CHINA. FOREIGN SETTLEMENTS ENCROACHMENTS OF VARIOUS POWERS AT TIENTSIN. Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Pekin, November 14, 1900. (Mr. Conger reports that the consular officers at Tientsin have been informed by the Russian general that he has taken absolute possession of a large tract facing the foreign settlement, as property of the Russian army by conquest. Mr. Conger regards this as a dangerous precedent, as all extensions of foreign settlements should be international. He has directed the United States consul to enter a protest and will himself protest to the Russian minister. Belgium is also claiming a large tract adjoining that claimed by Russia. Suggests the probable desirability of further action by the Department.) Mr. Hay to Mr. Conger. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 16, 1900. (Mr. Hay states that the United States Government favor securing foreign rights at treaty ports by adequate foreign concessions, either as an international settlement or as separate concessions to the interested nations, but that forcible appropriation under claim of conquest is in conflict with the declared purpose of the powers and disturbs their harmonious action. The United States Government think the question should be adjusted as part of the general arrangement, in which the right of the United States to an impartial share should be reserved. Mr. Conger's protest is approved.) Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay. No. 491.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Pekin, December 31, 1900. SIR: Confirming my telegrams of the 14th ultimo and your replya of the 16th ultimo, concerning the seizure and appropriation of a large a Printed ante. tract of property as a conquest of war by the Russian military forces at Tientsin, I have the honor to inclose herewith the correspondence between the respective legations and consulates of Russia and the United States concerning it. The Belgian consul, by direction of his minister, has also pretended to occupy another large tract there. The French and Japanese have extended the boundaries of their concessions, and the Austrian and Italian ministers have served notice that they, too, will soon demand settlements. The Belgian minister informs me that they have no intention of a settlement, but only wish a site for a consulate. I have made the protest evidenced by inclosures herewith, because I believe the action, especially of the Russians, is in violation of their publicly declared intentions, and because I believe all settlements at the treaty ports should be international. The several armies came here, as they have all declared, for a general purpose, and not to gain any special advantage for individual governments. This "grab game," therefore, in which they are indulging, is neither fair nor consistent. Since there are so many regularly established concessions at Tientsin an international one is hardly to be expected, but all action in relation to securing new or extending old concessions should be deferred until order is restored, the Chinese Government reestablished, and the rights and interests of all can be considered. The notice of the Japanese consul has only just arrived, but I have instructed Mr. Ragsdale to make like protest in this case. It would be advantageous to us in many ways to have an American concession at Tientsin, but we have learned by experience that it takes both money and citizens to own and operate a concession. We have not enough there of either. The Department is familiar with our former efforts to sustain the desirable concession which had to be abandoned in 1896. If, however, the United States Government can in any way take upon itself part of the burden, as the other governments do, it may be advisable for us to demand consideration of our rights to a concession while the others are taking and dividing up all available territory. If, upon receipt of this, the Department desires. any action taken in this direction, I will thank you to instruct me by telegraph. I inclose map showing British, Russian, Japanese, German, and French concessions; also land recently seized by the Russians. I have, etc., [Inclosure 1] E. H. CONGER. Mr. Ragsdale, United States Consul at Tientsin, to Mr. Conger. CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to inform you that on yesterday the Russian consul here gave notice to the consuls of the different countries that the land fronting on the Bund, or east bank of the Peiho, extending from (and including) the railroad station to Meyers' godown, a distance of nearly 2 miles, would be reserved for the use and benefit of the Russian Government. Not printed. To-day a like notice was given by the Belgian consul that his Government would reserve the land on the east bank of the river for a distance of about 1 mile below that already claimed by the Russians. The distance back from the river is not given by either claimant. I have asked for a map showing the exact area claimed. If given, I will forward you a copy. I am, etc., JAMES W. RAGsdale, Consul. [Subinclosure.] RUSSIAN CIRCULAR ANNOUNCING OCCUPATION OF LEFT BANK OF THE PEIHO, OPPOSITE FOREIGN CONCESSIONS AT TIENTSIN. [Translation.] TIENTSIN, November 6, 1900. MY DEAR COLLEAGUE: His Excellency Lieutenant-General Linevitch, commander in chief of the Russian expeditionary force in Chihli, has directed me to inform you that since the 17th of June last the Imperial Chinese troops have joined the rioters (Boxers) who attacked the foreign concessions and the railway station occupied by the Russian troops, and that on the 23d of June the Russian reenforcements, which came to raise the blockade, swept the left bank of the Peiho from below the railway station up to the petroleum godown of Messrs. Meyers & Co., and have established themselves there by right of conquest in having taken possession by force of arms and at the price of Russian blood spilled, in order to prevent the Chinese from returning to resume the firing. His excellency considers all this tract of land included in that from above the railway station to the petroleum go-down as having become the property of the Russian troops on the 23d of June by act of war. The Russian flags have been planted, and notice posted upon boards in many places within this territory, which has been occupied and protected by the Russian military authorities. Therefore his excellency can not and will not recognize, except by his special authorization, any cession whatever of this territory of which he has taken entire and complete possession. It is understood that the rights of those landowners (other than Chinese) whose titles have been duly registered in foreign names before June 17 will be safeguarded. I avail myself, etc., N. POPPÉ, Consul-General of Russia. [Inclosure 2.] Mr. Conger to Mr. Ragsdale. