Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1906, (In two parts), Part I

Minister Rockhill to the Secretary of State.

[Extract.]

American Legation,
Peking, China, November 6, 1905.

No. 140.]

Sir: In further reference to the killing of the five members of the American Presbyterian mission station at Lien Chou, Province of Kwang-tung, which I reported to you by cable on the 3d instant, I have to report as follows:

On the 4th instant I called at the foreign office by appointment. I was received by the two vice-presidents, Chü Hung-chi and Na’tung, and the two under secretaries, Lien Fang and Wu Ting-fang. I said that I wanted particularly at the present moment to urge on the Chinese Government the necessity of devising means for preventing further possible outrages against Americans in the same region. I saw nothing to object to in the edict issued by the Emperor to the viceroy in the matter; my only apprehension was that it would not be or could not be carried out. The viceroy had already been commanded by the edict of August 31 (see my dispatch No. 79 of September 1, 1905) to prevent disorder or hostile demonstrations against Americans, but he had failed to take adequate measures, and I had repeatedly in the last few months had to call the attention of the Wai-wu Pu to his contumacious conduct and his apparent sympathy with the anti-American agitation. The viceroy had, so far as I was informed, taken no steps to ascertain whether either the terms of the imperial edict of August 31 or those of his own proclamation were carried out in the Province. The vilest and most slanderous placards and publications against Americans had been posted and scattered broadcast over his Province. It was because of this that the people had come to look upon Americans as outlawed and public enemies, and, with only the slightest misunderstanding as an exciting cause, had now murdered inoffensive women and men.

I stated furthermore that I noted with particular pleasure that the Emperor in his edict to the viceroy commanded that all officials of whatever rank found delinquent should be severely punished. I felt sure, I said, that this would insure the punishment of the viceroy, the chief culprit, by his dilatoriness, for this crime.

The vice-presidents assured me that their majesties had been deeply distressed over this occurrence, and that the fact that an imperial edict had been issued upon the same day on which it had been heard of by them was proof of the gravity with which they viewed it. They begged me to convey to you the expression of their personal sorrow and mortification that such an occurrence could have happened. They begged the United States would await an investigation of the matter, and they promised full justice, compensation, and punishment.

I told them that you had instructed me to inform the foreign office that public opinion in the United States was very much wrought up over this occurrence, and that unless the imperial government took vigorous and prompt action the most unfortunate consequences might be expected to follow. I repeated this to the ministers several times and drew their earnest attention to the great gravity of the situation, resulting not only from this massacre but from the generally unsatisfactory state of affairs in the Province of Kwang-tung, to which I had repeatedly called their attention during the last four months.

In my dispatch No. 139 of the 4th instant I had the honor to inclose copy of a note which I had addressed to the Prince of Ch’ing pressing for a reply to my former note of October 3 (see my dispatch No. 112 of October 4, 1905),^a in which I asked that the viceroy of the Liang Kwang take effective steps to stop the anti-American agitation in his Province. I inclose herewith a copy in translation of a note which I received yesterday from the Prince of Ch’ing giving the telegraphic reply to the viceroy.

The viceroy, you will note, does not state when he issued the new proclamation, but I have little doubt that it was only after he heard of the massacre of our fellow-countrymen at Lien Chou.

It would seem that the viceroy has finally been stirred up to do his duty, and with constant urging from the Peking Government he may put a final stop to all manifestations of hostility against us.

I have, etc.,

W. W. Rockhill.

[Inclosure.]

The Prince of Ch’ing to Minister Rockhill.

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt on the 4th of the 10th moon, XXXI year of Kuanghsü (October 31, 1905), of your excellency’s dispatch saying that the measures being taken by the viceroy at Canton to stop the boycott were insufficient; that it had been over a month since I had telegraphed orders to him, and that no such length of time was required to obtain from him an acknowledgment of the orders and a statement that he would comply with them; that the condition of affairs in Kwang-tung as regarded American trade showed either the incapacity or the unwillingness of the viceroy to deal with this question, and that you would have to insist upon my Government’s taking-more vigorous measures to cause Chinese subjects to obey the imperial decree; that you trusted I would favor you with an immediate reply, giving assurance that such measures were being taken as you requested; that negligence to enforce imperial orders could only breed disrespect for them and might lead to serious disorders; that you had further to inform me that you were in receipt of a communication from the President of the United States saying that the American Government desired to act justly toward China, but at the same time could not tolerate any injustice from China; and that you trusted that I would recognize the serious condition of affairs and act with promptitude.

As to this matter, yesterday I received a reply from the viceroy at Canton, as follows:

“I have already issued a proclamation warning the people, and have directed all the taot’ais, prefects, and subprefects in the Provinces of Kwangtung and Kwangshi to at once transmit it to the subordinate officials in their jurisdictions, with orders to post it everywhere at once. I also directed these officials to comply with repeated instructions as to the treatment of this question by admonishing and guiding the merchants in their several jurisdictions so as to secure a satisfactory adjustment of the matter. I also ordered the officials to give protection to Chinese in the employ of the American consulate, business houses, and ships, as required by the regulations, and to warn the editors of any newspapers in their jurisdictions that they must not defame such employees, and I instructed the said officials to report to me the steps taken to carry out their orders and the dates on which they posted the proclamation, that I might make a record for future reference.”

On receipt of the above I again telegraphed the viceroy at Canton, strictly charging him that his efforts to admonish and guide must show earnestness and that he must be vigorous in enforcing his prohibitions. As soon as I shall hear from him again I will communicate his reply to your excellency. In the meantime, as in duty bound, I send this reply for your consideration.

A necessary dispatch.

Kuanghsü, XXXI year, tenth moon, 8th day (November 4, 1905).

1. Foreign Relations for 1905, p. 229.