Mr. Jernigan to Mr. Uhl.
Shanghai, November 2, 1894. (Received December 3.)
Sir: I have had the honor to receive your instructions of September the 15th, in regard to the delegation of consular functions to Chinese subjects, with instructions that the Department respected the objection by the Chinese Government to such delegation, and that the consuls under my jurisdiction be so notified.
I have obeyed the instructions. No instance, however, of such delegation has been brought to my attention, or I would have promptly disapproved it.
I beg to state, in this connection, that the two alleged Japanese spies were not executed as soon as handed over, but that their cases were under investigation for nearly six weeks, and I am now assured that there was no unfairness practiced against them during the investigation.
I regret very much the incident, but the pressure of circumstances made it unavoidable, and the delay saved about thirty young Japanese [Page 123] from arrest and probable decapitation. They were of the school of their unfortunate comrades, whose imprudent and thoughtless acts brought them, I fear under the just suspicion of the Chinese authorities.
I am, etc.,