their failure to take what may be called only an ordinary precaution against a most pernicious and anti-foreign organization. The consequences of further disorder in the districts concerned cannot fail to be extremely serious to the Chinese Government. I avail, &c., The Tsung-li Yamên. CLAUDE M. MACDONALD. Sir C. MacDonald to the Marquess of Salisbury.-(Received MY LORD, April 16.) Peking, March 5, 1900. WITH reference to my despatch of to-day's date, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship copy of the notes taken during the interview on the 2nd instant between myself and the Representatives of the United States, France, Germany, and Italy, and the Ministers of the Yamên, on the subject of the Boxer disturbI have, &c., ances. The Marquess of Salisbury. CLAUDE M. MACDONALD. (Inclosure.)—Memorandum of Interview between Sir C. MacDonald, with four other foreign Representatives, and the Tsung-li Yamén, on the subject of Boxer Disturbances in Shantung and Chihli. SIR CLAUDE MACDONALD, with Mr. Fulford and Mr. Ker; Mr. Conger, United States' Minister, with Mr. Cheshire; Baron Ketteler, German Minister, with Baron von der Goltz; Marquis Salvago, Italian Minister, with Dr. Merklinghaus; and Baron d'Anthouard, French Chargé d'Affaires, with M. Morisse, called by appointment at the Yamên, and were received by Prince Ch'ing Wang Wen-shao, Chao Shu-ch'iao, Hsü Jung-i, Hsu Ching-ch'eng, Wu Ting-fen, Kuei Ch'un, Lien Yuan. Sir Claude MacDonald recapitulated the circumstances which had induced the five Representatives to come to-day to discuss the disturbances now going on in Shantung and Chihli. It was admitted that these disturbances were the work of two Societies known as the I-Ho-Ch'üan and the Ta Tao Hui. On the 11th January an Imperial Decree was published in the "Peking Gazette," which, although not mentioning these Societies by name, was drawn up in such ambiguous terms that it has given rise to a wide-spread impression that these Societies were actually encouraged by the Throne. The result had been to unsettle people's minds, and in many cases to produce further disturbances. The Representatives of the various Powers who had special interests in those two provinces on account of the number of Mission Stations occupied by their nationals in the said provinces, had therefore addressed an identic note to the Yamên requesting that a Decree should be issued denouncing the I-Ho-Ch'uan and the Ta Tao Hui specifically by name. This was on, the 27th January. They waited a month without receiving an answer, and on the 21st February they wrote again pressing for a reply. On the 25th February they received an answer from the Yanên which was absolutely unsatisfactory. It misquoted the foreign Representatives' note; it made no mention of the Societies; it merely stated that a Decree had been issued ordering the Governors of the provinces to suppress-without stating what it was they were to suppress. The Representatives of the five Powers were now here to request that an Imperial Decree should be issued, and published in the "Peking Gazette" in the same way as the former Decree, denouncing the I-Ho-Ch'ian and the Ta Tao Hui by name, and declaring it a criminal offence against the laws of China to belong to either of these Societies, or to harbour any of their members. The Yamên Ministers said that there was apparently some misapprehension on the part of the foreign Representatives. The first note addressed to the Yamên arrived just at the time of the New Year, but as soon as the New Year holidays were over the Yamèn memorialized the Throne, and it will be seen from the Decree embodied in the Governor-General of Chihli's Proclamation inclosed in the Yamên's note of the previous day (the 1st March) that the Boxers were denounced by name. The Throne regarded this matter as of the greatest importance; and the Imperial Decree ordering the suppression of the Societies had been promulgated by sending it to the Governors of the two provinces as a much speedier and more effective means than publishing it in the Gazette. The Ministers referred to the stringent measures taken against these Societies in the reign of Chia Ch'ing (1796-1821), and said this policy was being consistently carried out at the present day. Sir Claude observed that if he and his colleagues had received in the first instance the despatch which they received last night, it was just possible that they would not have been here to-day. As it was, they were now here to request that an Imperial Decree denouncing both Societies should be published in the "Peking Gazette," in the same way as the first misleading Decree, In view of what the Ministers stated as to the policy of the Chinese Government he presumed there would be no difficulty about making the publication in the Gazette which was requested. The Prince and Ministers reiterated at length what they had already said as to the sincerity of the Government, and as to the superiority of the method of promulgation adopted. This was the method always adopted in the case of matters of importance, i.e., a secret Decree was given to the Privy Council, not to be put into the Gazette, but sent to the provinces and acted upon. Besides, the Gazette only dealt with current matters, and this Decree had already been acted upon and was now past history. The previous Decree was a general one, couched in vague terms, and mentioning no particular Society. It referred to the whole Empire; but this Decree aimed especially at these two Societies, and the most effective means had been taken of conveying it to the Provinces of Shantung and Chihli, to which it specially referred. Sir Claude, speaking for himself, acknowledged the satisfactory terms of the Decree embodied in the Governor-General of Chibli's Proclamation inclosed in the Yamên's note of the previous day, but insisted that it should be published in the Gazette. Neither be nor his colleagues would be satisfied with anything short of this. Mr. Conger addressed the Yamên in the same sense, dwelling on the harm done by the Decree of the 11th January, and on the necessity of correcting it by a Decree published in an equally universal way. He reminded the Yamên that when this matter was first brought before them they declared he was only listening to idle rumours. For over three months the Chinese Government had been making similar assurances as to suppressing these disturbances to those they made now, but nothing had come of these assurances. The Yamên were