393.1123 Coltman, Charles/47: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in China ( Schurman )

[Paraphrase]

37. Your 61, February 17, 6 p.m.48 and 63, February 18, 8 p.m. It would be a great disappointment to the Department were it to prove impossible to have more effectively deterrent punishments imposed than the mild penalties imposed by the Tutung. The Department however relies upon your judgment and recommendations in determining as to whether we may hopefully insist that more satisfactory action be taken by the Chinese officials.

It is felt that in order to have any substantial value the punishments should be imposed publicly in the consul’s presence.

At your discretion you may inform the Chinese Government that any affirmative action upon the remission of the remainder of the Boxer Indemnity during the session of Congress about to expire has been made impossible by the attitude of the Chinese Government in respect to the Coltman case, and that a continuation of this attitude would prevent the Department from recommending to the next Congress such remission.

Hughes
  1. Not printed.