ming, in Chihli. The letter inclosed a copy of a placard being circulated, which was an exact transcript of one used by the Boxers in 1900. The letter further complained of the persecution of native Christians by the said society. The matter having been reported to the foreign office, steps were at once taken to redress the wrongs of the Christians and to punish the guilty parties. An imperial edict was issued referring to the reports of the plots of secret societies in Shantung, Honan, and Chihli, and directing the provincial authorities to take prompt and effective measures for the suppression of these societies, the protection of the missionaries, and the punishment of the leaders of the movement. The two principals in the Tung-o affair were arrested, and compensation paid to one of the native Christians, who had been wrongfully imprisoned and who had been compelled to pay considerable sums of money to the yamen underlings. The district magistrate, by whose connivance or negligence this injustice had been allowed, was removed, and proclamations were issued warning the people against any disturbance of the peace. I have the honor to report further with reference to this case that within a few days past I have received a note from the board of foreign affairs informing me that it had been finally disposed of by the release of the two leaders under bonds to avoid any further disturbance of the peace, the bondsmen being respectable and responsible citizens of the district. Rev. F. M. Chapin, the American missionary interested, also writes that the settlement is satisfactory, and has sent me copies of the bonds given. While this case was pending word was received at this legation of an active enlistment of members by a secret society, known as the Ts'ai Yuan T'ang, in the prefecture of Chang-te, in Honan, and that of Shun-te, in Chihli, both places on the Hankow-Peking Railway, and situated, respectively, southwest and northwest of the abovementioned prefecture of Ta-ming, distant from the latter, the one 50 and the other about 80 miles. Two Americans, who visited the districts mentioned after these reports had been received, assured me that while the society undoubtedly existed and was rapidly spreading they were everywhere received with the greatest courtesy, and that the movement appeared to be directed aganst the Manchu government. On October 11 a letter was received from Chang-te inclosing placards circulated by the society and giving further details as to the organization. It reported an attempted uprising about 16 miles to the east of Chang-te a few days before the letter was written. A few hundreds of armed men marched through several towns and villages trying to arouse the people to rebellion, but met with a cool reception and, after trying to raid a fair, dispersed. They had announced it to be their purpose to march on the city of Chang-te, into which they were to be admitted by their confederates in the city. The proclamations issued evidence intense hostility to mission work, railways, telegraphs, steamships, and to foreigners and all their inventions. I have the honor to state further that before this letter came to hand I had already called the attention of the foreign office to the reports in circulation, and had been assured in a note, dated October 3, that (1) the rumors as to Shun-te were baseless; (2) that a society of bandits had been discovered at Tz'u Chou, in this province (Chihli), and several of its members arrested. (Tz'u Chou is about 50 miles south of Shun-te and the same distance west of Ta-ming. It is also on the Hankow-Peking Railway, near the border of Honan Province, and some 30 miles north of the prefectural city of Chang-te, above referred to.) The foreign office reported (3) that the governor of Honan had informed them of the arrest and execution of two members of the society at Anyang, in that province. An imperial edict of December 11 says: Some time ago we received a memorial from Hsü-lin, a supervising censor, with regard to a rebellious society in Ho-shuo (in Honan), the membership in which was rapidly increasing, stating that the local authorities and the constabulary were inefficient. We at once issued a decree, commanding Yüan Shih-k'ai to make a thorough investigation and report to us. We have now received his report, saying that the leaders in the trouble stirred up by the rebellious society at Ho-shuo had all been arrested, and that the band had been scattered, but that the local officials had repeatedly been guilty of carelessness in regard to these cases of pillage, and had not conscientiously exerted themselves to search out and arrest the guilty parties. ** We hereby decree that Brigadier-General Lang Kuei-lin, of Ho-pei Chen, be removed from office, and that the district magistrate of Hsin-hsiang be cashiered. We also command Ch'en K'uei-lung (governor of Honan) to exercise care in the administration of the civil and military affairs of his province, and to have them thoroughly overhauled and put in order. As for the rest of the memorial, let matters be dealt with as proposed. * An American engineer, who returned to Peking two weeks ago after a journey through the region concerned, informed me that he was everywhere treated with great courtesy, but that one of the officials whom he had met told him that the secret society men were getting arms and drilling, and that their aims were antidynastic. A recent memorial of the imperial commissioner, T'ieh Liang, sent to central China to investigate financial and military conditions, declares that the Empire is everywhere infested with these rebellious societies, the people being driven to their organization by the extra taxes levied to meet the indemnity due the powers. In conclusion I have the honor to state that, in my opinion, while more or less disaffection exists throughout the country, it is not unusual in extent or character. The secret societies are chiefly antidynastic in their aims, but are also hostile to foreigners, and, were they able to effect a general rising, would undoubtedly attack foreigners as well as the imperial officers, civil and military. But these