Nr. 12355. about 28 miles distant. Have been forced to conclusion that quite 40 000 britannien, troops will be required for advance on Peking and to keep communications. 4. Juli 1900. Forces now in Tien-tsin: - American, 218; British, 1940; French, 840; German, 650; Japanese, 1095; Russian, 4480. Total, 9223. Nr. 12356. britannien. Nr. 12356. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Botschafter in Berlin an den Minister des Auswärtigen. Ansicht der deutschen Regierung über Nr. 12348. Berlin, July 5, 1900. (July 5.) (Telegraphic.) || I have received your Lordship's telegrams of the 2nd Grofs- instant with reference to the proposal of Her Majesty's Government for a 5. Juli 1900. declaration by which all the authorities at Peking should be made responsible for the safety of the foreigners there. In the opinion of the German Government, no means, with any chance of success, should be left untried for saving the foreigners in Peking, and, although they do not count on any distinct result, they are quite prepared to join in the collective declaration. proposed, and to send instructions accordingly to the German Consul at Tientsin. The above step, they appear to think, could have been taken in addition to the step which was proposed by the Consuls at Tien-tsin, if the Powers had approved that proposal. It was urged by the Consuls that the effect on the rioters would have been salutary, especially as the Prince, who is their principal leader, belongs to the very dynasty, whose tombs were to be threatened. The German Consul also describes the tombs as being situated near to Peking-probably not in Manchuria, but the so-called „Eastern" tombs at Malamyu, on this side of the Great Wall. Nr. 12357. britannien. Nr. 12357. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Minister des Auswärtigen an den Generalkonsul in Schanghai. Verantwortlichkeit der Pekinger Behörden für die Legationen. Foreign Office, July 5, 1900. (Telegraphic.) || Inform all the Viceroys, and any other Chinese authorities Grofs- who, in your opinion, ought to know, that I have made the following com5. Juli 1900. munication to the Chinese Minister:,,The Chinese Minister is requested by Her Majesty's Government to transmit, by telegraph, in such manner as will insure the message reaching the Government at Peking, notice that they will be held to be personally guilty if the members of the European Legations, and other foreigners in Peking, suffer injury." Nr. 12358. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Gesandte in Japan an den Minister des Auswärtigen. Ansicht der japan. Regierung über die Unruhen im Norden. Tokio, July 5, 1900. (July 6.) Grofs (Telegraphic.) || With reference to my telegram of yesterday, a Memorandum, Nr. 12358. which is briefly as follows, was left by the Japanese Minister of Foreign britannien. Affairs with me last night:,,Japanese Government consider troubles in 5. Juli 1900. north of China much more deeprooted and of far wider bearings than might appear. While prepared to take full share in concerted action, they realize that expedition to Peking is extremely difficult and will require a very large force. In view of this they think it highly advisable that Powers concerned should now exchange views as to joint measures to be taken to meet eventualities." || The Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs is, I believe, sending this to all the Governments concerned. No suggestion was made by his Excellency as to what these joint measures should be, but I understand that he means that his Government will send a large military expedition if, by previous agreement among the Powers, they are assured that Japan will be protected from complications, and will be reasonably indemnified for outlay of money and men. The Japanese Government are dispatching about 2500 men at once, in addition to those already sent, in order to assist in holding Taku and Tien-tsin. Nr. 12359. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Generalkonsul in Schang hai an den Minister des Auswärtigen. Verschlim- Shanghae, July 5, 1900. (July 6.) Grofs (Telegraphic.) | All Consuls here are sending following to-day to their Nr. 12359. Governments: - ||,,Situation very grave. Boxer movement growing, and should britannien. the allied forces at Tien-tsin fail to check it it will extend down to the 5. Juli 1900. centre and south of China and become a national movement, resulting in expulsion or murder of all foreigners in interior and total ruin to foreign trade. || „In view of this it is necessary that a force should be sent to check the advance and support Viceroys in keeping order." Nr. 12360. