I inclose a copy of the conditions named. You will observe that they have
reduced the protective zone from 18 miles to about 6, and have left out
the other objectionable features.
While the 6-mile limit of a protective zone seems to me still too large,
yet it being so great a reduction from the former conditions, if the
Chinese Government is willing to accept these conditions I shall make no
further formal opposition.
[Inclosure.]
Sir Ernest
Satow to Prince Chi’ng.
Your Highness: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of Your Highness’s note of the 5th instant,
inclosing copy of a letter from his excellency the viceroy [Page 199] Yuan, urging reasons why
the administration of the city of Tientsin should be handed back to
his excellency at an early date.
In reply I have the honor to state to Your Highness that, in accord
with my colleagues representing powers that still have delegates on
the council of the Tientsin provisional government, I am authorized
by my Government to consent to the dissolution of that body,
provided that the Chinese Government signifies its adherence to the
following propositions:
By Article VIII of the final protocol of September 7, 1901, it was
declared that the Chinese Government agreed to have the forts at
Taku, and others which might interfere with free communication
between Peking and the sea, demolished; and it was added that
arrangements had been made for this purpose.
The Chinese plenipotentiaries having expressed to the diplomatic body
their desire to be relieved of the direct responsibility for
carrying out this article, the representatives of the signatory
powers intrusted the work to the Tientsin provisional government. It
is not yet entirely completed. In order therefore to insure the
fulfillment of this article, I have the honor to propose to Your
Highness that the work of demolition shall, from the moment of the
dissolution of the Tientsin provisional government, be placed in the
hands of the G. O. C.’s at Tientsin, the necessary funds being
provided out of the moneys then remaining in the treasury of the
Tientsin provisional government.
By Article IX of the same protocol it is provided that the powers
shall have the right of occupying certain points between Peking and
the sea, of which the whole town of Tientsin is one. Consequently,
after the dissolution of the Tientsin provisional government,
foreign troops will continue as hitherto to be stationed there, in
the places actually occupied by them, and their supplies of all
sorts continuing, as at present, to be exempt from all taxes or dues
whatsoever. They will have the right of carrying on field exercises
and rifle practice, etc., without informing the Chinese authorities,
except in the case of feux de guerre.
It is desirable, however, to avoid as far as possible occasions of
collision between the foreign troops and those of China. I propose,
therefore, that with this object the Chinese Government shall
undertake not to station or march any troops within 20 Chinese li
(6⅔ English miles) of the city or of the troops stationed at
Tientsin; further, in correspondence exchanged between the foreign
representatives and the Chinese plenipotentiaries, of whom Your
Highness was one, previous to the signature of the protocol, it was
agreed that the jurisdiction of the commanders of the posts to be
established along the line of communications should extend to a
distance of 2 miles on either side of the railway, and this
arrangement ought to be maintained as long as the line of posts
specified in Article IX of the protocol continue to be occupied.
I am willing, however, in concert with my colleagues, to consent that
the viceroy should have the right of maintaining a personal
bodyguard in the city of Tientsin not exceeding in number 300 men;
and also that his excellency may maintain an efficient body of river
police along the line: of the river, even where it runs within the
2-mile limit above mentioned.
The demolition of the forts implies an obligation upon China not to
reconstruct them, and the same obligation applies to the walls of
Tientsin city, which, during the troubles of 1900, were made use of
as a fortification directed against the security of the foreign
settlements. We can not, however, consent that the Chinese
Government establish maritime defenses at the mouth of the Peiho at
Chungwangtao or at Shanhaikuan.
We propose that the accounts of revenue and expenditure of the
Tientsin provisional government be audited by two competent persons,
one to be chosen by the G. O. C’s. at Tientsin, the other by the
viceroy, and the balance, after deduction of the sum required to
complete the demolition of the forts, be handed over to the
provincial treasury.
Your Highness will no doubt think it right to agree that no Chinese
subject who has been in the service of the Tientsin provisional
government or of the foreign contingent shall be in any way molested
on the ground of such service.
Chinese subjects in the employ of the foreign forces on the lines of
communication will be provided with certificates of identity. It
appears to me necessary that the Chinese Government should admit
that in case any such Chinese person commits an offense the
commandant in whose service he is should have the right of punishing
him or of handing him over to the Chinese authorities as may, in his
opinion, be best calculated to secure the ends of justice.
The right of foreign troops to occupy summer quarters when necessary
ought, in my opinion, to be recognized.
A list of unexpired punishments imposed by the Tientsin provisional
government will be furnished when that body is dissolved to the
provincial government, which [Page 200] ought to undertake to carry them out. No action, either criminal
or civil, adjudicated by the provisional government can ever be
opened anew.
The archives of the Tientsin provisional government I consider should
be intrusted to the senior consul, and application can be made to
him by any person entitled to consult them.
As regards taxation, I consider that the inhabitants of the city and
district should be regarded as having discharged their duty to the
Chinese Government during the period of the continuance of the
administration of the Tientsin provisional government and that no
arrears ought to be demanded of them under this heading.
Such are the proposals which I consider it my duty to place before
Your Highness for the acceptation of the Chinese Government, and I
have the honor to declare that I am ready to consent to the
dissolution of the Tientsin provisional government four weeks after
I receive from Your Highness an intimation that they are accepted. I
have only further to request that Your Highness will be so good as
to designate the official to whom formal delivery of the city and
district can be made by the council of the Tientsin provisional
government.
I have, etc.,
