Minister Rockhill
to the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Peking, July 6,
1906.
No. 342.]
Sir: In further reference to the matter of the
Nan-ch’ang riots, which I reported, to you in my dispatches No. 251 of
March, No. 260 of March 17, and No. 272 of April 2, I have now the honor
to transmit what purports to be the text of the settlement signed on the
20th of last month by the French minister here and the foreign office,
together with a translation of the proclamation issued by the governor
of the province of Kiang-si in compliance with Article V of the
agreement.
I think the text of the agreement as here given omits a provision of
considerable importance, viz, that the people shall not erect tablets or
show other marks of respect or honor to the memory of the subprefect,
Chiang. The agreement provides for a settlement of the questions which
were in dispute in the diocese of Nan’ch’ang prior to the riots there
and which were the cause of the dispute between the missionaries and the
subpreject.
The terms of the proclamation clearly recognize, it seems, that the cause
of the ill-feeling which culminated in the riots and murders of February
25 was the attempt of the native Christians to shield themselves behind
the priests from their own officials, and the injudicious interference
of the priests in native disputes and questions not affecting the free
exercise of their parishioners’ religion.
The British legation has settled with the Chinese Government its claims
on account of the Nan’ch’ang murders in consideration of a money payment
of some 30,000 taels, the reward of the Chinese who protected the
fleeing British missionaries, and the punishment of three men who
confessed that they had murdered Mr. Kingham and his daughter.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure
1—Translation.]
Agreement in the Nan-ch’ang case.
Mr. Bapst, the minister of France, and Na-(t’ung), Ch’u (Hung-chi),
associate presidents, Lien-(fang), and T’ong (Shao-i),
vice-presidents of the Chinese board of foreign affairs, on the 29th
day of the intercalary fourth moon—that is, the 20th of June,
western calendar—entered into and signed an agreement in Nan-ch’ang
case, which is substantially the same as that discussed with the
French minister, Dubail, at Peking, but slightly altered by some
additions, excisions, and changes. The important changes are three,
viz:
- (1)
- France does not desire China to punish the gentry, Li Mei
and others, nor to disturb them in their official
positions.
- (2)
- It is agreed that the indemnity shall be somewhat less
than that formerly demanded.a
- (3)
- The Christian, Liu, must not suffer any further
punishment. This important matter having been disposed of,
it will not be necessary to refer it to the superintendent
of trade for the north (the Viceroy Yuan Shih-k’ai) for
further consideration. The agreement is as follows:
agreement.
Investigation of the facts.
Vicomte du Halgouet, third secretary of the French legation, and
Liang Tunyen, Chinese customs taot’ai of Tiensin, having made a
joint inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Chiang
Shao-t’ang, the district migistrate of Nan-ch’ang Hsien, found that
on the 29th of the 1st moon of the present year (February 22, 1906)
the Nan-ch’ang district magistrate, Chiang Shao-t’ang, went to the
Roman Catholic mission to discuss an old missionary case with the
French missionary, “Wang An-chih” Lacruche, and the disagreement
between them was such that the magistrate, Chiang, became
exasperated and committed suicide by cutting his throat. Because the
magistrate aforesaid thus committed suicide by cutting his throat
false and slanderous reports against the French missionaries were
put into circulation, with the result that a serious outbreak of
violence occurred on the 3d day of the 2d moon (February 25, 1906).
The Chinese Government having of its own accord punished the guilty
parties, the board of foreign affairs has now agreed upon the
following articles with the French minister at Peking, the mutual
purpose being to avoid future misunderstanding:
The five articles agreed
upon.
- Article 1. The sum of 40,000 taels
shall be paid as indemnity to the families of the five murdered
missionaries, and a further sum of 10,000 taels for the passage
money and other expenses of new missionaries to be brought out
hereafter. These sums must be paid according to the weight and
fineness of the treasury tael to the French consul-general at
Shanghai, who will receipt for the same.
- Art. II. The sum of 200,000 taels
shall be paid as indemnity for the churches, schools, and
orphanages destroyed in the former riots at Hsin-ch’ang and
elsewhere and for those destroyed on the recent riot at
Nan-ch’ang, as well as for the houses of the native Christians
and their personal property of all kinds, which sum shall be
apportioned by the mission to those who have suffered loss in
the various cases mentioned in full settlement of these
claims.
- Art. III. The sum of 200,000 taels
mentioned in Article II, treasury weight and fineness, shall be
paid in ten installments, one payment of 20,000 taels being made
every three months, to the French Roman Catholic bishop at
Kiukiang, who shall receipt for the same.
- Art. IV. All “red” deeds (i. e.,
deeds officially stamped and registered) for mission property
which have been destroyed must be replaced by the local
authorities with official certificates of ownership, and houses
shall be loaned to the mission for its use in the district of
Nan-ch’ang, within the city walls, to be occupied by the mission
until it shall have erected its own buildings, when it shall
remove thereto.
- Art. V. The governor of the province
of Kiangsi shall at once issue a proclamation the draft of which
has been prepared by the board of foreign affairs in
consultation with the French minister at Peking.
The foregoing five articles have been written in Chinese and French,
four copies of each having been prepared, one to be deposited with
the board of foreign affairs, one with the French legation at
Peking, one at the yamen of the governor of Kiangsi, and one with
the Roman Catholic mission at Kiukiang.
(Translated from the Jih Jih Hsin
Wen of Tientsin, of June 23,
1906.)
[Inclosure
2—Translation.]
The Nan-ch’ang case—Proclamation of the governor
of the province of Kiang-si.
The Wai-wu Pu and the minister of France at Peking having each
designated a delegate to make an investigation of the Nan-ch’ang
affair, it has been established that—
On the 29th day of the 1st moon of the present year (February 22,
1906) Mr. Chiang Shao-t’ang, subprefect of Nan-ch’ang, went to the
mission of the [Page 341] French
Catholic missionary, Mr. Lacruche, to discuss some long-standing
business, and that, not being able to reach an agreement, the
subprefect, Chiang, had cut his throat in a paroxysm of rage, and
that as a result of this act calumnious reports had been spread
against the French missionary, culminating in the events of the 3d
of the 2d moon (February 25).
To-day the two Governments, considering that it is most unfortunate
that these events should have occurred, and being desirous that
concord should reign forever between Christians and non-Christians,
and that no more false and calumnious rumors to deceive and mislead
the people should be spread against the missions, have concluded an
agreement stipulating that questions, old as well as recent, should
be settled and terminated, and that a proclamation should be
published by the authorities of this province to correct the false
reports previously put in circulation.
In compliance with the request received from the Wai-wu Pu the
present proclamation is consequently published to inform the people
of the whole province, gentry and trades people, soldiers and
civilians, that each one should peacefully attend to his business,
being careful not to give the least heed to false rumors or to
invent them and spread them about and thus incite trouble, all being
deeds which would bring those responsible for them to grief.
Bear it well in mind that the missions have as their first object to
exhort people to do good, and that missionaries are well-bred and
polished people; that Christians, to whatever creed they belong, are
all children of China, and that they are obedient to the laws of the
Empire. On all questions concerning marriage, property, money
matters, quarrels, litigations, and lawsuits both parties should
carry their complaints to the local magistrates, who will judge them
with equity.
Christians, furthermore, should not make false charges inspired by
hatred and revenge nor seek for, while disguising the truth, the
missionaries to interfere, in agreement with the treaties—this to
the end to insure, between Christians and non-Christians, equality
of treatment, which will of itself create concord and peace.
Let everyone comply with the above without omitting anything.
