Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1907, (In two parts), Part I

File No. 9864/–1.

Chargé Fletcher to the Secretary of State.

American Legation,
Peking,October 4, 1907.

No. 751.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a translation of an edict issued on the 1st instant on the subject of the protection of missions in China, which, after mentioning that attacks upon and injuries to missionaries and mission property have occurred in every province, directs the viceroys and governors of the provinces to have all the clauses of the treaties which concern missions printed and circulated among their subordinates, so that they may be energetically explained to the people and observed by the officials. The edict calls upon all Chinese subjects, converts and nonconverts alike, to observe the laws, and prescribes that justice be meted out to all classes without discrimination.

I have, etc.,

Henry P. Fletcher.

[Inclosure.—Translation.]

Imperial edict (October 1, 1907)—Protection of missions.

An edict for the protection of missions in accordance with treaty provisions. It is the duty of all local officials to protect missionaries wherever found in China, in respect to their persons, lives, money, and property.

In the last two or three years there have been cases in every province of the burning of the buildings belonging to missionary societies. No locality has been able to keep away from doing injury to missionaries. We are greatly grieved at this. We are pushing inquiries as to the cause. A large part of the disagreement arising between the missionary societies and the common people is caused by the crookedness of the Yamen underlings.

In times past treaties have been concluded in which it is clearly stipulated that missionaries shall do their duty in preaching their doctrines. Those who practice these doctrines should not be oppressively treated nor obstructed. If, however, there arises any question coming under the jurisdiction of Chinese law, the local officials must conform to said law in that which they do. The necessary distinctions are clearly drawn.

Let the viceroys and governors of all the Provinces have printed all the clauses of the treaties concerned with missions and circulate them among their subordinates, to the end that they may be energetically explained to the people and observed by the officials.

The missionaries, on the other hand, must likewise observe treaty stipulations. The people, whether in or out of the mission societies, are alike our children and are all amenable to the country’s law. So far as infraction of the laws and lawsuits are concerned all the people are on an equality. They should on no account be treated with any discrimination. Thus the laws will be respected.

Let it be known forthwith to the common people and to the members of the societies that the relations of each to the other must, according to their duty, be just; the officials and their underlings must be upright in their jurisdiction. Let the people and the members of the societies of their own accord make an end of their mutual anger and jealousy. For there are certain rowdies who deceitfully stir up trouble with false reports. Continual guard should be taken against these occurrences and on signs of their appearance they should be prevented.

If the local officials do not understand the treaty provisions, or if they are negligent or unjust in their administration, or if they are pusillanimous and backward in their actions, then gradually serious trouble will arise. In that case these officials will be sought out and condignly punished. This decree is for their warning.

Respect this.