therefore bound to comply with the suggestion and demand now made by his colleagues and himself. The Yamên pointed out that they had done all that the five foreign Representatives had asked them to do. The publication in the Gazette was a demand formulated for the first time to-day. Baron von Ketteler expressed his agreement with his colleagues, but called special attention to the omission of the Ta Tao Hui from the Decree now communicated. The reason was that the Head of the Ta Tao Hui was in Peking at the present moment. When Yü Hsien was sent for by the Throne instead of being sent to the Board of Punishments, he received a special mark of favour from the Imperial hands. The foreign Representatives demanded that such a man should be denounced before the country, and the only way to do so was to denounce the Society to which he belonged. The suggestion that the former Governor of Shantung was the head of the Ta Tao Hui was received with undisguised merriment by the Prince and Ministers; but the Prince admitted that Yu Hsien was to blame for not having suppressed the disturbances. Sir Claude MacDonald and Mr. Conger both expressed their agreement with Baron von Ketteler so far as regarded the responsibility of Yu Hsien for the disturbances in Shantung. They attributed the original Edict to his inspiration. In reply to Baron von Ketteler, the Yamên explained that the Ta Tao Hui had amalgamated with the I-Ho-Ch'uan. The names which were or might be assumed by these brigands were legion. As a matter of fact, the Yamên's Memorial did mention the Ta Tao Hui by name. Marquis Salvago expressed his agreement with his colleagues. Baron d'Anthouard did the same, adding that he had received news that very day which proved that the authorities were not affording due protection to the missionaries in Shantung and Chihli. The Yamên assured him that every precaution was being taken. Baron d'Anthouard said he had received similar assurances over three months ago, and he wanted more than words, he wanted deeds, to reassure him. Sir Claude then read to the Yamên, in the name of his colleagues, the last paragraph of his note of the 27th February, which was handed in. Identic notes were handed in by all the Representa tives present. The Yamên repeated what they said before as to the superiority of the method adopted for promulgating the Decree denouncing the Boxers over the method suggested by the foreign Representa tives. Sir Claude said that he accepted the Decree inclosed in Yamên note of the 1st March as satisfactory, and that but for the pernicious Edict of the 11th January, and but for the author of that Edict, they would not be here to-day. That was the reason why they asked for publication in the Gazette. The Yamên (Hsu Yung-i) said that the five foreign Representatives had misunderstood the meaning of the Edict of the 11th January. The Throne was actuated by the best of motives in issuing it. It was designed to allay the bad feeling existing between the Christians and natives throughout the Empire, and to prevent such Societies as the Boxers, &c., in Shantung from committing atrocities by branding such Societies according to their deeds. The idea that it was inspired by Yu Hsien was entirely erroneous. Sir Claude said he did not wish to enter into a discussion with regard to the Edict of the 11th January. The views of the foreign Representatives had been clearly put before the Prince and Ministers, and further discussion was unnecessary. He begged to draw the serious attention of the Ministers to the fact that all five Representatives were present acting under instructions from their respective Governments, and begged that an early answer be given so that they might inform their Governments of the same. The Yamên said they would consider the matter, and reply. Sir C. MacDonald to the Marquess of Salisbury.-(Received MY LORD, April 30.) Peking, March 16, 1900. IN continuation of my despatches of the 5th instant on the subject of the anti-Christian Societies in Chihli and Shantung, I have the honour to inclose herewith translation of the Yamên's reply to the identic note which was handed to the Prince and Ministers by myself and four colleagues at the interview of the 2nd March. In this communication the Yamên merely repeat the arguments advanced by them at the interview, and maintain the impossibility of acceding to the demand for publication in the "Peking Gazette" of a Decree denouncing the Societies. At a Conference of the five Representatives concerned, held on the 10th instant to consider this reply, it was accordingly decided that we should repeat the demand already made, with the addition of an intimation that, in the event of the Chinese Government's failure to comply therewith, we would recommend to our respective Governments the advisability of adopting other measures for the protection of the lives and property of their nationals in China. I have the honour to inclose herewith a copy of the identic note which was addressed to the Yamên in accordance with this decision. In thus insisting on compliance with our original demand, my colleagues and I were influenced by the daily increasing gravity of the situation in this and the neighbouring province. Reports were constantly being received of " Boxers" drilling and enlisting recruits even near Tien-tsin and Peking, in spite of the Proclamation issued by the Provincial Governors; and it was felt that the strongest pressure was necessary to awaken the Imperial Government to a sense of the danger of international complications ensuing if these Societies were not promptly and vigorously dealt with. On the 10th instant I had the honour to report the above circumstances to your Lordship by telegraph, submitting a recommendation that if our demand was not acceded to, and no improvement in the situation took place, the measures to be adopted for the protection of British, American, French, German, and Italian subjects should take the form of a combined naval demonstration in the waters of North China. My colleagues telegraphed to their respective Governments in the same sense. No reply has yet been received from the Tsung-li Yamên to the note of the 10th March, and it was with serious misgivings as to the attitude of the Chinese Government on this question that I read yesterday the official announcement of the appointment of Yu Hsien, lately Governor of Shantung, to the post of Governor of Shansi. The growth and impunity of the anti-Christian Societies in Shantung |