Minister Rockhill
to the Secretary of State.
[Extract.]
American Legation,
Peking, March 7,
1906.
No. 251.]
Sir: In continuation of my No. 228 of February
14 in regard to the destruction of missions at Chang p’u, I have the
honor to transmit herewith for your information copies of the
correspondence I have [Page 327]
exchanged within the last six weeks with Wai-wu Pu concerning missionary
outrages or apprehended troubles at Lao-ho-k’ou in the province of
Hu-pei, and Nanchang in the province of Kiang-hsi. Americans, I am glad
to say, do not appear to have suffered materially at any of these
localities.
The direct cause of the massacre at Nanchang was unquestionably a fracas
between the Catholic missionaries in that city and the local officials
in connection with affairs of their missions; the Protestant
missionaries and their families fell victims to the blind fury of the
mob.
Complete reports on the riots at Chang p’u and Nanchang have not yet been
received here, but little doubt is entertained that the direct causes of
these outrages are as I have stated.
The only missionary cases now pending before the legation are:
- (1)
- The ownership of certain lands in Mongolia by a Mr.
Fried-strom, of the Scandinavian Alliance mission. I think this
matter is in a fair way to being adjusted.
- (2)
- One involving the ownership of land at Huchau, in Chekiang
Province, in which missionaries of the Southern Methodist
mission are involved. This, though so far I have been unable to
bring the parties to an amicable settlement, does not seem to be
one which could bring about serious trouble in the
locality.
- (3)
- A similar dispute about some land purchased for a schoolhouse
by the Cumberland Presbyterian mission at Changteh, Hunan. This
is still in the hands of the consul-general at Hankow, and I am
awaiting his report.
The legation is not aware that any other of our missionaries have at
present litigations of a serious nature either with the local
authorities at their places of residence or with natives.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Rockhill to
Prince of Ch’ing.
Peking, China, February 21,
1906.
Your Imperial Highness: I have the honor to
inform your imperial highness that I am in receipt of a dispatch
from the American consul-general at Hankow inclosing a copy of a
letter from American missionaries at Lao-ho-k’ou, Hupeh, reporting a
very serious state of affairs in that region.
It appears from the letter mentioned that a society, calling itself
the “Kiang-hu-Hui,” has been openly enrolling members for some time
past, with a view to raising a rebellion, looting the towns,
murdering the officials opposed to them, and destroying the mission
stations. The magistrate is reported to be lacking in courage, and
the people through the villages have been terrorized into joining
the society in order to save their property. One leader, named Liu,
was captured last year, but escaped. More recently another leader,
named Ma, was arrested, and on January 23 the local military
authorities raided the headquarters of the society and captured five
men and a number of swords and pistols, etc. Two of the men
arrested, it is said, have since been executed. The place is quiet
at present, but the situation is a dangerous one. The colonel and
lieutenant-colonel are spoken of as being very energetic in their
efforts to suppress the society, but they are very poorly supported
with soldiers, there being only about 100 altogether, so that it
would be impossible for them to afford adequate protection in case
of trouble. Lao-ho-k’ou is an important commercial center, the
largest place on the Han River above Hankow, and there [Page 328] are several missionary societies
that have stations there and in the neighboring towns.
It is unnecessary to enlarge upon the importance of preventing such
disturbances as are being planned by this rebellious society, but it
is my duty to urge your imperial highness to instruct the local
authorities to take such steps as may be necessary to secure the
safety of the lives and property of the missionaries living at
Lao-ho-k’ou and in that region.
I avail, etc.,
[Inclosure
2—Translation.]
The Prince of Ch’ing
to Mr. Rockhill.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt on the 29th of the first
moon (February 22, 1906) of your excellency’s dispatch, saying that
American missionaries in Lao-ho-k’ou, Hupeh, had reported that
disaffected people in that region had established a society called
the Kiang-hu-hui (River and Lake Society) and were inviting people
to join, with the purpose of raising a rebellion, and destroying the
mission stations; that the local officials were frightened and
lacking in courage, and that they would probably not give efficient
protion. Your excellency requested that orders might be sent to the
officials of the region to take measures to protect the lives and
property of the missionaries at Lao-ho-k’ou and that vicinity.
My board at once telegraphed to the viceroy of the Hu-kuang provinces
and yesterday received his reply, saying that two members of the
rebellious society, K’o Liao-fan, and Sun Ming-hsi, had secretly
plotted to stir up trouble at Lao-ho-k’ou, but that the magistrate
of Kuang-hua Hsien on the 28th of the twelfth moon of the last year
(January 22, 1906) has already taken steps to arrest K’o Liao-fan
and Sun Ming-hsi with some of their followers, six persons in all,
and had seized some membership tickets, and rifles; that the two
men, K’o and Sun, had already been beheaded, and the rest had been
sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. He reported further that
he had sent additional troops, consisting of two companies of the
Siang-yang defense infantry, and two companies of the new forces
under the command of the provincial commander-in-chief, to be
stationed at Lao-ho-k’ou, to assist the local civil and military
officials in policing the district and in protecting the mission
stations; and that the district at present was perfecly quiet.
As in duty bound, I send the above for your excellency’s
information.
A necessary dispatch.
[seal] (Signed) Prince of Ch’ing.
[Inclosure 3.]
Mr. Rockhill to
the Prince of Ch’ing.
Peking, February 28,
1906.
Your Imperial Highness: I have the honor to
inform your imperial highness that yesterday I received several
telegrams from the American consul-general at Shanghai, telling me
that news had been received by him of a serious riot at Nan-ch’ang
Fu, in Kiangsi, in which six French missionaries and several British
missionaries had been killed, and much property destroyed, and that
the American missionaries had been compelled to leave the place and
were on their way to Kiukiang.
It becomes my duty therefore to request your imperial highness to
instruct the provincial authorities of Kiangsi to take prompt and
efficient measures to protect the lives and property of all
Americans in their jurisdiction, especially the property of the
missionaries in Nan-ch’ang Fu, and to endeavor to restore order as
soon as possible that these Americans may be enabled to return to
their homes.
I avail, etc.,
[Page 329]
[Inclosure
4—Translation.]
The Prince of Ch’ing
to Mr. Rockhill.
Foreign Office, March 5, 1906.
Your Excellency: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s dispatch of the 28th
ultimo informing me that you had received several telegrams from the
American consul-general at Shanghai telling you that he has received
news of a serious riot at Nan-ch’ang Fu, in Kiangsi, and that the
American missionaries there had been compelled to leave the place
and were on their way to Kiukiang. In view of this you felt it your
duty to request that orders be given to tthe provincial authorities
of Kiangsi directing them to take prompt and efficient measures to
protect the lives and property of all Americans in their
jurisdiction, especially the property of the missionaries in
Nan-ch’ang Fu.
In reply I have the honor to state that deputies have been sent to
the place mentioned to investigate and deal with the affair; that
besides this my board sent several telegrams to the governor of
Kiangsi directing him to afford efficient protection, from whom the
following reply was soon received: “I have already sent a boat and a
deputy to escort the survivors to Kiukiang.”
As to the missionary property in other provinces, telegraphic
instructions have also been sent to the various military and civil
authorities ordering them to be especially careful to afford due
protection.
It becomes my duty therefore to send this dispatch for your
excellency’s information.
A necessary dispatch.
