No. 160.
Mr. Avery
to Mr. Fish.
Peking, June 1, 1875. (Received July 24.)
Sir: Since my last reference to the Margary massacre affair, the Chinese government has received from the governor-general of Yunnan an acknowledgment of its instructions to investigate and bring the guilty to trial, and a report that he has appointed as a commissioner for that purpose the Tartar General Tan, the governor of Tah-li-foo. This officer is a man of decision and character, who put down a rebellion in his district, and who is mentioned in terms of high praise in a letter written by Margary, and lately published in London. He received and treated Margary with sincere friendship, and his appointment to investigate [Page 337] the circumstances of the latter’s death may be regarded as indicating a good disposition on the part of the governor-general of Yunnan.
In reply to inquiries whether they have learned anything as to who are the guilty parties, the Tsungli Yamun repeat their former statement to me, that the murder was probably committed by some of the wild tribes, and they declare that the man “Li-su-tai,” mentioned in the memorandum from Mr. Wade, which was inclosed in my No. 46, is not a Chinese official, but the chieftain of one of these tribes.
They emphatically state, however, that these barbarians are within Chinese jurisdiction, and that they shall be punished. Evidently the invasion of Formosa by Japan has not been without its lessons.
The English commissioners who were to be sent to Yunnan by Mr. Wade had not gone farther than Hankow at last accounts. Mr. Wade himself had returned to Shanghai, where he is awaiting the arrival of Colonel Browne, not expected for a fortnight longer, who will bring some papers to complete the English case.
The Chinese mind is calming down on the subject, though there is a prevalent apprehension that the British will push their boundary up to the line of Yunnan by the speedy absorption of all Burmah which they do not already possess.
This consummation seems to be devoutly wished for by nearly all the foreign residents of China.
I have, &c.,