Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Pekin, China, January 2,
1900.
No. 304.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith
translation of an imperial circular and decree which have recently been
sent to all the viceroys, Tartar generals, and governors, but which has
only just come to light.
It would be a hopeful indication for the future of the Empire if China
either could or would carry it out, which is neither probable nor
possible.
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It, however, may give some encouragement to local officials, inspire them
with some measure of confidence in the Central Government, and by so
much strengthen the hands of the present unpopular dynasty.
I have the honor to be, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Circular dispatch from the Tsungli Yamen sent to the Viceroys
and Governors of the maritime and Yangtze
provinces.
As the Italians have not had their ambitions gratified in respect to
the cession of Sanmen Bay to them, it is apprehended that they may
try to seek opportunity for seizing other portions of the coast.
Moreover, the arbitrary and aggressive actions of the French at
Kuang-chouwan, where they are stirring up disturbances in order to
obtain further pretexts for demanding concessions from the Imperial
Government, may lead to actual hostilities between China and France.
It behooves us, therefore, to exercise the utmost vigilance and
watchfulness to guard against sudden aggression and to be always
prepared to resist an enemy. Your excellency is therefore urged to
enjoin all this upon the generals and commanders of troops
garrisoning important points within your jurisdiction, and not only
this, but to be prepared also to give aid to your brother viceroys
and governors, whose territories adjoin your own. It has been an
evil practice among the high provincial authorities to consider that
the duty of any one of them lies only in guarding safely the region
lying within his own jurisdiction, ignoring the crisis that may be
taking place in the next adjoining provinces, forgetting that his
neighbors being overcome his turn for overthrow becomes a near
possibility. This lack of union is lamentable, but it must not be
continued from this date. This yamen has received the special
commands of Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager and His
Imperial Majesty the Emperor to grant you full power and liberty to
resist by force of arms all aggressions upon your several
jurisdictions, proclaiming a state of war, if necessary, without
first asking for instructions from Pekin, for this loss of time may
be fatal to your security and enable the enemy to make good his
footing against your forces. Finally, your excellency will be held
responsible for any repetition of indecision or too great
trustfulness in the declarations of an encroaching enemy, such as
happened, for instance, to General Chang Kao-yuan in Shantung.
[Inclosure 2.]
Secret edict of the Empress Dowager issued to
the Viceroys, Governors, Tartar generals, and provincial
commanders on November 21, 1899.
Our Empire is now laboring under great difficulties, which are
becoming daily more serious. The various powers cast upon us looks
of tiger-like voracity, hustling each other in their endeavors to be
the first to seize upon our innermost territories. They think that
China, having neither money nor troops, would never venture to go to
war with them. They fail to understand, however, that there are
certain things which this Empire can never consent to, and that, if
hardly pressed upon, we have no alternative but to rely upon the
justice of our cause, the knowledge of which in our breasts
strengthens our resolves and steels us to present a united front
against our aggressors. No one can guarantee under such
circumstances who will be the victor and who the conquered in the
end. But there is an evil habit which has become almost a custom
among our viceroys and governors which, however, must be eradicated
at all costs. For instance, whenever these high officials have had
on their hands cases of international dispute all their actions seem
to be guided by the belief in their breasts that such cases would
eventually be “amicably arranged.” These words seem never to be out
of their thoughts; hence when matters do come to a crisis, they of
course find themselves utterly unprepared to resist any hostile
aggressions on the part of the foreigner. We, indeed, consider this
the most serious failure in the duty which the high provincial
authorities owe to the Throne, and we now find it incumbent upon
ourselves to censure such conduct in the most severe terms.
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It is our special command, therefore, that should any high official
find himself so hard pressed by circumstances that nothing short of
war would settle matters he is expected to set himself resolutely to
work out his duty to this end. Or perhaps it would be that war has
already actually been declared; under such circumstances there is no
possible chance of the Imperial Government consenting to an
immediate conference for the restoration of peace. It behooves,
therefore, that our viceroys, governors, and commanders in chief
throughout the whole Empire unite forces and act together without
the distinction of particularizing of jurisdictions so as to present
a combined front to the enemy, exhorting and encouraging their
officers and soldiers in person to fight for the preservation of
their homes and native soil from the encroaching footstep of the
foreign aggressor. Never should the word “peace” fall from the
mouths of our high officials, nor should they even allow it to rest
for a moment within their breasts. With such a country as ours, with
her vast areas stretching out several tens of thousands of li, her
immense natural resources, and her hundreds of millions of
inhabitants, if only each and all of you would prove his loyalty to
his Emperor and love of country, what, indeed, is there to fear from
any invader? Let no one think of making peace, but let each strive
to preserve from destruction and spoliation his ancestral home and
graves from the ruthless hands of the invader. Let these our words
be made known to each and all within our domains.
[Telegram.]
Mr. Conger to
Mr. Hay.
An English missionary murdered in Shantung. Imperial edict issued
expresses regret; orders punishment of murderers and derelict
officials.
