Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 5, 1905

Minister Rockhill to the Secretary of State.

American Legation,
Peking, November 4, 1905.

No. 139.]

Sir: In continuation of my dispatch No. 112 of October 4, I inclose herewith copy of a note which I addressed to the minister of foreign affairs on the 30th of October, again calling his attention to the dilatoriness of the Liang Kuang viceroy in regard to the stopping of the anti-American agitation in the Province of Kuang-tung.

I have, etc.,

W. W. Rockhill.

[Inclosure.]

Minister Rockhill to Prince Ch’ing.

American Legation,
Peking, October 30, 1905.

Your Imperial Highness: On the 6th instant I had the honor to receive a dispatch from your imperial highness in reply to mine of the 3d instant with regard to the inefficiency of the measures taken by the viceroy of the Liang Kuang to suppress the boycott of American goods in his jurisdiction.

Your imperial highness states that orders were sent to the viceroy on the 26th of September directing him to require the officials under him to obey the imperial edict and use every effort to stop the boycott; that you were awaiting a reply to these orders and would send me a copy of it upon its receipt.

I have the honor to call the attention of your highness to the fact that twenty-four days have now elapsed since your last communication and that no copy of the viceroy’s reply has been received at this legation, and that more than a month has passed since the orders mentioned were sent to the viceroy. Surely no such length of time is required to obtain from his excellency an acknowledgment of the orders and a statement that he will comply with them.

The condition of affairs in Kuang-tung as regards American trade shows either his utter incapacity or his unwillingness to deal with the question, and I must insist that the Imperial Government, which is responsible for the execution of the treaties with the United States, shall take more vigorous measures to secure the enforcement of the imperial decree. I trust that your imperial highness will favor me with an immediate reply, giving assurance that such measures are being taken. Negligence to enforce the imperial orders can only breed disrespect for them and may lead to serious disorder.

In this connection it becomes my duty to state that I am in receipt of a communication from the President of the United States, saying that the American Government desires to act justly toward China, but at the same time can not tolerate any injustice from China.

Trusting that your imperial highness will see the importance of prompt action in this serious condition of affairs,

I avail myself, etc.,

W. W. Rockhill.