societies are scattered over an enormous extent of country, widely separated one from another, and not working in harmony. Every attempt to create a disturbance has been futile so far, except in Kuangsi, and there the rebels hold nothing but their mountain fastnesses. The central Government is alert and determined to prevent any disturbance of the peace. and seems to be abundantly able to repress any outbreak that is likely to occur, and earnest in its efforts to protect all foreign lives and property. I can therefore see no occasion for anxiety. I have, etc., E. H. CONGER. SIR: I have the honor to report that while on the surface all appears quiet at present, the excited state of the people and the failure of the Government to decide on any definite policy make it impossible to predict what may happen from one day to the next. The bitter feeling against Americans, while not so strongly manifested by outbreaks among the people or attacks through the press, has not, however, abated one particle. Petitions have been widely circulated and enthusiastically signed by the merchants here, the signers agreeing to import nothing more from the United States nor to export any products to the United States. These and other similar incidents seem to forecast one policy at least. The Junta Patriótica, organized here under the leadership of Senator Perez y Soto for the purpose of creating and nourishing a feeling against the United States, has been dissolved by order of the Government. The Government claimed that it only advocated, openly, that which was already heartily approved and supported by the whole ministry-to send every man and boy, ready and willing to go, to fight on the Isthmus. AMERICAN LEGATION, Bogotá, January 26, 1904. (Mr. Snyder reports that in Colombia's official circles a rumor is current, as coming from Reyes, that the Government of the United States has retreated from its position and will permit the landing of Colombian troops at Panama, and states that it is from this motive that Colombian forces are being organized. He requests to be advised as to the situation.) Mr. Loomis to Mr. Snyder. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 29, 1904. (Replying to Mr. Snyder's telegram of January 26, Mr. Loomis instructs him that this Government's attitude remains the same since Department's telegram of November 11 a to Minister Beaupré. Nothing written or verbal to General Reyes would in any way retreat from that position. Mr. Snyder is instructed to verify origin of unfounded rumors.) Mr. Snyder to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Bogotá, January 30, 1904. (Mr. Snyder reports that one train with about 500 Government troops left Colombia for the coast last Wednesday.) Mr. Snyder to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Bogotá, February 28, 1904. (Mr. Snyder reports that he has received information that volunteers are coming back in bad condition; that an expedition on the 9th instant left Department of Santander for the coast. He states that a feeling of indifference prevails in Colombia with little unfriendly remarks. The Government has again taken up the question of the severing of diplomatic relations, and it will be determined on Monday, 29th.) Mr. Snyder to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, (Mr. Snyder reports that the Government of Colombia has caused a decree to be issued decreasing the standing army from 11,000 to 5,000 men; and another in which peace is again declared in all the Republic, with the exception of the Department of Panama.) a Printed in Foreign Relations, 1903, p. 228. No. 302.] Mr. Snyder to Mr. Hay. AMERICAN LEGATION, SIR: I have the honor to report that nothing of importance has taken place in the last three weeks having bearing directly or indirectly upon the Panama question, unless it is the remarkable subsidence of all public expression on this subject. This was noticeable early in February, but became particularly apparent shortly after receipt of the news of the ratification by the United States Senate of the treaty with Panama, for it was realized then that nothing more could be done. It is true that Americans, from time to time, are still subjected to little inconveniences and discourtesies from society, the public, and in business transactions, which may continue indefinitely, but they are of little consequence and hardly worthy of mention. I am, etc., No. 311.] ALBAN G. SNYDER. Mr. Snyder to Mr. Hay. AMERICAN LEGATION, Bogotá, April 19, 1904. SIR: I have the honor to send you herewith copies and translations of further correspondence from the Colombian foreign office relative to events connected with the formation of the Republic of Panama. The minister's note of the 12th instant represents the combined efforts of the entire cabinet, and two months have been spent in its preparation. It has been the subject of general discussion in diplomatic and Government circles for some time, and all persons presenting business matters at the foreign office were informed that this note was in a state of preparation and no other business could be given attention until it was finished. The Government has ordered an edition of 20,000 copies to be printed for general distribution throughout Colombia. I am, etc., [Inclosure. Translation.] ALBAN G. SNYDER. Señor Rico to Mr. Snyder. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SIR: In the note which I addressed to your honorable legation on November 12 last in regard to the separatist revolution on the Isthmus of Panama I stated that as the possibility of the violation or infringement of the treaty of 1846 in any manner whatever had been provided for, I presented to the Government of the United States, through His Excellency Mr. Beaupré, the exposition contained in that note of the acts committed in violation of that treaty, in the conviction that said Government would deal justly by Colombia in accordance with what had been stipulated and with international law. The stipulation to which I referred is section 5 of article 35 of the same treaty, which says: "If unfortunately any of the articles contained in this treaty should be vio |