No. 142.] MISSIONARY TROUBLES IN SHANTUNG. Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SIR: I have the honor to inclose herein copies of three letters from Revs. Chalfant, Faris, and Killie, American missionaries in Shantung, relating to a series of riotous incidents culminating in attacks upon their mission property and general interference with the work of both foreign and native Christians in that province. From information furnished me from the German and French legations, both of which are in constant communication with the large number of their own missionaries in the neighborhoods mentioned, and from the tsungli yamen, which has frequent telegraphic reports, I have concluded either that much of the information contained in these letters was derived from exaggerated reports made by natives to our missionaries, or that the missionaries themselves were unnecessarily frightened, and as they had reported no special cases of damage or persecution not settled, I made only general requests upon the Chinese Government to preserve order, protect lives and property, and save further trouble. But in the last letter of the missionaries they furnish the names of places, dates of attacks, and designate particularly the persons who were the principal ringleaders in each riot. I have therefore thought best to demand the arrest and punishment of these ringleaders, and did so in a note to the tsungli yamen on the 3d instant, a copy of which is inclosed. I also inclose copies of previous correspondence with the tsungli yamen on the same subject. I have, etc., E. H. CONGER. [Inclosure 1.] Messrs. Killie, Faris, and Chalfant to Consul Fowler, Chefoo. I-CHOU-FU, November 29, 1898. DEAR SIR: We, the three undersigned citizens of the United States, resident at the city of I-Chou-fu, in the province of Shantung, beg hereby to report to you the circumstances of a recent experience of ours in the extreme northeast corner of the county of Chu-chou and 280 li (3 to the mile) northeast of I-chou-fu. There are at that point two preaching stations in connection with this mission, one called Lin Ts'un, in Chou-chou, and the other called Man T'ang Yu, 5 li east of Lin T'sun, in the county of Ji Chao. The line between the two countries runs north and south along the ridge separating the two villages. We have a small schoolhouse at each place, and work has been prosecuted there for about twelve years. On the 8th of November we, the undersigned, left I-chou-fu to visit these stations, traveling thus in company for a special purpose connected with the discharge of our ordinary duties. On the way we met, successively, two committees of Christians from Man Tang Yu, the first of which reported that on the 24th of the Chinese ninth moon, i. e., November 7, our schoolhouse at that place had been robbed, the furniture being smashed and everything portable carried off, by a band of armed men from a village called Ho Chia Lon, locally known as Hsi Lou, 10 li southeast of Man Tang Yu, and consequently in the country of Ji Chao. The second party of messengers reported that on the following day, November 8, a larger force of armed men had come over from the same place, robbed several Christian families at Man Tang Yu of all they had, and carried off our school-teacher as a hostage, shamefully abusing him. There has been for some time a feud between the two villages, which culminated last spring in the intimidation of the Christians by parties of violent men from Ho Chia Lou, the beating by them of our school-teacher at Lin Tsun, and several other minor outrages. Matters went to such a length that we were compelled to appeal last spring to the Ji Chao official, and succeeded in getting the case settled by the usual Chinese expedient of exacting a public feast from the offenders. As to the merits of that case, it is perhaps sufficient to say that the Christians were probably not without fault. The Ho Chia Lou people were unquestionably the aggressors and used actual violence. Although this old grudge serves to explain the virulence of the present attack, the real occasion of the attack itself is to be found in the wild rumors which are in circulation in that whole region to the effect that the foreigners have been driven out of Pekin and that an edict has been issued authorizing the people to expel the foreigners and their adherents everywhere. In north Chu Chou and Ji Chao the German Catholics have many stations, and there has been for several years general complaint that many of the Catholic Christians use their connection with the foreigners to oppress their neighbors. Whether the accusations be true or false, they are at least generally believed; and when the report above described gained currency, people who had real or imaginary grievances against the Christians of both churches seized the opportunity to pay off old scores, and were eagerly seconded by the mass of the ignorant and excitable populace. Trouble similar to that of Man Tang Yu broke out simultaneously at a large number of Catholic stations. Unconscious of the extent of the antiforeign movement, and supposing that we had to deal only with a rather serious case of local persecution, we sent back word to I-chou-fu that a request should be sent to the Ji Chao official by way of the prefect's yamen to investigate the case. We then pressed on to Lin Ts'un. When we were only 6 or 8 miles from our destination, we learned that our schoolhouse at Man Tang Yu, which had, as