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your dispatch of the 8th instant, with reference to the taking over of certain lands at Tientsin by the Russian and Belgian consuls for the use of their respective Governments. I will be much pleased to have a map showing exact locations and area of same, as well as any other information you may have obtained on the subject. In the meantime you are instructed to make a vigorous protest against this action of the consuls, and demand that no American interests or rights be in anyway infringed upon. I shall at the same time bring the matter to the attention of the Russian and Belgian ministers here. I am, etc., E. H. CONGER. [Inclosure 3.] Mr. Ragsdale to Mr. Conger. CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith printed circular, or express, issued by Comte du Chaylard, consul-general of France, which reached me yesterday. The proclamation being arbitrary and extraordinary I have thought it was best to send you this copy before investigating the fact that it may be important to American ownership. Up to this time no official communication has been sent to the consuls of the various nationalities, but I shall at once investigate the extent to which American interests are involved and report to you later. I am, etc., [Subinclosure.] JAMES W. RAGSDALE, Consul. FRENCH CIRCULAR ANNOUNCING THE OCCUPATION OF CERTAIN TERRITORY AT TIENTSIN IN ADDITION TO ITS FORMER CONCESSION. TIENTSIN, November 20, 1900. The consul-general of France, president of the municipal council, wishing to warn foreign residents against the consequences they would expose themselves to by buying ground in the quarter presently annexed to the French concession, has the honor to inform them that the municipal council will not recognize as valid any contract subsequent to June 17, the date on which hostilities began. All land holders, bearers of regular titles issued before the 17th of June, are requested to exhibit them at the French consulate, where they shall be duly verified and registered. The extension of the concession includes all the grounds as follows: First. Between the Rue de Paris, the Taku road, the Quai de France, extended as far as the old building of the London Mission in the Chinese city. Second. The zone situated west of the French concession and limited by the Taku road, the extra British concession, the mud wall, and a line running from the said wall and abutting on the river in front of the London Mission building. G. DU CHAYLARD, Consul-General of France. [Inclosure 4.] Mr. Ragsdale to Mr. Conger. CONSULATE Of the United STATES, SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of the circular letter sent to the members of the consular body in re claim of territory by the Belgian consul. So far as I have been able to find out, the rights of American citizens are not involved. In this connection I have also to report that the territory claimed by the Russians does not include property belonging to American citizens. In this event, is it desirable that I file a protest against their action in acquiring territory? I am, etc., JAMES W. RAGSDALE, Consul. [Subinclosure.] NOTICE ADDRESSED BY BELGIAN CONSUL TO CONSULS OF OTHER NATIONS AT TIENTSIN. TIENTSIN, November 7, 1900. MY DEAR COLLEAGUE: I have the honor to inform you that in accordance with instructions from His Belgian Majesty's legation at Pekin, I have this day occupied the territory situated opposite the foot of the German concession and extending along the river to a point about 50 meters below the petroleum godown of Messrs. H. Meyer & Co., thence to another point about a kilometer lower down. The ground is bounded on the sides by two straight lines, is limited on the inside by the railway, beginning from the railway crossing, about 13 kilometers from the mud wall up to another point distant about 14 kilometers, equally distant from the point of intersection of the road and the above railroad. The Belgian flag has been planted upon the territory and its limits marked. I have, therefore, the honor to inform you that every sale, cession, or transfer of property within these limits can not and will not be recognized as legal. It is under stood that titles in the names of Europeans (other than Chinese) which have been duly registered prior to taking over of this territory will be safeguarded. I avail myself, etc., CHEVALIER DE MELOTE. [Inclosure 5.] Mr. Conger to Mr. Ragsdale. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your dispatch of November 26 with inclosure, with reference to land recently taken over by the Belgian consul. I note that you have not yet protested against similar action on the part of the Russians for the reason that no property belonging to Americans is included. It is to be regretted that you did not at once protest against the action of the Russian consul, as instructed in dispatch of the 13th instant. It is rather late now, but the protest should still be made (sending copy to the legation), not only on behalf of any private or particular American interests, but against the rights of any power to forcibly seize and hold to its sole use property in an open treaty port which may be needed for the use of all the powers. If Russia, or any other power, desires a new concession, or an extension of an old one, consent of the Chinese Government should first be obtained, and all the public or international rights of the other powers should be respected. In this same dispatch you were requested to furnish a map showing the exact location and area of these lands, which I will be pleased to have as soon as possible. I am, etc., E. H. CONGER. [Inclosure 6.] Mr. Conger to Mr. Ragsdale. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your dispatch of November 24 inclosing circular published by the French consul-general with reference to extension of French settlement, a copy of which reached me from another source some days ago, and to say that I hope soon to hear from you the result of your investigations as to what American interests, if any, are involved. I can not understand by what right the French forcibly seize and annex property to their settlement in an open treaty port, when all nationalities have rights which must be respected, without obtaining either the consent of the Chinese or other Governments interested. I am not yet advised what individual American rights are affected, but whatever they may be, you will not overlook them. We can not agree that either the French consul or municipality can pass upon the validity of any American title to property outside of the legally constituted French settlement. If the French desire to extend their concession, they should wait until order is restored and it can be legitimately accomplished. You are authorized to make due protest against this action, in behalf of all American interests, whether private, public, or international, sending me a copy of your protest. I am, etc., E. H. CONGER. [Inclosure 7.] Mr. Ragsdale to Mr. Conger. CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your dispatches of November 30, and to report that I have complied with the instructions therein required. I also inclose copies of the protest sent by me to the consul-general of France and the consul of Russia. |
