Mr. Denby to Mr. Blaine.
Peking, January 11, 1892. (Received March 10.)
Sir: In my dispatch No. 1451, of December 31, I transmitted a translation of a circular relating to a proclamation which had been issued by the magistrate of Ting Chuan Chow, wherein the atrocities committed by bandits against the native Christians had been excused and palliated. The matter having been brought to the attention of the foreign office by the dean of the diplomatic body, the ministers declared that orders had been sent to Li Hung Chang to institute an inquiry into the [Page 84] behavior of the magistrate in question, who, besides issuing this proclamation, had been guilty of several other omissions of duty; that Li Hung Chang’s answer had not been received, but it would be communicated to the dean as soon as it came; that the proclamation had been already withdrawn some time ago, and that the general was less to blame, as he had no personal knowledge of the state of affairs and had only represented the information received from the civil authorities.
I have the honor, etc.,