No. 2888.] Mr. Denby to Mr. Sherman. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Peking, March 17, 1898. SIR: In my dispatch No. 2878 of the 26th ultimo I informed you that there was danger of a riot at Chiang Pei, near Chung-king, should the American missionaries insist on going there. I also inclosed copies of the Yamen's paper to me and of telegrams received and sent. In my telegram of the 19th ultimo to Consul Smithers I advised missionaries to hold off until further advised in the matter. I intended as soon as I received dispatches from the consul stating the existing condition of things to endeavor to settle the matter with the Yamêu. Until then there would seem to have been no harm in the missionaries keeping away from the place of danger. Since the date of my telegram above mentioned I have heard nothing from Chungking about this matter until yesterday. I then received a telegram from Mr. Smithers, of which a copy is inclosed. To this telegram I sent an answer, of which a copy is inclosed. I have, as you see, applied to the Yamên for protection, and have instructed Mr. Smithers to demand redress from the local authorities. As my information touching this matter is derived from meager telegrams, I am unable at this time to determine what redress should be demanded. I have instructed Mr. Smithers to report to me his opinion as to what redress should be demanded and what measures should be taken to prevent further violence. I have, etc., [Inclosure 1 in No. 2888.-Telegram.] CHARLES DENBY. Mr. Smithers to Mr. Denby. UNITED STATES MINISTER, Peking: CHUNG-KING, March 15, 1898. Native hospital assistant killed 6 o'clock this morning at Chiang Pei Mission. Rented place yesterday partly demolished by mob numbered over 100. Await instruction. SMITHERS. [Inclosure 2 in No. 2888.-Telegram.] Mr. Denby to Mr. Smithers. PEKING, March 16, 1898. SMITHERS, Chung-king: Have demanded from Yamên immediate and energetic action. Demand ample redress from local officials. No. 2893.] Mr. Denby to Mr. Sherman. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, DENBY. Peking, March 24, 1898. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that in an interview with the Tsung-li Yamên to-day I demanded in settlement of the riot at Chiang FR 98-13 Pei Ting, of which you were informed in my dispatch No. 2888, of the 17th instant, the following terms of settlement: 1. Country militia to be dispersed. 2. Death penalty to be inflicted on the murderer of the Chinese helper. 3. Leaders of gentry who are making trouble to be arrested. 4. Indemnity of 500 taels to be paid. 5. The right to occupy premises in Chiang Pei Ting to be secured for the American missionaries. 6. A proclamation commanding peace and protection to be put up. These terms, except the last, are those which were recommended in a telegram by the consul-general and substantially by our consul at Chung-king. The Yamên acceded to these terms and agreed to carry them out. I have, etc., CHARLES DENBY. No. 29013.] Mr. Denby to Mr. Sherman. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: In my dispatch No. 2893, of March 24 last, I reported to you an account of my interview with the Yamên on the subject of the recent riot at Chiang Pei Ting. Having received a telegram from the consulgeneral that the Chinese authorities were not acting with promptness, I addressed a note to the Yamên, of which a copy is inclosed. In reply to that note I have received a dispatch from the Yamên, of which a translation is inclosed. Having received another telegram from the consul-general that prompt action had not been taken, on the 2d instant I addressed to the Yamên another note, of which a copy is inclosed. I have also had a personal interview with a secretary of Chang Yin-Huan, who is a member of the Yamên, in which I insisted that immediate action must be taken to carry out the terms that had been agreed on by the Yamên and myself. The sentiments expressed in the Yamên's notes are well enough, but it is important that prompt action should be taken. The public all along the Yangtze are excited over the rumors which reach them that China is to be partitioned, and unless the local authorities act with vigor and promptness there is danger of disorder. There are hot-heads among our own people as well as among the Chinese. I have, etc., CHARLES DENBY. [Inclosure 1 in No. 2901.] Mr. Denby to the Tsung-li Yamên. Your Highnesses and Your Excellencies: PEKING, March 16, 1898. I have the honor to inform you that I have received information that a mob yesterday morning at Chiang Pet killed a native hospital assist ant and demolished an American missionary