File No. 10388/22–23.

Chargé Fletcher to the Secretary of State.

No. 894.]

Sir: Referring to my No. 818 of January 22, 1908, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the department’s telegraphic instruction of the 12th ultimo.

In accordance therewith I made a formal demand for the payment of the amount stated in final settlement in the note of which I inclose a copy.

Not having received a reply, I took the matter up verbally and informally at the foreign office this afternoon and was informed that my note had been referred to the taotai, at Shanghai, with instructions to settle the matter with the American co nsul general.

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As soon as the amount shall have been received by the consul general, the department will be notified and I have the honor to suggest that he be instructed to distribute same to the claimants, in accordance with his findings heretofore transmitted.

I have, etc.,

Henry P. Fletcher.
[Inclosure.]

Chargé Fletcher to the Prince of Ch’ing.

Your Highness: Under the instructions of my Government I have the honor to bring to the attention of Your Imperial Highness the matter of the indemnity to American citizens for losses suffered in the riots of December 18, 1905, at Shanghai.

When the question of indemnity for losses suffered by American citizens on this occasion came up the American minister, Mr. Rockhill, under the instructions of the Department of State, in June, 1906, informed Your Highness’s Board that if the Chinese Government paid indemnity for losses sustained by citizens of other nationalities in these riots that the American Government would demand indemnities for losses suffered by its citizens thereby.

Inasmuch as British and German subjects have now been indemnified by the Chinese Government for the losses sustained in these disturbances, I have now the honor to inform Your Imperial Highness that my Government, after careful investigation of the claims of American citizens for losses suffered in these riots, has determined upon the sum of eight hundred and eightly-nine dollars and seventy-three cents gold ($889.73 gold) in final settlement.

It becomes my duty, therefore, to present to Your Imperial Highness a formal demand for the payment of this sum, eight hundred and eighty-nine dollars and seventy-three cents gold ($889.73 gold) by the Chinese Government.

I avail, etc.,

Henry P. Fletcher.