Acting Secretary of State Bacon to Minister Rockhill.
Washington, August 16, 1906.
(Mr. Bacon states that, considering the information and views communicated by Mr. Rockhill, and taking into account the amounts and character of the indemnities demanded by the British and French [Page 321] Governments for the murder of their nationals in China, it has been decided to adhere to the principle of indemnity for the loss of life which this Government has followed in aggravated cases of this kind. The minister is therefore instructed to notify the Government of China that, in addition to the reparatory satisfaction to be made under the Lay arrangement, and to satisfy the claims made by relatives, this Government will demand 50,000 taels for the benefit of the next of kin of the five American victims at Lienchou. For Mr. Rockhill’s information and guidance, Mr. Bacon states that the above decision is on the assumption that no commitment may have been made to the Chinese Government of which the department is not advised which would make this course inconsistent; also that the claims of relatives include one of $10,000 on behalf of two infants dependent on one of the victims, and claims, aggregating $25,000, of the estate of one other victim.)