stated, been robbed on November 7, had been burned on the night of November 10, presumably by the same persons who had robbed it. We were told, moreover, that a German priest had been attacked and wounded, and was held a prisoner at a place called Chiai Tou, 70 li southeast of Lin T'sun and only 35 li from Ji Chao city. There being no stopping place in the sparsely settled hill country in which we were, we decided to proceed to Lin Ts'un, where we arrived at dark on Saturday, November 12. We had hardly reached there when we were told that the people of Ho Chia Lou had announced their intention of coming over that night to rob the Christians of Lin Ts'un as they had done those of Man Tang Yu. We called in the village elder and requested him to prepare for the attack as best he could. A watch was set on the street, but no attack was made. Early next morning we sent back word to Chu Chou city, 90 li distant, and to I-chou-fu, for assistance, knowing that retreat without some settlement of the trouble would result in the robbery of the Christians, if not in worse. As the day wore on it became evident that the situation was serious. A band of armed men numbering about 200 advanced from Ho Chia Lou to the ridge overlooking Lin Ts'un. Their representatives were indeed willing to talk of a compromise, but they plainly hinted that our failure to accept their terms would be followed by an armed attack upon us. We gathered from what they said that the Christians had been, in several matters, more or less in the wrong, but, as we pointed out to them, mob violence was not the proper way to seek redress even if their alleged grievances were real. We tried to impress upon them the absurdity of the reports, upon the ground of which they had so rashly resorted to violence. Fortunately one of our number, Mr. Killie, had his passports with him, stamped by the tsungli yamen, on September 25, which was unimpeachable evidence that six weeks previously the treaty rights of foreigners were recognized at Pekin. This document had considerable influence in checking their warlike ardor. We said that we demanded only that they should restore the stolen property and rebuild the schoolhouse. At 5 p. m. on the same day (November 13) came the ti fang, or local policeman of the district, who reassured us and went out to persuade the rioters to return to their village. The next day was passed in alternate alarms and fruitless negotiations. At dark a lao tsung or constable arrived from Chu Chou with a horse and two men. He said that his master, the Chu Chou official, desired us to leave Lin Ts'un at once, but we pointed out that under the circumstances it was an impossibility. Even if we were not ourselves waylaid on the road, the Christians would certainly suffer should we depart without a settlement of the case. On the morning of the 15th, a little after 11 o'clock, we heard the report of a gun on the hill east of us, and were told that the rioters were returning in force to bring us to their terms. Some of the Christians brought in clubs and other primitive weapons, but we refused them and instructed our friends not to fight at all. We then sent for the Chu Chou lao tsang and the middlemen in the negotiation, and demanded why we were threatened with violence when in the midst of amicable negotiations. We informed them that we were not to be intimidated into an unjust or disgraceful settlement. At 3 p. m. a prominent Christian, the father of the young school-teacher who was in the hands of the rioters, ventured out to obtain news of his son, and was seized, bound, and a knife was pressed against his throat. He was released upon condition that he should urge us to pay over the value of $200 Mexican, to secure our safety. Toward evening we learned that we were threatened from a new quarter. Gangs of ruffians, heavily armed, were coming down from south Chu Ch'eng to join the main body of the rioters at Chiai T’en, where the German priest had been attacked and where it was said that the standard of rebellion was already raised. A scout brought in word that 60 or 70 of these desperate men were in a ravine north of our village with the avowed purpose of attacking us. Just as we were sitting down to supper, an alarm was raised that the robbers were upon us. We were hurried by our friends to a room which could be more easily defended. The whole village was now aroused, and arms of all sorts were produced. We told them that while we were opposed to meeting their riotous neighbors with armed resistance, we considered it perfectly right to defend ourselves against regular robbers and that we proposed to do so, although we only had one small revolver among us. At 10 o'clock we were much relieved by the arrival of a lieutenant with 20 soldiers, including 5 cavalry, from Chu Chou. Reports of guns were heard in the night, but no attack was made by the robbers. On the morning of the 16th we learned that a deputy from the Ji Chao official had arrived at a point 20 li east of us and had appointed several of the most influential and wealthy men in that neighborhood to try to bring the rioters to terms with us. At 10.40 a. m. the Chu Chou official himself, Tsiang Chieh, put in his apperance, and at once called upon us. He desired us to leave immediately, and we expressed our readiness to do so as soon as the negotiations came to a satisfactory conclusion. Owing partly to our access of force and partly to the fact that our original enemies were