China. 17. Juli 1900. Nr. 12388. tacking and occupying the forts at Taku. || The Court of Peking attach mach importance to the maintenance of friendly relations with the Treaty Powers, and would view any interruption of them with sincere regret; and it was for this reason that, notwithstanding the hostilities at Taku, we have repeatedly issued Imperial Decrees enjoining the metropolitan and provincial authorities to accord plenary protection to the foreign Legations in Peking and foreigners. residing in other parts of the Empire. And as the disturbances which called for these Decrees still continue unabated, and as large numbers of foreigners are resident in divers parts of China, we now command the Tartar Generals, the Viceroys and Governors of provinces to make themselves acquainted with their various places of abode, whether at the Treaty ports or at the Foos, Chows and Hsiens in the interior, so that our Treaty obligation to give adequate protection to them may be fulfilled, and further untoward incidents prevented from occurring. We were shocked to learn last month that Mr. Sugiyama, the Chancellor of the Japanese Legation, had been killed, and some time afterwards that Baron von Ketteler, the Minister of His Majesty the Emperor of Germany, had been assassinated at his post in Peking. now command that the parties to these outrages may be sought for and arrested without delay, in order that they may be punished according to law. Since the outbreak of hostilities at Tien-tsin there have doubtless been many peaceful missionaries and other foreigners, unconnected with these hostilities, who, at the hands of disorderly persons, have suffered in person or property. Let the Governor of Peking and the Viceroy of Chihli cause their cases to be severally investigated and reported to us for our information. || Recently in other parts of the Empire bandits and unruly persons have committed many acts of oppression, arson, rapine, and murder. The Viceroys and Governors of provinces and the high territorial military authorities are commanded to take stringent measures for the restoration of order and tranquillity in their respective Governments, and the extermination of the parties by whom these outrages were committed. | Let this, our Imperial Decree, be promulgated in every part of the Empire. || Respect this. Nr. 12389. britannien. || Nr. 12389. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Generalkonsul in Schanghai an den Minister des Auswärtigen. Der Vicekönig stimmt der Landung von Truppen zu. Shanghae, July 28, 1900. (July 28.) (Telegraphic.) || I requested Her Majesty's Consul at Nanking yesterday to Grofs- inform me of the exact terms on which the Viceroy consents to the friendly 28. Juli 1900. Occupation of Shanghae. || He has to-day replied that everything is left to my discretion, and that the Viceroy's consent is unconditional. His Excellency will not refuse absolutely, but will raise objections if any other Powers intimate that they intend to station a garrison at Shanghae. He will state tomorrow on what date he can receive the Admiral. Nr. 12390. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Derselbe an Denselben. Neue Metzeleien. Shanghae, July 28, 1900. (July 28.) Grofs (Telegraphic.) || The Consular officer at Hangchow telegraphs as follows: Nr. 12390. ,,Nine members of the China Inland Mission at Chuchow, four being those from britannien. Chiang Shan, are reported by Father Witteib, a Roman Catholic, to have 28. Juli 1900. been massacred. It is also reported that six employés have been killed by the Sub-Prefect. ||,,Ching train-bands are said to have committed the outrage." Nr. 12391. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Botschafter in Petersburg an den Minister des Auswärtigen. Unterredung mit Lamsdorff über ein gemeinsames Oberkommando. St. Petersburgh, July 21, 1900. (July 30.) Grofs (Extract.) || On receipt of your Lordship's telegram this morning, I at Nr. 12391. once sought an interview of Count Lamsdorff, and read to him the observa- britannien. tions which your Lordship had passed on the communication which the Rus-21. Juli 1900. sian Chargé d'Affaires had made to Her Majesty's Government of the views of his Government concerning the ulterior military measures which the Powers may have to undertake in China, and the question of concentrating in one single hand the command and direction of all the foreign detachments which may have to undertake such measures. || I said that Her Majesty's Government had carefully considered this communication, but found it essential to have some further explanations as to its meaning and intentions before expressing an opinion. It was, I added, especially important to have some definite understanding as to the nature, scope, and object of the military measures which the Russian Government contemplates