Minister Rockhill to the Secretary of State.

No. 228.]

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that on the 9th instant I received a telegram from the American consul “at Amoy informing me that English and Catholic missions at Chang-p’u had been destroyed by Boxers, but that the Americans in the vicinity were for the present unmolested.

[Page 325]

I immediately addressed a note to the Wai-wu Pu, a copy of which I inclose, requesting that the local authorities be instructed to suppress the disturbance and to afford instant and efficient protection to the lives and property of the Americans.

I also have the honor to inclose copies of three notes which I have received from Prince Ch’ing in regard to the above disturbances, the last containing an imperial edict, ordering the civil and military authorities to put a stop to the movement and to give due protection to all churches.

I have, etc.,

W. W. Rockhill.
[Inclosure 1.]

Mr. Rockhill to the Prince of Ch’ing.

Your Imperial Highness: I have the honor to inform your imperial highness than I am just in receipt of a telegram from the American consul at Amoy saying that rioters have destroyed the English and Roman Catholic missions at Chang-p’u Hsien in the prefecture of Chang-chou, Fukien, and that American missions have not been molested as yet.

It becomes my duty therefore to request your imperial highness to at once instruct the local authorities to make no delay in suppressing the disturbance, and to afford instant and efficient protection to the lives and property of Americans in the vicinity.

Confident that your highness will comply with this request, I have the further honor to ask that your imperial highness will inform me of the measures taken.

I avail myself of the occasion to renew to your imperial highness the assurances of my highest consideration.

(Signed)
W. W. Rockhill.
[Inclosure 2.]

The Prince of Ch’ing to Mr. Rockhill.

Your Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch of the 9th instant stating that you had received a telegram from the American consul at Amoy to the effect that rioters had destroyed the English and Roman Catholic missions at Charg-p’u Hsien, but that the American missions had not been molested as yet; would I therefore at once instruct the local authorities to make no delay in suppressing the disturbance, and to afford instant and efficient protection to the lives and property of Americans in the vicinity.

In reply I have the honor to state that my board has already telegraphed the governor of Fukien directing him to order the local officials to make an immediate investigation of the affair and report; also to take steps to quiet the people and to protect the missionaries and their chapels. This is on record.

As soon as a reply has been received from the governor in the matter I will communicate further with your excellency, but in the meantime, as in duty bound, I send this reply to your excellency’s recent dispatch for your information.

A necessary dispatch.

(Signed) Prince of Ch’ing.
[Page 326]
[Inclosure 3.]

The Prince of Ch’ing to Mr. Rockhill.

Your Excellency: Referring to our correspondence with regard to the disturbance at Chang-p’u (near Amoy) I have the honor to state that on the 10th instant I received a telegram from the acting viceroy as follows:

“The district magistrate of Chang-p’u reports that the people raised this disturbance because some natives had been forcibly detained in the Catholic cathedral. The trouble resulted in the burning of a schoolhouse built in Chinese style. I have already telegraphed to the provincial commander in chief of the matter and have dispatched troops to the place to cooperate with the local civil and military authorities in quieting the disturbance and dispersing the people, having given them orders also to give due protection to the churches.”

On the 11th, just while this matter was being dealt with, I received another telegram from the same viceroy, which reads as follows:

“The Chang-p’u taotai reports that after the burning of the Chinese Catholic Church the rioters mixed with the crowd and entered the city, where they burned the English church (built after foreign style) and the hospital. The military and civil authorities sent troops to arrest the rioters, and killed twelve of them. They arrested also the ringleader, named Chang-ying. The Chinese and foreign Christians are all safe and under protection. Chang-ying is guilty of a very serious crime, and I have already telegraphed that he be executed at once on the scene of his crime. I have also sent troops to afford efficient protection, and to arrest all other culprits.”

Having received the above telegrams I incorporate them in this dispatch to your excellency, as in duty bound.

A necessary dispatch.

(Signed) Prince of Ch’ing.
[Inclosure 4.]

The Prince of Ch’ing to Mr. Rockhill.

Your Excellency: I have the honor to inform your excellency that on the 12th instant I received an imperial edict as follows:

“The board of foreign affairs has presented a telegram from Ch’ung-shan (Tartar general and acting viceroy of Min-Che Province) saying that in the district of Chang-p’u some rioters entered the city and burned the church and a hospital; that the civil and military authorities had sent troops to the scene to scatter the crowds and arrest the rioters; that they had captured Chang-ying, the leader in the affair, who had confessed his guilt and been executed forthwith. Let the viceroy again give orders to the local civil and military authorities directing them to use their best endeavors to arrest the rest of the criminals, and put down the movement, destroying every root and branch. Let special efforts be used in giving due protection to all the churches. Let there be no remissness. Respect this.”

Having received the above, I have, as in duty bound, had a copy made as incorporated in this dispatch for your excellency’s information.

A necessary dispatch.

[seal.]