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Minister des Auswärtigen an den Gesandten in Japan. England will eine japanische Expedition zur Rettung der Gesandtschaften finanziell unterstützen. Foreign Office, July 6, 1900. Gross (Telegraphic.) | Japan is the only Power which can act with any hope Nr. 12360. of success for the urgent purpose of saving the Legations, and, if they delay, britannien. heavy responsibility must rest with them. We are prepared to furnish any 6. Juli 1900. Grofsbritannien. Nr. 12360. financial assistance which is necessary in addition to our forces already on the spot. || Her Majesty's Government wish to draw a sharp distinction between 5. Juli 1900. immediate operations which may be still in time to save the Legations and any ulterior operations which may be undertaken. We may leave to future consideration all questions as to the latter. Nr. 12361. Nr. 12361. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Gesandte in Japan an den Minister des Auswärtigen. Japan verstärkt seine Truppen. Tokio, July 6, 1900. (July 6.) (Telegraphic.) || With reference to your telegram of the 4th July, I have britannien, just received a visit from the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, who 6. Julij 1900. informs me that reinforcements to make up the Japanese force to 20 000 men will be sent as rapidly as possible. Nr. 12362. britannien. Nr. 12362. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Gesandte in Peking an den Minister des Auswärtigen. Einzelheiten über die Boxer und die chinesische Regierung. Verhandlungen mit dem Tsung-li Yamen. Bischof Favier. Peking, May 21, 1900. (July 9.) My Lord. || In my despatch of the 16th April I had to report to your Grofs- Lordship that in spite of the commencement of a firmer attitude on the 21. Mai 1900. part of the Chinese Government towards the anti-Christian movement in North China, there still existed indications of danger in this neighbourhood from the „Boxer“ Society. || The long-continued impunity accorded to this organization, and the supineness and procrastination which the Government had displayed in face of the constantly repeated representations of the foreign Ministers ever since the month of January, undoubtedly rendered the task of the Chinese authorities, when at last forced to awaken to the danger of the situation, much more difficult than it would have been if taken in hand at an earlier date. The result wat that the activity of the,,Boxers" showed no signs of diminution; reports of depredations in country districts indicated that armed bands of them were approaching daily nearer to Peking; while in the city itself the frequent spectacle of numbers of young lads practising in a kind of hypnotic frenzy, the peculiar gymnastic evolutions inculcated by the craft, and the appearance of numerous virulent anti-foreign placards posted in conspicuous places, combined to create considerable alarm amongst the native Christians of all denominations, a feeling which they were not slow in trying to communicate to their foreign spiritual directors. || I take this opportunity of inclosing a translation of one of these placards as a specimen of the silly superstitions which the leaders of this movement work on to further their Grofs designs. Several similar documents have been forwarded of this Legation, Nr. 12362. most of them less literary in composition, and containing more scurrilous britannien. abuse of foreigners, but all having for their theme the necessity of putting 21. Mai 1900. all foreigners to death. I have called the attention of the Yamên more than once to the posting of such placards, and have been assured that steps were being taken to put a stop to this dangerous practice. || The inclosed copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's Consul at Tien-tsin dated the 2nd May shows the elements of danger that exist in the north of the province generally. On the 18th instant I received news through the London Mission of the destruction by „Boxers" of one of their chapels about 40 miles south-east of Peking, and the murder of a native preacher. I at once wrote to the Yamên copy of letter inclosed informing them of this outrage, and urging the necessity of strenuous measures to avoid further disturbances. I also called the same day at the Yamên to ask what steps were being taken, and to lay special stress upon the necessity of protecting outlying country districts. || The Ministers present admitted that the Chinese Government hat now come to regard the situation as serious. A Decree had been issued the day before calling on the Governor of Peking, the police censors, and the Peking Gendarmerie to concert measures for the immediate suppression of the movement, and to report within a few days what steps had been taken. As regards the country districts, the Viceroy of Chihli had been given special instructions to put down the ,,Boxers" rigorously. They