File No. 135/1.
The Acting Secretary of
State to Minister Rockhill.
Department of State,
Washington,May 31,
1907.
No. 299.]
Sir: I inclose herewith a copy of a dispatch
from the consul-general at Tientsin, reporting that the Wai-wu Pu has
instructed all the viceroys and governors of Provinces to warn their
civil and military subordinates to take note that, in accordance with
treaty stipulations concluded with the powers, all descriptions of
foreign missions and missionaries who desire to purchase immovable
properties outside the limits of the foreign settlements at the various
treaty ports, exclusively for mission purposes, must insert the
characters “kung tsan,” or “public property,” in their title deeds, so
as to prevent them from reselling such lands and houses for other uses
by foreign merchants or others in China.
While the President sees no particular objection to the insertion of some
reservation in title deeds to land given exclusively for missionary
purposes, in accordance with Article IV of the treaty of 1903, there may
be a question whether the expression mentioned in the consul-general’s
dispatch might not be somewhat objectionable as giving the impression
that land held under such deeds was government land.
The department would be pleased to have an expression of your views in
the matter.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Consul-General Ragsdale to the Assistant
Secretary of State.
American Consulate-General,
Tientsin,April 13,
1907.
No. 231.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that for
the purpose of future reference the Wai-wu Pu has issued
instructions to all the viceroys and governors of the Provinces
advising them to each submit a detailed report about the exact
number of foreigners residing or trading within their respective
jurisdiction, including the consuls for the powers and their staffs
at the various treaty ports.
The viceroys and governors have been advised to renew their reports
once every three months hereafter.
Besides this, their excellencies have also been advised to warn their
civil and military subordinates to take note that, in accordance
with treaty stipulations concluded with the powers, all descriptions
of foreign missions and missionaries who desire to purchase
immovable properties outside the limits of the foreign settlements
at the various treaty ports, exclusively for mission purposes, must
insert the characters “kung tsan,” or “public property,” in their
title deeds, so as to prevent them from reselling such lands and
houses for other uses by foreign merchants or others in this
country.
[Page 207]
The local officials are warned that they must take all the
consequences if this order is neglected by them in the future.
This order is brought about by knowledge of the fact that some of the
missions have sold, from time to time, property to foreign merchants
that had been conveyed to them solely for missionary purposes.
I am, etc.,
