File No. 10388/22–23.
Chargé Fletcher to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Peking, April 3,
1908.
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.
[Page 150]
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.,
[Inclosure.]
Chargé Fletcher
to the Prince of Ch’ing.
American Legation,
Peking, March 14,
1908.
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.,
