Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States of America,
Pekin, China, February 18, 1899.
No. 148.]
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 142, of
February 8 instant, in regard to the recent disturbances in the province
of Shangtung, I have the honor to inclose to you copies of further
correspondence had with the Chinese Government on the same subject.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
The Tsungli Yamen to
Mr.Conger.
Your Excellency: We have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your note wherein you refer to the riots
against the missionary stations in the district of Chu Chou, Ji
Chao, etc., in the prefecture of I Chou, province of Shantung, which
have resulted in persecutions of Christians and destruction of
mission property. You further state that you have several times
requested that measures be taken by the Chinese Government to
repress them, and that notwithstanding the instructions issued by
this yamen to the provincial officials the rioting and persecution
still continue and will continue until the ringleaders are arrested
and punished. You inclose also, on a separate sheet, the names of
the principal ringleaders, demanding their immediate arrest and
punishment, etc.
This yamen has recently received a communication from the governor or
Shantung,
[Page 165]
stating that he
has ascertained on investigation that the districts of Chu Chou, Jih
Chao, etc., in the I Chou prefecture, are quiet and peaceful, and
moreover that the local officials have afforded protection to all
under their jurisdiction and that there is no trouble. However,
having received the above information from your excellency, this
yamen will immediately instruct the govornor of Shantung to
thoroughly investigate the matter. The people of Shantung are
overbearing, and owing to the recent calamity (floods) are very
easily excited, and it is to be feared that if they are restrained
too much trouble will be stirred up similar to the uprising of the
Yü Man-tzus in Szechuan, which would be difficult to control.
Your excellency must be fully acquainted with the circumstances of
the situation.
On the 20th of December last we received your excellency’s note
referring to the antiforeign sentiment in the province of Shantung
and annoyance it was causing to both missionaries and native
Christians. The governor wrote that the prefect and department
magistrate had gone in person and made an investigation compelling
those concerned to rebuild the mission property, to restore all the
stolen things, and to sign an agreement, thus ending the matter.
Cards of ministers, with compliments.
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Conger to
the tsungli yamen.
Legation of the United States of America,
Pekin, China, February 11, 1899.
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of
the United States of America, has the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of the note of your highness and your excellencies of the
8th instant, in which it is stated that in a recent communication to
the tsungli yamen the governor of Shantung reports that all is
peaceful and quiet in the district of Chu Chou, Ji Chao, etc., and
that there is no trouble there. Notwithstanding this, the
undersigned is informed by the missionaries that as late as January
23 no attempt had been made to arrest the rioters at Ho Chia Low,
Nan T’ang Yu, and Liu Ts’un, although the officials acknowledge that
orders have been given for their arrest, and that they, the
ringleaders, are still defiant and insulting, and on yesterday they
telegraphed that the magistrate at I Swei is even punishing soldiers
for a death caused in their lawful attempt to repress the rioters.
It is, therefore, apparent that orders to the governor simply “to
investigate” is not sufficient, but he should be ordered to arrest
and punish the ringleaders, whose names have been furnished, if
order is to be restored and danger averted.
The undersigned notes the statement of your highness and your
excellencies “that the people of Shantung are overbearing, and owing
to the recent calamity (floods) are very excited, and it is to be
feared that if they are restrained too much trouble will be stirred
up similar to the uprising of the Yü Man-tzus in Szechuan, which was
difficult to control,” and would greatly deplore a repetition of the
Yü Mantze trouble in Shantung, but he believes if the Government
shows a strong hand there at once it need not happen. Nothing
encourages wrongdoers and violaters of law anywhere as an exhibition
of hesitancy or weakness on the part of the governing power.
However, as the final responsibility must rest upon the Chinese
Government, the undersigned awaits with interest the result of the
immediate investigation which the governor of Shantung has been
ordered to make, and confidently expects that it will result in the
prompt arrest and speedy punishment of the ringleaders as he has
requested.
Requesting from your highness and your excellencies an early report
of the result, the undersigned, etc.