themselves beginning to fear robbery at the hands of their villianous allies from the north, the Ho Chia Lou people, at least through the committee last named, signified their readiness to accept our terms. That evening they signed a paper promising to restore the goods they had stolen from the Christians and from the schoolhouse, and to rebuild the schoolhouse itself. It was further stipulated that they and the Christians should henceforth not molest each other. By this time the village was full of idlers and ruffians from 10 miles around, and the official told us privately that he considered the case to be very serious. However, after another anxious night we left the place under military escort, followed by the official himself, who soon passed our barrows and hurried back to Chu Chou. As we passed along with our escort, the road was lined at every village with men, women, and children, who watched us pass in sullen silence, very different from the ordinary curiosity with which we are familiar. On Friday, the 18th, at noon we reached the city of Chu Chou, where Mr. Tuang immediately called upon us at our inn. We returned the call. The people on the street were nearly as quiet as usual, and indeed south of Chu Chou city we noticed little excitement. response to the suggestion, Mr. Tsiang said that he had already issued stringent proclamations to be posted in the disaffected districts. We were furnished by him with four soldiers and left at once for I-chou-fu, 18 li south of the city, where we spent the night. We were met by the prefect of I-chou-fu, Ting Ch'eng. He was absent from the city on his way to Yen Chou-fu when word of the trouble in Ji Chao overtook him. He returned, and 10 li east of the city, en route for Ji Chao to investigate the case of the seizure of the German priest, he was overtaken by an urgent message from the ladies of our mission, and hastening back to the city made a fresh start for Chu Chou to succor us. He traveled the 180 li between I-chou-fu and Chu Chou city in one day. After hearing our story he went on to Chu-chou and thence to Ji Chao. He insisted upon adding three soldiers to our escort. We reached Ji Chao without further incident on November 20. In In reference to the incident related above we have the following remarks to make: 1. It is clearly not an isolated case, but one of several simultaneous occurrences, showing a widespread and violent antiforeign feeling. 2. The present outbreak is directly connected with the "coup d'état" at Pekin. The people are led to suppose that the reaction against the reform movement, of which they have vaguely heard, involves the expulsion of the foreigners. 3. Vigorous measures must at once be taken in the way of stringent instructions to local officials, and plain-spoken proclamations, backed up by the necessary force, if this antiforeign feeling is to be subdued before worse things happen. 4. We have no complaint to make of the civil authorities with whom we have had to deal. The Prefect Ting Ch'eng and the hsien or county official of I-chou-fu, Chen Kung Liang, certainly did all in their power to answer the appeal of the ladies for help. The action of the Chu Chou official, as related above, was prompt and effective. The prefect for six days traveled literally day and night. None of these named were responsible for the trouble, and they made every exertion to rescue us and the German priest. It would be a great injustice if they were made to suffer in the premises. 5. We can not say as much for the military authorities of I-chou-fu. The hsieh tai, or resident colonel in command of the regular troops of the prefecture, is a Mahomedan named Li Ying. When the ladies appealed to him he refused to do anything, on the absurd ground that the country of Ji Chao is the territory of his subordinate, the tu ssu, commandant of Ngan Tung Wei, on the seacoast. Colonel Li has, it is true, very few soldiers under his command, but that lack is in itself a just cause of complaint, and besides he did not use any of the few men he has, as he might well have done. Still more culpable is the case of Brig. Gen. Tai Shou Li, who was sent down from Chinan-fu in the spring under pressure from you, as he has himself admitted, for the express purpose of protecting the foreigner. He is supposed to command a liang (500) of troops, but at present has here in the city only about 80 or 100 men. When the ladies appealed to him on this occasion for soldiers to go to our rescue he said that he could not comply without an order from the governor. In response to this we have simply to say that if it be true that every time an emergency arises he must wait for orders from Chinan-fu, 640 li away, he is not of much use here, and the sooner he gets the necessary authority the better for the foreigner. 6. If the Ho Chia Lou people carry out their promise to make full restitution for the damage done by them, we are not disposed to prosecute them for their flagrant lawlessness. The prefect informs us that he has given orders that the ringleaders be arrested. That would probably be a wise step, if only to bring home to them the gravity of their crime. We should feel disposed, however, in view of our compact made with them, to intercede with the authorities for them at the proper time. 7. We agreed to a settlement upon the basis of their simply making good the damage, because: (1) Although we were ourselves placed by them in undoubted peril of our property, if not of our lives, we were not actually attacked; (2) we recognize the fact that the people of Ho Chia Lou, while inexcusably in the wrong themselves, had a certain amount of real grievance against some of our Christians, which, while not enough to justify their resort to lawless violence, must still be taken into the account in judging their conduct. CHARLES A. KILLIE. [Inclosure 2.] Mr. Conger to the Tsungli Yamen. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, In reference to the antiforeign sentiment in the province of Shantung and the general annoyance it is causing the missionaries and native Christians therein residing, and in order that your highness and your excellencies may be more fully advised as to the real situation, the undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, has the honor to transmit herewith, without comment or suggestion, a copy of a statement made by Charles A. Killie, William S. Faris, and William P. Chalfant, three American missionaries, detailing a very serious experience which they recently had in the north of that province. The undersigned avails, etc., [Inclosure 3.] The Tsungli Yamen to Mr. Conger. E. H. CONGER. No. 46.] PEKIN, December 20, 1898. YOUR EXCELLENCY: We have the honor to inform your excellency that on the 16th instant this yamen received the following communication from the viceroy at Shantung: "The dispatch (from the yamen) is fully understood. The unfriendly feelings between Christians and natives has existed for some time. Although my subordi nates have been instructed to exhort them, it is difficult to make all understand. Having received instructions to issue proclamations, I have acted accordingly. But in order that the Christians and people may mutually be at peace, the local authorities must instruct them, and the missionaries should restrain the native Christians. In this way there will be mutual harmony, etc." As in duty bound, we send this note for your excellency's information and inclose a copy of the proclamation issued by the viceroy of Shantung. Cards of ministers with compliments. [Subinclosure.] Translation of a proclamation issued by the viceroy of Shantung. A proclamation issued in accordance with an imperial decree by the Empress Dowager, dated 21st day, 8th moon, 24th year of Kuang Hsü (October 6, 1898), as follows: "Ever since foreign nations have had commercial relations with China there has been no difference in their treatment. The local officials have been repeatedly instructed to protect all missionaries in China. Both officials and gentry in all the provinces should respect the desire of the court to treat all alike. They should exhibit sincerity and honesty and be without doubt and suspicion, in order that there may be continual and mutual peace, etc." Again, on the 3d day of the 10th moon, the following decree was issued by the Empress Dowager: "The customs and government orders of Western nations are different from those of China. Although these differences exist, yet the adoption of Western methods in military affairs, agriculture, and commerce have proved really beneficial. Therefore, if what is good is selected and carried out in order, the benefits will increase daily, etc." Western people have come from afar and across many oceans to China for the special purpose of exhorting people to do right. Therefore they should be protected, according to treaty, in order that friendly relations may be preserved. Moreover, it is to be feared that ignorant and foolish persons will make false conjectures which will prove misleading. They surely do not bear in mind that the Empress Dowager is at all times earnestly striving to prosper her country, and so she is kind to the people from distant lands, and her treatment of foreigners and Chinese is the same. The people and missionaries of this province have lived together amicably for a long time. The saying "do not forget to entertain strangers" should be considered, and more than this, strangers should be treated with great courtesy. Moreover, Christians and natives who live in the same village and drink from the same well are friends. Who, with heaven over their head and earth beneath their feet are not the sons of the court? How much more even should they be mutual friends and not cherish any enmity or suspicion! In addition to instructing the local authorities to exhort the people, proclamations have been issued for their enlightenment. This proclamation has been issued for the purpose that all the soldiers and people of this province may understand that hereafter they must obey the decrees which have frequently been promulgated in order that the missionaries and native Christians may all be treated as friends. Moreover, if any dare disobey and spread rumors and cause trouble by inciting the populace, they must be immediately apprehended and severely punished, and will not be shown any leniency. Beware! [Inclosure 4.] No. 50.] The Tsungli Yamen to Mr. Conger. PEKIN, December 25, 1898. YOUR EXCELLENCY: We beg to reply to your excellency with reference to the missionary trouble in Shantung, which you brought to the notice of this yamen in a personal interview this morning. Acknowledging the very friendly feelings of your excellency, we have already wired the governor of Shantung, instructing him to immediately send soldiers to repress and to render satisfactory protection. As in duty bound, we send this note for your information. Cards of ministers with compliments. |