Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States of America,
Pekin, China, March
30, 1899.
No. 181.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copy
of a note to-day received from Baron Heyking, the German minister here,
and my reply thereto.
[Page 166]
There has been frequent and increasing trouble in south Shantung for
several months, as I have already reported, particularly in dispatch No.
142 of February 8.
The Germans, in consequence, a few days ago, sent off from the steamship
Gefion, at An Tung-wei, a small patrol toward
the interior to reconnoiter.
They were attacked by a large crowd of Chinese and driven back to their
ship without harm to them, but it is claimed several Chinese were
killed.
A few days after this, a German priest, not far from Kiao-chou, was
captured and held prisoner by the Chinese.
This is understood to be the situation at the time, and the cause of
sending the expedition mentioned in Baron Heyking’s note.
I have telegraphed the information, through Consul Fowler, to the
American missionaries at Ichoufu.
I have the, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Baron von
Heyking to Mr. Conger.
Kaiserlich Deutsche Gesandtschaft für
China,
Pekin, March 21,
1899.
My Dear Colleague: In consequence of the
continuous and growing disturbances in the south of Shantung,
causing grave dangers to missionaries as well as to engineers
engaged at present on work in those parts, a military expedition has
been sent yesterday from Tientsin (Kiautchow) on H. M. S. Gefion to Fichao for the purpose of enforcing
order and peace.
I take great pleasure in informing your excellency that, according to
instructions received from my Government, I have requested by
telegraph the governor of Kiautchow to order the officer commanding
the expedition to pay every attention to the American missionaries
residing on those parts and to afford them protection if
required.
I leave it to the consideration of your excellency whether it would
perhaps be expedient to inform your missionaries in the prefecture
of Itschowfu that the officer commanding our expedition has been
instructed to give them protection should they wish it.
Believe me, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Conger to
Baron von
Heyking.
Legation of the United States of America,
Pekin, China, March 31, 1899.
My Dear Colleague: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your kind note of this date, with the
gratifying information that, owing to the continued growing
disturbances in the south of Shantung, a German military expedition
had been yesterday dispatched to Fichao for the purpose of enforcing
order and peace, and that, complying with instructions from your
excellency’s Government you had requested the governor of Kiaochow
to instruct the commanding officer to pay every attention to the
American missionaries residing in those parts and to afford them
protection if required.
For this most courteous and friendly offer on the part of yourself
and your Government, I beg you, my dear colleague, to accept the
most generous expression of my appreciation and gratitude.
I have already telegraphed the information to the American
missionaries at Ichowfu, for which they will undoubtedly be glad and
grateful.
I shall immediately communicate the fact to my Government, in which I
am sure it will find genuine pleasure.
With assurance, etc.,