station. You will please issue orders for the arrest and punishment of the guilty and to prevent further outrages. Prompt action should be taken immediately. I have, etc., CHARLES DENBY. [Inclosure 2 in No. 29014.] The Tsung-li Yamén to Mr. Denby. PEKING, March 17, 1898. YOUR EXCELLENCY: We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency's note, stating that you had received a telegram from the United States consul at Chung king informing you that a mob yesterday morning at Chiang Pei Ting killed a native hospital assistant and demolished an American missionary station. Your excellency requested the Yamên to issue orders for the arrest and punishment of the guilty and to prevent further outrages, etc. We at once telegraphed the viceroy of Sxechuan to issue instructions to the local authorities to cause the arrest of and to punish the guilty parties. As we were just writing a reply to your excellency's note we received a telegram from the Taotai of Chung-king in regard to the case of the American missionaries leasing house property at Chiang Pei Ting. The Taotai's telegram is as follows: He After the case of Chang Yu San was settled, quiet prevailed at Chiang Pei Ting. The American consul stated, however, that he would have to wait the instructions of the United States minister at Pekin. On the 14th of March the Taotai heard that Dr. McCartney had rented another place in the city of Chiang Pei Ting. Orders were issued to the assistant magistrate to exercise every care in the matter. reported that Dr. McCartney had rented from one Chen Jung-sheng some house property situated on the main street, which belonged to Jen Tsai Tang, and originally leased to Mr. Chen. An agreement was drawn up with Mr. Chen on the 14th of March, but Mr. Jen knows nothing about it. Dr. McCartney dispatched two assistants named Wang Chih Tang and Tang Hsi I, who, with a servant named Lu, took their baggage into the house in the nighttime. Mr. Wang then took a note to the subprefect's Yamên. The subprefect examined the deed and found it to be defective. He kept Mr. Wang in his Yamên and sent for Mr. Tang to bring the baggage there. The men were ordered to stay at the Yamên that night and in the morning the matter of the lease could then be looked into, and if all right, they could occupy the house. Wang and Tang persistently refused to listen to the order of the prefect. At the third watch in the night some Yamén police escorted the men to the house. The men had'nt left the Yamen but a short time when the prefect heard a row and went in person to ascertain what it was all about. He found that the house leased by the missionaries had been torn down. The mob dispersed, but three arrests were made. At daylight the body of Wang Hsi I was found outside of the Wen Ching Gate. Mr. Wang and Mr. Lu had returned to Chung-king, taking with them a note for Dr. McCartney. Dr. McCartney with two other missionaries went to the subprefect's Yamén and behaved in a disorderly manner. They went with the subprefect to examine the dead body. It was that of Tang Isi I, a native of Sui Ning district. He had no family. It was found that he had wounds on his head and had been beaten on the body with wooden sticks or clubs. There were no other marks or wounds on his body that could have caused death. Dr. McCartney and the other missionaries wanted to take the corpse to the missionary chapel in Chung king City, but they were remonstrated with against doing this and the body was finally interred outside of the city. The American consul has not up to the present notified the Tantai by letter of the affair. He is evidently awaiting instructions from the United States minister. Dr. McCartney has acted differently and does not await instructions. The lease to the house property was defective, but in spite of that he sends his assistants in the nighttime to take possession of the house. The subprefect wanted to examine into the circumstances attending the lease, and wanted the men to stay at his Yamên and thus protect them, but this they declined to agree to, bence the riot and murder. The house was also demolished before the lease had been properly made. It cau not be compared to the case of a hospital having already been established. Dr. McCartney has himself to blame for this affair, and has shown himself decidedly ungrateful in not waiting to know the wishes of the United States minister and consul. Cheng Jung Sheng had sublet the house without letting the owner of it know anything about the transaction. The matter had not been prop-. erly arranged and Chen is certainly guilty of a serious offense. The subprefect is ordered to take