discussed frankly the practical difficulties wich had to be surmounted, but they assured me most solemnly for the information of Her Majesty's Government, that these difficulties would be surmounted, and that this Society could not fail to be suppressed within a short time. The tone and temper of the Ministers, even more than their words, gave me the impression of a distinct change for the better in their attitude, and I was encouraged to find that in this respect, at least, my efforts and those of my colleagues during the past six months had not been fruitless. The next day, 19th May, the Spanish Minister, as doyen of the Diplomatic Body, circulated the letter from the French Minister, and its inclosure, of which I have the honour to forward copies herewith, and called a meeting of the foreign Representatives for the following day to discuss their contents. Your Lordship will observe that, in Mgr. Favier's letter to M. Pichon, the situation at Peking is painted in very dark colours. The Bishop declares that the conditions now are precisely similar to those preceding the Tien-tsin massacre of 1870, and asks that a guard of marines should be sent to protect the lives of French missionaries. || At the meeting of the Diplomatic Body which took place, accordingly, yesterday, the French Minister showed that he was profoundly impressed by the apprehensions of Mgr. Favier, and by reports. which he had received from other sources. He expressed complete disbelief britannien. Nr. 12362. in the genuineness of the measures of which the Yamên hat spoken to me, Grofs- and declared that it was impossible to exaggerate the danger of the outlook. || 21. Mai 1900. Mgr. Favier has lived in Peking for over thirty years, and is in constant touch with Chinese of all classes, so that it was generally felt that, after making all due allowances for the colour which might have been lent to his words by the fears of his converts, his deliberately expressed opinion on the situation could not be treated with indifference. At the same time, we did not consider that the circumstances, so far as we were as yet in a position to judge, were such as to justify the bringing up of Legation Guards, and M. Pichon did not insist upon the immediate necessity for such a step. He produced the draft of a joint note which he proposed the doyen should be authorized to address to the Tsung-li Yamên, in which certain specific measures for the suppression of the ,,Boxers" were demanded, and, after some discussion, the terms of this note were accepted by the meeting. It was sent in to the Yamên to-day, and I have the honour to inclose a copy herewith. || The German Minister laid stress at the meeting on the importance of deciding on some common action if the Yamên did not return a satisfactory reply to the note, or if the Chinese Government failed to carry out the measures demanded by the foreign Representatives. He considered that in such an event the calling up of guards was not sufficient to bring the Chinese Government to a sense of their obligations. He thought that the most effective means of bringing pressure on the Government would be by a concentration of ships of war near Shanhaikuan, from which parties could be landed, if necessary, to march for the protection of foreigners in Peking. This proposal was supported by the majority of the Representatives, and it was decided that we should recommend it to our respective Governments as a contingent measure. || In concurring in this decision, I was largely guided by the fact that the joint note demands little more than the Chinese Government have already professed to be their principle in dealing with the disturbances, and that I, therefore, see no reason. to anticipate an unfavourable answer. || I had the honour to report to your Lordship by telegraph to-day the substance of what passed at yesterday's meeting. | As regards my own opinion as to the danger to which Europeans in Peking are exposed, I confess that little has come to my own knowledge to confirm the gloomy anticipations of the French Fathers. The demeanour of the inhabitants of the city continues to be quiet and civil towards foreigners, as far as my experience and that of my staff is concerned, although, from the undoubted panic which exists amongst the native Christians, it may be assumed that the latter are being subjected to threats of violence. I am convinced that a few days' heavy rainfall, to terminate the long-continued drought which has helped largely to excite unrest in the country districts, would do more to restore tranquillity than any measures which either the Chinese Government or foreign Governments could take. As this cannot be counted upon, my judgment as to the probability of continued security must be suspended until |