File No. 1518/77–80.
Minister Rockhill
to the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Peking,September 28,
1907.
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.
[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.
