893.102 Ic/28
The Minister in China (Schurman) to the Secretary of State
Peking, September 29,
1921.
[Received November 9.]
No. 45
Sir: With reference to the Department’s
telegraphic instruction of August 26, 11 a.m., No. 238, and previous
correspondence regarding the Ichang situation, I have the honor to
transmit herewith copies of the circular of the Dean of the Diplomatic
Corps of August 30, 1921, No. 150, which contains the text of a note on
the subject which the Dean addressed on that day to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Diplomatic Body, together with the text
of a letter, dated August 29th, which Mr. Ruddock addressed to the Dean
in pursuance of the Department’s instruction under reference.7
There are further enclosed copies of Dean Circular No. 156, of September
24, 1921, giving the reply of the Chinese Government to the Dean’s note
of August 30th.8 In commenting upon this circular, I have simply
noted that I was transmitting the text of Dr. Yen’s [Page 517] communication to my Government for such
instructions as it might deem suitable. I accordingly have the honor to
request the Department’s views in the premises.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure 1]
The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps (De Freitas) to the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs
(W. W.
Yen)
Monsieur le Ministre: I have the honour to
inform Your Excellency that the Diplomatic Body feel it incumbent
upon them to draw the very serious attention of the Chinese
Government to the deep apprehension felt by the Foreign Legations in
view of the numerous recent instances where Chinese troops
comprising portions of either the national or provincial
organizations have openly rebelled against the duly constituted
military authorities, and have in a lawless and wanton manner
plundered the property of foreigners and placed their lives in
danger. The mutinies and looting at Ichang on November 30, 1921 [1920], and June 3, 1921, and that at Wuchang
on June 7, 1921, although by no means the only instances to be
cited, afford the most striking examples in recent months. These
occurrences unavoidably cast doubt on the ability or the efforts of
the higher provincial authorities to afford adequate protection to
foreign residents and trade in the regions of their respective
jurisdiction.
The Diplomatic Body desire further to point out that the conditions
under which the looting took place appear to continue without
abatement, and that foreign nationals engaged in business at Ichang
and other places open to trade as well as their merchandise en route in the interior and also foreign
missionaries resident at isolated places are all in danger from the
depredations of the great numbers of troops found throughout the
provinces.
The Diplomatic Body feel obliged therefore in the face of these
perils to their nationals to warn the Chinese Government that the
Foreign Powers will insist that the Chinese Government hold the
higher military authorities personally and individually responsible
for any damage that may be caused to any foreign interests either by
the action or failure to act of troops under their respective
commands in territories under their protection.
The Powers, for their part, hereby declare to the Chinese Government
that no refuge or asylum will be given by their respective
authorities [Page 518] either in
their own countries or in any concession, settlement, leased
territory, or other territory in China under their control to any
Chinese official adjudged by the Diplomatic Body guilty in the
manner indicated. Moreover, the Powers inform the Chinese Government
that they reserve the right of exacting from the Chinese Government
punitive damages for any such injuries to the persons or properties
of their nationals resulting from a neglect of this warning.
It is to be understood that the Diplomatic Body consider themselves
free to act in the sense of the foregoing paragraph in regard to the
recent mutinies at Ichang and Wuchang.
I avail myself [etc.]
[Enclosure
2—Translation]
The Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs
(W. W.
Yen) to the Dean of the
Diplomatic Corps (De
Freitas)
[Peking,] September 23,
1921.
Monsieur le Ministre: I have the honour to
acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency’s Note dated the 30th.
August, in which it is stated that recently the Chinese troops have
several times rebelled against the duly constituted military
authorities and have plundered the property of the foreigners and
placed their lives in danger, and that it is requested that the
Chinese Government will hold the higher military authorities
personally and individually responsible.
In reply I have the honour to state that this Ministry has notified
the different provincial authorities to pay more attention to
preventing further disturbances and at the same time the matter was
brought up for discussion at a Cabinet meeting. On the petition of
the Cabinet, the President has despatched circular telegrams to the
different provinces, instructing the provincial high military and
civil authorities to strictly warn and control the troops, so that
there may not be any further occurrence of mutinies or disorder, and
that in the event of any more disturbances breaking out, the said
military and civil authorities shall be held responsible and no
leniency be shown them.
Since regarding this matter, my Government has already issued strict
warnings to the military and civil authorities of the different
provinces, therefore, the reservation of the right to exact punitive
damages as stated in Your Excellency’s Note need not enter into
discussion.
I avail myself [etc.]
