File No. 893.52/6.
The American Minister to
the Secretary of State.
No. 416.]
American Legation,
Peking,
February 5, 1912.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith copy
of a despatch from the American Vice and Deputy Consul in Chargé at
Foochow, dated January 12, 1912, and numbered 563, with enclosures
thereto; and
[Page 179]
copies of
telegrams exchanged between the Legation and the Consulate at that port,
regarding the requirements of the revolutionary authorities there in the
matter of registering the property of foreigners.
The Department’s attention is invited to enclosure number 4, being a copy
of the Legation’s telegram of the 3rd instant to the Consulate at
Foochow, in which is communicated the decision of the diplomatic body
that property-holding by foreigners is regulated by treaty provision, in
which matter consuls can take no action. It will be noted that the Vice
Consul in Charge was directed to communicate informally this information
to the revolutionary authorities.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure 1.]
The American Vice and Deputy
Consul in Charge at Foochow to the American Minister.
No. 563 L.]
American Consular Service,
Foochow, China,
January 12, 1912.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith
a copy of a despatch recently received from the Revolutionary Bureau
of Foreign Affairs re the reporting of American property.
Although I have answered no despatches except those relating to the
actual protection of the life of Americans, and then only by a
personal letter, the new Government is constantly sending me
despatches. These I am filing and leaving unanswered and have
referred all of any importance or interest to the Legation.
Until this Provisional Government is recognized, their statement that
“Property not shown in the lists, * * * will not be regarded as
foreign property and on no account can foreigners request that the
Chinese Government do anything for them in connection with the
same”, seems a little premature.
All property bought under the old regime was registered at the Yamens
or at this Consulate, and was always considered foreign property if
foreigners held the deeds thereto. Any change in this procedure
seems to me to be a matter for arrangement between the Chinese
Government and our Legation. Unless instructed to the contrary I
shall continue to maintain this position in regard to American
property.
Awaiting any instructions the Legation may have on this point,
I have [etc.]
[Subinclosure.]
The Revolutionary Commissioner
of Foreign Affairs to the American
Vice and Deputy Consul in Chargé at
Foochow.
No. 13466.]
December
30, 1911
(received Jan. 3,
1912).
Sir: I have the honor to state that I have
received a despatch from General Sun reading as follows:
As I intend to take special care of the Church and foreign
property, I have requested the different consuls at Foochow
and Amoy to make definite investigations into their
respective Church property at Fukien and the property of
their respective merchants at the coast ports of this
Province. I have also requested them to forward lists of the
property to the Board of Foreign Affairs so that the same
Board could instruct their subordinates to give universal
protection to the foreign property. As to how detailed
reports could be had on foreign property, I have requested
the different consuls at Foochow and Amoy to consider this
matter. I have also to instruct the Board of Foreign Affairs
to look into the matter, and prepare lists and request the
foreign consuls to report on the lists.
As I have now got the lists ready for use, I beg to forward
them to you, and I request that your honor would instruct
your missionaries and merchants to fill in the blanks, and
when they have done so, that your honor would sign them and
return them
[Page 180]
to me,
so that I could instruct my subordinates to give due
protection to the American property. After the
investigations on American property have been made this
time, should new property be bought and owned by American
citizens, they will have to at once report same on lists, so
that there will be no property left unreported. As to the
property not shown in the lists, the same will not be
regarded as foreign property and on no account can
foreigners request that the Chinese Government do anything
for them in connection with same. I deem it necessary to let
your honor know of this beforehand. As records show, I have
already forwarded a list to your honor and requested that
when your honor have got the Church property etc. put down
on the blanks your honor will return same to me. This time,
it is General Sun’s order to investigate also into the
property of foreign merchants at coast ports. Comparing with
any last request this carries the investigations further. I
am in duty bound to address your honor this despatch and I
request that your honor will act accordingly.
[Inclosure 2.]
The American Vice and Deputy
Consul in Chargé at Foochow to the American Minister.
[Telegram.—Paraphrase.]
American Consulate,
Foochow,
January 2, 1912.
Shall I furnish Provisional Government complete list American
property signed by consular officer, giving area and full value
including improvements, as has been requested?
[Inclosures 3 and 4.]
The American Minister
to the Vice and Deputy Consul in Chargé at
Foochow.
[Telegrams.—Paraphrases.]
American Legation,
Peking,
January 3, 1912.
You may give such list unofficially and unsigned.
[Untitled]
In regard to property list requested by revolutionists, the
diplomatic representatives have agreed to instruct consuls to inform
de facto authorities that property-holding is a treaty provision;
that action cannot be taken by consuls; that reference must be had
to diplomatic representatives. Informally communicate this.
The Acting Secretary of
State to the American
Minister.
Department of State,
Washington,
March 30, 1912.
Sir: The Department is in receipt of your
dispatch No. 416 of February 5, 1912, enclosing copies of telegrams
exchanged between the Legation and the Consulate at Foochow
regarding the requirements of the revolutionary authorities there in
the matter of registering the property of foreigners.
Your action in instructing the Vice and Deputy Consul in Charge at
Foochow in accordance with the decision reached by the diplomatic
body: that property holding by foreigners is regulated by treaty
provision, in which matter consuls can take no action, is
approved.
I am [etc.]
