File No. 1518/77–80.

Minister Rockhill to the Secretary of State.

No. 745.]

Sir: I have had frequent occasions during the last six months to refer to the great importance which the Imperial Government attaches to reconciling the Manchu and Chinese elements of the population; to bringing about perfect harmony between them, in the hope that it may thus extinguish the antidynastic agitation which is believed to be gaining ground among the Chinese, of the central and southeastern provinces especially, and which, since the bomb outrage here in 1905 and the murder of a number of officials this year, fills the court with an ever-increasing apprehension.

The privileged position of the Manchus, the preference shown them in official life, the pensions they all receive from the Throne, have long been grievances loudly but uselessly complained of by the Chinese. It was only a few years ago—in 1901—that marriage between Manchu and Chinese was first permitted; and more recently a few measures have been adopted to give some little satisfaction to the Chinese. Quite recently a number of high offices in Peking and in the provinces, heretofore held exclusively by the Manchus, have been given to Chinese, but more radical measures were felt to be imperatively necessary.

Last month an imperial edict was published directing all officials to make suggestions to the Throne looking to the more perfect amalgamation of the two peoples. Numerous memorials were promptly submitted, all of which agree upon the measures to be taken, though the means advocated for carrying them out vary. The memorial [Page 193] by the Manchu Viceroy Tuan-fang, recently published in the public press of Tientsin, may be taken as typical. The document is of very considerable length and rather discursive. The principal points made are the following:

(1)
Manchus and Chinese should be equally subject to local laws, and no preference should be” shown the former in appointments in the government service.
(2)
The twenty-four banner corps should be gradually done away with, two each year. The pensions they are now receiving should be capitalized for ten years and the amount paid to the men on disbandment. The capital necessary to carry out this measure should be raised from taxes on all official salaries and from contributions from the imperial privy purse.
(3)
The imperial domain in Manchuria should be thrown open to settlement and facilities afforded to encourage colonization there. It is to be noted that only one-fifth of the arable land in Manchuria is now under cultivation.

Other recommendations of lesser importance, but which, if adopted, would greatly tend to efface all distinctions between the two races are:

(1)
That Manchu officials in memorializing the Throne should not refer to themselves as “slaves” (nu-t’ai), as they have always done.
(2)
That Manchus should, like the Chinese, have family names (hsing).
(3)
That Manchus and Chinese should be enlisted without any distinction whatever in the same corps in the army.

The Throne has not deferred acting on these memorials. Yesterday an imperial edict appeared (based, I am told, on a memorial submitted by Yuan Shih-k’ai) ordering the gradual disbandment of the Manchu garrisons in the provinces, placing them on a footing of equality before the law, extinguishing the pensions now given them, and granting in lieu thereof to each bannerman a certain area of agricultural land, means of cultivating it, and also establishing among them schools for general and technical education.

The large population of Manchu bannermen in Peking, amounting probably to 100,000 at least, and which does not fall under the operation of this edict, will be dealt with in a special law which, I gather, is expected to be published before long.

The present edict is the most practical and well-balanced measure adopted by the Government since the reform programme was inaugurated. It will be hailed with delight by the Chinese, and its carrying into effect will, I hope, prove easy. I inclose herewith a synopsis of this edict and the full text will be transmitted to you at a later date.

As of possible interest I inclose also a leader from the North China Daily Newsa of the 23d instant. Whether the facts therein stated concerning the memorial said to have been submitted to the Throne by the Grand Council are correct, I am not in a position to say, but the writer is correct in considering the first and foremost question the Throne had to do with in this matter, that of the Manchu garrisons, and this, I think, has been very happily disposed of, at least on paper.

I have, etc.

W. W. Rockhill.
[Page 194]
[Inclosure 1.—Translation.]

Imperial edict, August 10, 1901.

Our dynasty has now been in benevolent possession of this Empire for over two hundred years. In that time we have made no difference in our attitude toward Chinese and Manchus. Recently all offices of all grades, including the offices of tartar-general and lieutenant-general, have been open to both Chinese and Manchus. The country has been a witness to this justice of ours. At present we have arrived in the midst of difficulties and all classes of our officials and people should with one heart try to combat these evils. Former differences should be forgotten and the sole aim should be the protection of the country’s welfare. There are now distinctions between Chinese and Manchus. Let means of removing these differences be sought by all yamens, both in the capital and throughout the provinces, and when satisfactory methods have been devised, let us be apprised of them by memorials.

[Inclosure 2.—Translation.]

Synopsis of the imperial edict of September 27, 1907.

(1) When the present dynasty was established (1644) under the name of Ta Ch’ing, Manchu garrisons were set up throughout the provinces for the purpose of preserving order therein. As a result the whole country remained peaceful and quiet year after year, and it followed that the members of these garrisons became accustomed to an easy and a lazy life, accepting their monthly stipend without having had to work therefor.

(2) The families of the Manchus in these garrisons have augmented greatly in all these years, while their incomes have remained practically the same. As a result they have come to depend to a great extent upon the charity of our successive Emperors for their means of subsistence. They have never cared to learn how to support themselves, and have neglected the four classic callings, viz, literature, agriculture, industry, and commerce. It has become our duty, therefore, to devise some means whereby they may be enabled to earn their own livelihood.

(3) We therefore direct all the viceroys, governors, tartar-generals, and lieutenant-generals to ascertain the number of such Manchus within their respective jurisdictions. Having done this, let them measure up all the land originally assigned to these garrisons for purposes of pasturage or cultivation, dividing it all up into allotments, and let them then assign to each member of such garrison as many of these allotments as he has individuals in his family, the recipient then being required to cultivate the same for his own use.

In cases where a garrison has been assigned no such land for pasturage or cultivation, or where such land is insufficient for the needs of the present members, the local officials shall, after the harvest in the fall of each year, purchase a certain amount of land in the vicinity of the garrison—say sufficient to supply one-tenth or more of the members of the garrison—adding to the whole an equal amount each year until enough land for all has been obtained.

Land allotted as above shall only be leased to the holders, and can not be afterwards sold by them. And furthermore, when such land is given to a member of a Manchu garrison, his present monthly stipend shall be stopped. The money accruing from these monthly stipends which are withheld shall be kept apart with an account therefor, and held until orders are received as to how it shall be disbursed.

(4) When a Manchu has thus been given land to cultivate he shall from that time be required to pay taxes; and he shall be subject to all local, judicial, and other authorities, being in every way exactly like the Chinese, no distinction whatever being made between the two people. In the distribution of this land it is to be remembered that some is fertile and some not; some valuable and some worth but little. For this reason the amount which shall be considered as one allotment shall be that amount of land which, considering its fertility, etc., shall be deemed sufficient for the support of one person.

In addition to the above stipulations, it is directed that efforts shall be made to establish educational and industrial institutions for the further benefit of these people. The funds required for these improvements, and also the money [Page 195] necessary to start the people in their agricultural pursuits—i. e., the money with which to purchase domestic animals, farming implements, etc.—may be taken from the fund which has accumulated from the withholding of the stipends; but this fund can be used for that purpose only upon approval by the Throne.

(5) In carrying out these measures, the viceroys, governors, tartar-generals, etc., are directed to be diligent and earnest, going thoroughly into the matter themselves and not trusting to the petty officers under them. The board of revenue is also instructed to supply the ready money that may be necessary to start this movement that there may not be the slightest delay.

The intention herein implied is to obliterate the distinction existing between the Manchus and Chinese, and to mold the people of China into a united body. The scheme herein outlined has been adopted to show the Throne’s earnest desire to consider everybody upon a footing of exact equality.

Respect this.

  1. Not printed.