File No. 493.11a/9.
A copy of the draft agreement was sent me by the consul general at
Hankow, requesting my approval and authorization for him to sign. After
carefully perusing the agreement I authorized the consul general to sign
it. A copy of the foreign office note2 and
[Page 80]
of the
agreement as signed are inclosed herewith. The consul general informs me
that the American claimants have been paid.
[Inclosure.]
AGREEMENT IN SETTLEMENT OF CHANGSHA INDEMNITY CLAIMS.
Be it agreed that, inasmuch as on the fifth day of the third moon of
the second year of Hanan T’ung, being the 14th day of April, 1910,
the famished people of Changsha, in the Province of Hunan, made
certain disturbances, involving thereby foreign merchants and
missionaries in losses, their excellencies Viceroy Jui of the
Hu-Kuang and Governor Yang of the Province of Hunan, and his
excellency James W. Calhoun, American Minister at Peking, have
respectively appointed us, the Taotais Wang and Wang, and myself the
American Consul, to discuss, impartially and with justice, a method
of settlement in order that friendly feelings may be strengthened,
and that discussion having now been completed and nothing having
been omitted, we are finally settled upon the following:
I.
The losses sustained by the American merchants and missionaries are
as follows:
| Standard Oil Co |
$38,497.45 |
| United Evangelical Mission |
23,893.76 |
| American Church Ms |
9,895.20 |
| Dr. E. D. Vanderburgh |
1,074.47 |
| Mustard and Co |
844.50 |
| Mrs. L. Berst (nee Newman) |
187.35 |
| Total |
74,392.53 |
| which equals (0.725), 53,934.58 Hankow
taels. |
Wherefore, let it be understood that it is necessary to pay 53,934.58
Hankow taels.
II.
This matter having been once settled, the said firms and missionaries
shall not raise further questions or make fresh demands for
compensation in this case.
III.
Since the famished people of Changsha have made disturbances
involving the foreign merchants and missionaries in losses, the
local officials at Changsha will hereafter undertake to be more
assiduous in their protection.
IV.
The above sum will be paid within one month from the date of the
affixing of the signatures to this document at the branch of the Ta
Ch’ing Bank. Separate vouchers will be made for the money and some
one will be appointed by the consul to go to the branch of the Ta
Ch’ing Bank, to get and distribute the money.
Eight copies of the above articles must be made, both in Chinese and
English, and after the signatures have been affixed must be approved
by Their Excellencies the Viceroy and Governor and His Excellency
the American Minister at Peking, after which the eight copies shall
be disposed of as follows:
| Wai Wu Pu |
1 copy. |
| American Legation |
1 copy. |
| Viceroy’s Yamen |
1 copy. |
| Hukuang Foreign Office |
1 copy. |
| Governor’s Yamen |
1 copy. |
| Customs Taotai, Hankow |
1 copy. |
| Customs Taotai, Changsha |
1 copy. |
| American Consul, Hankow |
1 copy. |
[Page 81]
In testimony whereof, we, the undersigned, by virtue of our
respective powers, have signed this agreement in octuplicate in the
English and Chinese languages, and have affixed our respective
seals.
Done at Hankow, this 28th day of January in the year of our Lord one
thousand nine hundred and eleven, and in the second year of Hsuan
T’ung 12th month and 28th day.
[Seals and signatures of the representatives of the Viceroy of
Hukuang and the Governor of Hunan.]
[
seal.]
R. B. Mosher,
American Consul
General, Hankow.
