No. 199.
Mr. Denby
to Mr. Bayard.
[Extract.]
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, April 13, 1888.
(Received June 4.)
No. 621.]Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a
translation of the answer of the Yamen to my dispatch, of which a copy was
sent you in my dispatch No. 529, of December 20, 1887.
The Yamen sets out the report of the magistrate at Chilian fu to the
following effect: Mr. Reid leased a lot; the price was agreed on and half
was paid y the deed was not stamped; the literati and people presented a
petition that the locality was objectionable on account of geomantic
influences; the magistrate discussed the matter with Mr. Reid, and agreed to
return him the money paid, and that the missionaries might take steps to
acquire another site. November 28, the magistrate invited Mr. Reid to call
on him, but he failed to do so. Between 9 and 11 o’clock Mr. Reid, with
bedding under his arm, forced his way into the
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inner court-yard of the house and ordered the occupant
to vacate one of the rooms for him to take possession. The women and
children were alarmed; Mr. Reid was pushed back and fell in the court. He
was not assaulted. The magistrate has recovered the money to be returned to
Mr. Reid, “who can engage a person to acquire another place.”
On this report, the Yamên observes, after recapitulating the facts, that the
owner of the house and the middleman have been released; that the
missionaries can discuss with the local authorities the action to be taken
to secure a suitable house at another place; that the governor of Shantung
will be addressed to render assistance in devising a plan of action, but if
property can not be acquired at once, the missionaries then will only have
to be forbearing and wait, and not show a hasty temper.”
It is to be noted that this account suppresses mention of the preliminary
interviews of the missionaries with the officials,
It is to be remarked on the whole case that there can be little, if any,
doubt that Mr. Reid was injured by the mob. His own conduct was imprudent.
While he denies that he went to the premises at the hour stated, between 9
and 11 p.m., he admits that he went thither at dusk, between 6 and 9. He
admits also that he was notified that the trade was off. He knew the
landlord was in jail. After an examination of the archives he admits that
the governor did not promise Mr. Holcomb that the missionaries might acquire
more land. Thus the actual basis of all his action falls. He still relies on
the absolute right of missionaries to acquire laud at their pleasure
anywhere in China. An argument to that effect prepared by him, or a member
of his mission, has lately appeared in the Daily News.
I notice, with satisfaction, that the Yamên does not raise the question of
exclusion, and bases its reply on the assumed necessity that geomantic
influences shall not be affected. This is one of the oldest and most potent
superstitions in China, and can not, without ever recurring danger of a
riot, be disregarded.
I have replied to the Yamên’s communication in a dispatch of which a copy is
herewith inclosed.
I deny most of the charges made against Mr. Reid, and reiterate my demand
that the matter be settled by the procurement of other property in exchange
for the lot purchased, and that full protection be accorded. I notify the
Yamên that I await further developments before addressing them again on the
subject.
On a review of the whole case, which is now before you, should you be of the
opinion that I should insist on the right of the missionaries to have the
lot purchased, I will do so. Or should you think proper to direct me to send
a member of this legation to Chi-nan-fu to settle the whole matter, that
will be done.
Either course is difficult. This Government is compelled to consult the
wishes and superstitions of the people.
To send an official to settle the question is also objectionable. The theory
of the missionaries in the interior is that they have cast their lot with
the natives, and the churches organized by them are native churches. An
appeal to official foreign aid destroys this sentiment.
With very marked success in China, but with some animadversions to which all
officials are liable, I have usually left these local disturbances to be
settled locally. Time and prudence have secured better results than
diplomatic interference can secure. I interfered in Chunking because no
consul was near there. I made representations lately to the Yamên of
incipient riots and disturbances in the Chinese city in
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Peking, because I am on the ground. But, even
here, I have passed over, with the full concurrence of the missionaries,
some trivial disturbances. I took up the Chi-nan-fu case because the place
is remote from a consul. My countrymen had been imprudent, but I thought I
might be able to do them some good.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 621.]
Foreign office to Mr.
Denby.
Your Excellency: Some time ago the prince and
ministers had the honor to receive a communication from your excellency
relating the circumstances of a late riot at Chi-nan-fu in which an
American missionary was injured; also certain troubles with reference to
the purchase of property by the missionaries. Your excellency requested
that instructions be issued to the provincial authorities that some
remedy be devised for the wrongs and injuries inflicted, and proposed
that four things be done, etc.
The Yamên immediately communicated with the said provincial authorities
and at the same time sent your excellency an acknowledgment, all of
which is a matter of record.
Upon the 22d March your excellency sent a note wherein you made inquiry
as to whether anything had been decided upon, to which the Yamên made an
acknowledgment. This is also a matter of record.
The Yamên has now received a communication from the governor of Shan-tung
embodying a representation made to him by the intendant of Chi-nan-fu,
based upon a report submitted by the magistrate of the Li Cheng
district, which is as follows:
“The Rev. Gilbert Reid, an American missionary, leased, under a deed in
perpetuity, certain house property, belonging to one Lin Mêng K’wei,
situated on the street called San Huang Miao, outside the Tung Kuan. The
matter was mutually arranged by the middleman, Chen Wan Nien, and it was
agreed that the price should be 240 strings, each of 1,000 cash: half of
the purchase-money to be paid in advance, the balance to be paid on
taking possession of the premises. The deeds, however, had not been
stamped, when the literati and people presented a petition in which it
was alleged that the place was objectionable on account of interfering
with the geomantic influence, and they were not at all willing that the
missionaries should take possession. The magistrate thereupon discussed
the matter verbally with Mr. Reid, and agreed to recover the money paid
in advance by the missionaries and they could take steps to acquire
another site. This proposition Mr. Reid agreed to. The money later was
recovered. Upon the 28th of November, 1887, the magistrate invited Mr.