in this communication. || Speaking of these ulterior measures in the two first paragraphs of the communication, his Excellency had, I observed, mentioned the necessity of unifying the general command by an understanding between the local military authorities. Did this, I asked, imply that all the international detachments on Chinese territory were to be employed on the contemplated military measures, and for this purpose all concentrated under the single hand of one General commanding the manoeuvre of his choice. I ventured to point out to his Exellency that ,,Chinese territory" was a very wide expression, and that we were scarcely yet able to gauge the extent of the danger which the Powers had to face, or assign to it any precise geographical limits. Count Lamsdorff said that he wished at once to clear up any possible misunderstanding on this point. || The ulterior military measures contemplated in M. Lessar's communication were to be understood as exclusively confined to the present field of action of the international detachments, which might be roughly defined as the Province of Pechili. As regards other parts of China where danger might equally break out, it was clear that the direction of any necessary military measures would have to be britannien. Nr. 12391. undertaken independently. || For instance, Russia would have to take indepenGrofs- dent military action in the north of China bordering on her own territory and 21. Juli 1900. on her railway, and it was to be assumed that other Powers would act similarly in the south and centre of China, where their own territory and special interests were more immediately concerned. || The question of a single hand to command and direct ulterior military measures of the international detachments now acting together in Pechili was the one raised, and he regarded it as important to secure unity of action. || It was impossible to form any precise opinion as present as to the nature and scope of the military operations which might soon be necessary; their immediate object was clearly the rescue and protection of foreigners, and up till now all the international detachments employed appeared to have acted in this task loyally together without friction and with considerable success; but it appeared that the military and naval authorities on the spot considered that, for the success of any larger ulterior measures which might have to be undertaken, it was essential that unity of action should be secured by an agreement to place the direction and command in one single hand. || This necessity seems to have been strongly felt by the French Government, and the arguments in its favour were appreciated, if I rightly understood Count Lamsdorff, at Berlin as well as St. Petersburgh. || I then said that your Lordship had expressed a concurrence with Count Lamsdorff's view that the plan of selecting a Commander-in-chief in deference to superior rank or to the greater size of the national contingent commanded by him would not be satisfactory, as these considerations were based on circumstances subject to frequent change; but that, although the observations in the last two sentences of M. de Lessar's communication seemed to bear upon the question of an alternative plan, your Lordship had been unable to trace the deductions which his Excellency meant to draw from them. || Had his Excellency, I asked, formed any definite opinion as to the plan to be followed in selecting a Commander-in-chief and determining the powers to be given him? || Count Lamsdorff replied that he had not, and the object of his communication was to elicit an expression of opinion on this point from the different Governments addressed with the idea that from the answers received (,,du choc des opinions") would result some practical suggestion which might meet the views of all. | His personal idea had been that each Government, on receiving this communication, would, before replying to it, confer with its military authority on the spot, and ascertain his views as to the necessity of a single command, the best plan to be adopted in the selection, and also as to ulterior military measures which they, with their better knowledge of local circumstances, considered it imperative or impossible to undertake. || I have lost no time in telegraphing the upshot of my conversation with Count Lamsdorff to your Lordship. Nr. 12392. CHINA. - Vicekönig Li Hung-Tschang an den Gesandten in England. Bittet keine neuen Truppen zu senden. Shanghae, July 30, 1900. (July 30.) 30. Juli 1900. (Telegraphic.) || I have, conjointly with other Viceroys and Governors, Nr. 12392. memorialized the Throne to urge the immediate sending of foreign Represen- China. tatives under escort to Tientsin or the restoration to them the freedom of telegraphic communication with their respective Governments. The Imperial approval will be communicated to you as soon as it is obtained. || Please persuade the Foreign Office not to send any more reinforcements, and instruct those already sent not to make any advance. This is very important. Nr. 12393. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Minister des Auswärtigen an den Gesandten in Peking. Wie ist die Lage? Foreign Office, July 30, 1900. Nr. 12393. (Sent through Chinese Minister.) || (Telegraphic.) || Pray let us know where and how you and other Europeans are. We have heard nothing since your Grofsletter of 4th July to Consul at Tien-tsin. This message is forwarded through 30. Juli 1900. Chinese Minister in London. britannien. Nr. 12394: GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Generalkonsul in Schanghai an den Minister des Auswärtigen. Neue Metzeleien. (Telegraphic.) Shanghae, August 1, 1900. (August 1.) Grofs I am informed by the English Baptist Mission that a Nr. 12394. telegram has been received from Mr. Morgan at Sian-fu (in Shensi) to the britannien. following effect: ||,,Fifty missionaries murdered, fear welfare of Christians. 1. Aug. 1900. Eleven of us starting. Obtain protection in Human and Hupei." || These massacres ave becoming general, and I have the gravest fears for the safety of all foreigners now up country. I am trying to obtain protection asked for. Nr. 12395. GROSSBRITANNIEN. - Der Generalkonsul in Schanghai an den Minister des Auswärtigen. Vicekönige verlangen persönliche Sicherheit der KaiserinWitwe. Shanghae, August 1, 1900. (August 2.) Grofs (Telegraphic.) || With reference to my telegram of 5th July*) the situation Nr. 12395. is every day becoming more serious. The Viceroys at Nanking and Wuchang britannien. have declared themselves loyal to the Empress-Dowager, and have stated dis- 1. Aug. 1900. tinctly that they will be unable to carry outh the agreement of neutrality *) Nr. 12359. Red. Grofsbritannien. Nr. 12395. entered into with foreign Governments unless it is guaranteed that her person shall be respected. The Viceroys, while preserving peace in their districts to 1. Aug. 1900. the best of their ability, are at the same time arming all along the whole line of the Yang-tsze, and are preparing for attack. When the allied forces approach Peking, I fear they will find a very strong force opposed to them, as the Viceroys are further dispatching troops to the north for the protection of the Emperor and Empress-Dowager. Nr. 12396. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Botschafter in Peters burg an den Minister des Auswärtigen. Übersendet eine officielle Äufserung der russischen Regierung über Briefwechsel des Kaisers von China mit dem Zaren. St. Petersburgh, August 3, 1900. (August 3.) (Telegraphic.) || A communication appears in the Official Gazette of yesterGrofs- day, of which following is a summary: Nr. 12396. britannien. 3. Aug. 1900. „The complete impotence of the Government of Peking to arrest the insurrectionary movement in China, and to restore order in the capital, a state of affairs conductive to serious complications, inspired the Emperor of China to address to the Emperor a request for His Imperial Majesty's mediation. ,,The anti-Christian troubles are attributed hy the Emperor of China to the evil proceedings of agitators acting in their own personal interest. When, at the instance of the Russian Minister, the Government decided to take repressive measures, it was already too late to allay the excitement against the foreigners caused by the spreading of false rumours among the lower classes. || ,,The Chinese Government, from fear of compromising the safety of the Legations, and of provoking a general rising against the foreigners at the ports, did not dare to take decisive measures against the insurgents, the result being that the Powers have suspected the Chinese Government of complicity with the anti-Christian movement, and have decided to take military measures, which threatened to still further complicate the situation. ||,,The Emperor of China has therefore addressed a request to the Emperor of Russia to find some means for saving the country, and to take the initiative in carrying it out. The Emperor has replied to the above telegram stating that, while deploring the serious events now happening in China, the uncertainty of what is taking place in Peking and the absence of news respecting the fate of the Russian and foreign Representatives render all idea of mediation in favour of China very difficult at the present moment. ||,,The efforts of Russia have but one object in view, namely, to assist in the re-establishment of order and tranquillity in the Chinese Empire, and, inspired by their traditional friendship for China, the Imperial Government have decided to render to the Chinese Government every assistance with a view to repressing the present troubles. |