File No. 9864/5–7.
Chargé Fletcher to
the Secretary of State
.
American Legation,
Peking
,
October 31,
1907.
No. 771.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a
printed copy of two memorialsa to the Chinese Government, prepared by the Centenary
Missionary Conference which assembled at Shanghai in May, 1907, and to
report that at the request of the conference they have been submitted to
the foreign office in a joint note, copy inclosed, signed by the
ministers of Great Britain and Germany and myself.
The memorials explain at some length the teachings of the Christian
religion, the object of Christian missions, the nonpolitical character
of their teachings, and ask for complete religious liberty in China. The
Chinese text of the memorials was prepared by Dr. W. A. P. Martin.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Joint note of Sir John
Jordan, Count Rex and Mr. Fletcher to the foreign office
.
Peking
,
October 23,
1907.
Your Highness: The undersigned ministers of
Great Britain and Germany, and the chargé d’affaires of America,
having been requested by the China Centenary Missionary Conference
to bring to the notice of the Chinese Government two memorials
setting forth the object of Christian missions and asking for
complete religious liberty for all Chinese Christians, now have the
honor to transmit to your highness these documents, and to request
that they may be submitted to the Throne.
Your highness’ board is doubtless aware that the conference from
which these memorials emanate met at Shanghai in May of this year
and was attended by Protestant missionaries from all parts of China.
The representations which they have made in the two documents
inclosed are intended in the first place to demonstrate the
nonpolitical character of their teaching, and in the second to urge
upon the Chinese Government the importance of granting complete
religious liberty to all its subjects. If your highness will be good
enough to carefully peruse the arguments of the memoralists we
venture to think that your highness will be prepared to support
their request, and to ask for the issuance of a decree in the sense
suggested.
We avail ourselves, etc.,
-
Sir John Jordon.
-
Graf Rex.
-
Henry P. Fletcher.
