The Secretary of State to Minister Rockhill.

No. 91.]

Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 140, of November 6 last, reporting the result of your conference with members of the Chinese foreign office regarding the murder of American missionaries at Lienchou.

It seems to the department to be advisable not to demand the immediate dismissal of the viceroy at Canton; but you will inform the Government at Peking of the extreme dissatisfaction of the Government of the United States with the viceroy’s conduct, both as to the boycott and as to the murder of the missionaries, and you will say that a demand for his degradation will be held under consideration, awaiting the result of his alleged efforts to establish satisfactory relations with the United States.

I am, etc.,

E. Root.