steps to arrest Mr. Chen and bring him before the court for trial. The three men arrested will also be tried. The Taotai has notified the American consul twice by note of this affair, but he has not received any reply; neither has he heard whether he entertains any views on the subject in opposition to the Tuotai's. The present subprefect of Chiang Pei Ting has just been appointed, having taken charge of the office about ten days ago. He is an officer who regards the feelings of the people. With the exception of the present case there is nothing that has transpired to disturb the peace of the place. Quiet prevails in and about the city of Chung-king. The foreign consuls all consider that Dr. McCartney has not acted properly in this matter. The Taotai is still without any letter from the United States consul. It would seem that Dr. McCartney must realize himself tha he has acted wrongly in the matter. If the Yamen can request H. E. Denby, United States minister, to telegraph the United States consul at Chung-king not to be hasty or impetuous in dealing with this case, but to wait and let the Chinese officials manage it, the questions at stake can be easily settled. The above telegram we communicate to your excellency, and beg that you will telegraph the United States consul at Chung-king to con fer with the Taotai in an even-tempered spirit to the end that the case may be speedily brought to a termination. Cards of ministers with compliments. [Inclosure 3 in No. 2901.1 Mr. Denby to the Tsung-li Yamên. Your Highnesses and Your Excellencies: PEKING, April 2, 1898. I have the honor to inform you that I have received from the United States consul at Chung-king a telegram stating that the Taotai has refused to comply with his demand, and the Taotai says that he has received no instructions from the Tartar general. This greatly surprises me, and I again insist that immediate orders be issued to the Taotai, through the Tartar general, to comply with my demands which the Yamên agreed to. If immediate action is not taken I will be compelled to report the matter to my Government for instructions. I have received your note of yesterday, and from the reading of it I must conclude that the Taotai has not been as strongly instructed as he ought to be. No. 2916.] CHARLES DENBY. Mr. Denby to Mr. Sherman. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: In my dispatch No. 29014, of the 2d instant, I set out the terms of a settlement of the recent riot at Chiang Pei which I had agreed on with the Tsung-li Yamên. One of the stipulations was the payment of 500 taels as damages. This amount had been wired me by the consul-general as the sum recommended by our consul at Chung king, but it turned out that there was a telegraphic error, and that the true sum was 5,000 taels. I informed the Yamên of the mistake and demanded the latter sum. I have, etc., CHARLES DENBY, No. 1573.] Mr. Moore to Mr. Denby. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 2888, of the 17th ultimo, reporting that a mob has killed a native hospital assistant at Chiang Pei and demolished premises rented by American missionaries at that place. Your energetic remonstrance to the Tsung-li Yamên and demand for appropriate redress according to the ascertained circumstances are approved by the Department. Respectfully yours, J. B. MOORE, Acting Secretary. No. 1581.] Mr. Day to Mr. Denby. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 10, 1898. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 2893, of March 24th last, in which you give the terms demanded by you, and accepted by the Tsung li Yamên, for the settlement of the claims of American missionaries growing out of the riot at Chiang Pei Ting. The Department approves your action in the matter and congratulates you on this disposal of the incident. Respectfully yours, WILLIAM R. DAY. No. 1588.] Mr. Day to Mr. Denby. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch, No. 2901, of the 2d ultimo, reporting that you have made a demand on the Chinese Government that immediate action must be taken by it to carry out the terms agreed upon by yourself and the Tsung-li Yamên for the settlement of our claims growing out of the recent riot at Chiang Pei Ting. The Department approves your action in the matter and instructs you to follow up the demand on the line of previous instructions in similar cases. Respectfully, yours, WILLIAM R. DAY. Mr. Day to Mr. Denby. No. 1592.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch, No. 2916, of the 20th of April last, reporting that through an error in a telegram to you from our consul-general at Shanghai you were led to demand |