to the Imperial Chinese
authorities.
This letter contains the conditions which we believe should be
proposed for the surrender and suppression of the provisional
government.
The conditions in question have been the subjects of long
deliberations between us and the generals commanding the foreign
corps at Tientsin. We have endeavored in determining these
conditions to confine ourselves to the stipulations of the protocol
of September 7, 1901. We believe, on the other hand, that as
presently drawn up, these conditions, if collectively put into
execution, would assure the security of the troops which our
Governments maintain in Chihli and the proper discipline among them.
It has appeared to us equally indispensable to point out the
validity of the acts of the provisional government during the two
years it has acted in the name of the generals commanding our
troops.
We would be grateful to you if you would be kind enough to circulate
the documents in question among our colleagues, and to call at the
earliest possible date a meeting of the diplomatic corps, in which
we would study the measures necessary to assure the execution of
these conditions by the Chinese Government.
Please accept, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
The generals and commandants
of the contingents in China to the Dean of the diplomatic corps.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of the letter from the members of the diplomatic corps,
dated June 7, on the return by the provisional government of
Tientsin to the Chinese authorities, and in accordance with the
demand expressed in paragraph 9 of said letter to inclose you
herewith a list of the contracts entered into by the provisional
government. I must remark that it is our unanimous
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desire that this list be not
communicated to the Chinese authorities before they shall have
accepted in principle the maintenance of the validity of these
contracts, etc.
Please accept, etc.,
- Von Rohrecheidt,
General, Commanding the German Forces
in China.
- Kirchmayr,
Commanding Austrian Forces in
China..
- O. M. Creaqh,
Major-General, Commanding British
Forces in China.
- J. Lefevre,
General, Commanding French Troops in
China.
- S. W. Ameglio,
Colonel, Commanding Italian Forces in
China.
- Akiyama,
Colonel, Commanding Japanese Forces in
China.
- ____ ____,
Colonel, Commanding
Russian Forces in China.
[Subinclosure.]
Contracts entered into by the Tientsin
promsional government.
(a) the
council.
1. March 13, 1901, with the founders of the water company in the
Chinese city of Tientsin for the establishment of works for
furnishing water to the Chinese city.
2. November 11, 1901, with the electric light and traction company,
for the establishment of electric light and tramways in the Chinese
city.
3. May 26, 1902, with the Tientsin Land Improvement Company, to
establish a drainage system in the city.
4. A turn bridge over the Pei-ho River, near the railway station.
(b) treasury.
5. Contract entered into by Colonel 0’Sullivan on behalf of the
council for the payment of the duties and the transfer of the
treasury to the Imperial Chinese maritime customs.
6. The purchase of a steamer.
(c) public
works.
7. Contract for stone.
8. Drain around the city.
9. Drain along the south boulevard and contract entered into for
filling up the southeast and southwest corners of the city.
10. Bridge on Taku road.
11. Construction of a likin bureau at Chen Chia Ko.
12. Construction of a likin bureau at Si pei Men.
13. Construction of a likin bureau at Yang Chia Chuang.
14. Construction of a likin bureau at Ta Hung Chiao.
15. New building for the treasury.
16. A road from the city to the match factory.
17. Bridge on Hsi Pai Men road.
18. For removing the excrements deposited on the banks of the river.
Demolition of the forts of—
19. Hsin Chong.
20. South of Taku.
21. North of Taku.
22. Northwest of Taku.
23. No. 1 of the Peitang.
24. Nos. 2 and 3, Peitang.
25. Nos. 5 and 6, Peitang.
26. Nos. 2 and 3 of Shanhaikuan.
27. Contract for a fort of Shanhaikuan (Gueden & Marcadier).
(d) sanitary service.
28. With Li Yuen Cheng, for three years, for the construction and
maintenance of public privies.
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(e) police
department.
29. Contract entered into for the maintenance and clothing of the
police and prisoners.
districts.
North of Tientsin.—Contract entered into for
the leasing of lands belonging to the Government to subjects:
- 1.
- Chang Chia Wan, terminating December 31, 1902.
- 2.
- Mu Chia Ch., terminating December 31, 1902.
- 3.
- Li Chia Tsui, terminating December 31, 1902.
- 4.
- Ma Lo and Ching Fu, terminating December 31, 1902.
South of Tientsin.—No contract.
Tongku.—5. Contract with two Chinese, named
Chang Hsi Chuang and Tschang Tze Ping, for cutting the reeds during
1902.
Chung Liang Cheng.—6. Lease with various
fanners for the rice farms of Hsiao Chan.