Reid to call on him, but this he failed to do. In the evening of the
same day at the third watch (11 p.m. to 1 a.m.) a missionary named
Bergen and others reported that Mr. Reid had gone outside of the Tuug
Kuan for the purpose of urging the occupants to vacate the house, when
he was assaulted.
“The magistrate at once made an investigation of the affair and it
appeared that, between 9 and 11 o’clock of the same evening, Mr. Reid,
with bedding under his arm, forced his way into the inner court yard of
Lin-Meng K’wei and ordered the occupants to vacate one of the rooms for
him to take possession of first. The women and children, on seeing Mr.
Reid, became alarmed and terrified. Mr. Reid was pushed back and he fell
in the court, whereupon the neighbors advised him to return, and really
he was not assaulted. The magistrate went in person to hold an
examination. The missionary had marks of having been hurt, but they
certainly were not wounds the result of having been assaulted. The
magistrate, besides having recovered the money advanced to be returned
to Mr. Reid, who can engage a person to acquire another place, and
further (having the desire) to console and satisfy the missionaries,
requests that his petition be presented to the higher authorities.”
The Yamên would observe that, in regard to the house property leased
under a deed in perpetuity, by the Rev. Gilbert Reid, from Lin Mêng
K’wei, the literati and people oppose his occupying it. The owner had
not moved out when, late in the evening, Mr. Reid forced his way into
the inner court. The women and men thereupon pushed him back and he
fell; moreover he was not assaulted, and there can be no need of making
it the subject of an inquiry or further discussion. The money advanced
has been recovered, and it is right that Mr. Reid should receive it back
again. The owner of the house, as well as the middleman, have been
released from their incarceration and are free from trouble. If the said
missionary wishes to find at another
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place a suitable house for a hospital, he can at
any time with the local officials discuss the action to be taken. The
Yamên will also address the governor of Shan-tung to render assistance
in devising a plan of action, but if property can not be acquired at
once the missionaries then will only have to be forbearing and wait and
not show a hasty temper.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 621.]
Mr. Denby to the
foreign office.
Your Imperial Highness and Your
Excellencies:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of
April 6 instant, relating to the missionary troubles at Chi-nan-fu. I
have the honor to offer the following observations:
You make no allusion to the statements made in my communication that all
the acts of the missionaries, in connection with the attempted purchase
of the house in question, were communicated to the local authorities and
were apparently approved by them. The whole opposition to the purchase
seems to have originated with Lin Ching Ao. This man does not live near
the property. It lies in the southeast suburb and he lives in the city.
The neighbors had all acquiesced in the purchase. The missionaries were
always ready and willing to consent to an exchange of property, but no
steps whatever were taken by the officials to that end. Mr. Reid did not
accept the invitation of the magistrate to visit him on the 28th
November last, for the reason that he had already reported the case to
the Taotai and had received no reply to his communication. Mr. Reid
asserts that he occupied the house by an arrangement with the family. He
informed the Taotai that he intended to take possession, and asked him
to order the magistrate to protect and help him.
The statement now made that the missionaries may search for other
property has been made for several years. But whenever a piece of
property is selected, the objection is made that it interferes with the
geomantic influence. As the missionaries are unable to determine what
property interferes with the geomantic influence, it should be the duty
of the local officials to settle that question before the purchase is
made. It is to be noted that the report of the local magistrate, while
it denies that Mr. Reid was assaulted, admits that “the missionary had
marks of having been hurt.” As to how to those marks were inflicted is a
subject of dispute.
Mr. Reid’s reputation is good, and it can not be believed that he
voluntarily inflicted injuries on himself. It is not very material
whether he was knocked down and so injured or whether he was stricken
with some implement.
You have before you his original statement, to which he adheres. The
plain facts remain that an American citizen has been injured without any
efforts being made to protect him, or any satisfaction being afforded.
There is reason to believe also, that unless care is taken there will be
other riots and injuries. Your highness and your excellencies were kind
enough to say that “if the said missionary wishes to find at another
place a suitable house for a hospital he can, at any time, with the
local authorities, discuss the action to be taken. The Yamên will also
address the governor of Shantung to render assistance in devising a plan
of action.”
I have advised Mr. Reid to return to Chi-nan-fu, and to make personal
efforts, by conference with the local authorities, to procure, under the
instructions of the Yamên, a settlement of these troubles.
As there is no representative of the United States convenient I would
take it as a favor if you would issue directions that the Taotai and
local magistrate confer freely with Mr. Reid. It is desirable, also, I
think, that the local authorities should take the initiative in
selecting a piece of land to be offered to the missionaries in exchange
for the house purchased. A direction from you to this end would render
it certain that after a new purchase no difficulty would arise on the
ground of Feng Shui.
I trust also that under your wise and kind direction stringent steps will
be taken to prevent further disorder. Some care in this regard is
necessary, as the examinations are to be held at Chi-nan-fu in August
next, and students the world over are liable to be disorderly at
times.
I shall await further developments before addressing you again on this
subject.
I avail, etc.,
