No. 105.
Mr. Young to Mr.
Frelinghuysen.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, January 24, 1885.
(Received March 16.)
No. 632.]
Sir: In my dispatch No. 631, dated January 21,
1885, I had the honor to send you a communication from Mr. Consul Seymour in
regard to affairs at Canton. Mr. Seymour forwarded a petition from the
missionaries in Canton, addressed to the British, German, and American
legations, in regard to a memorial written by high Chinese officials making
invidious suggestions as to converts to Christianity. The matter was
discussed at length with Sir Harry Parkes and Mr. Von Brandt. The papers
submitted at our conference by Sir Harry Parkes were more explicit than
those sent to the legation by Mr. Seymour. Two of these papers I inclose. It
seems that Her Britannic Majesty’s consul on the 21st of November called the
attention of the viceroy to the tenor of the proclamation. The reply of his
excellency, in the opinion of Sir Harry Parkes, Mr. Von Brandt, and myself,
seemed to be as satisfactory as we could expect from the Chinese
authorities. The viceroy disavows the published memorial as inaccurate, and
informs Her Britannic Majesty’s consul that he has suppressed the
publication and destroyed the blocks.
After mature deliberation it was thought best not to send the yamên a formal
note, but to make the subject one of informal conversation with the
ministers when we next had occasion to see them on business. While it is not
well to allow declarations in violation of treaty, such as are contained in
the memorial to which I refer, to pass without notice, the fact that the
governor-general of Canton had, in his letter to Her Britannic Majesty’s
consul, anticipated any action we could have demanded
[Page 155]
deprives the incident of the importance
attached to it in my dispatch No. 631, dated January 21, 1885. I trust that
the conclusion reached by my colleagues and myself will meet with the
approval of the Department.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in 632.]
Her Britannic Majesty’s Acting Consul Hance to Governor-General Chang.
Your Excellency: I have the honor to inform you
that I recently bought a pam phlet (which was being sold in the streets)
containing the draft of a memorial written by you, the governor-general,
the Junior Guardian P’eng and Governor Ni, and that on opening it I
found that it contained a paragraph relating to Christian converts. I do
trot know whether this draft is genuine or not, but if in the midst of
the people [such a work] is printed and sold both within and without the
city, ignorant people seeing it will regard converts to the Christian
religion with feelings of hatred. If [the people] reflect that [the
teaching] originates with foreigners the evil [feelings] will be turned
on the foreign officials, merchants, and others who reside in the
province, and thus disturbances of the peace can easily take place.
Now that the licentiate examinations are taking place the provincial
capital is necessarily full of people, and I fear that disturbances
could be easily caused. I, the acting consul, being desirous that
Chinese and foreigners should live in peace together, am of opinion that
precautions should be taken, and therefore have the honor to request
you, the governor-general, to direct your subordinates to prevent the
draft of this memorial being sold in every place; thus preserving peace
between Chinese and foreigners.
I inclose a copy of the pamphlet for your inspection.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in 632.]
Governor-General Chang to Her Britannic Majesty’s Acting Consul
Hance.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of
dispatch from you, dated the 21st ultimo.
I have to observe that the printing of the memorial was in the 5th moon,
when my predecessor, his excellency Chang, was in office, and is not a
matter which has occurred during my government. In [the pamphlet] the
phraseology is incorrect, and there are many places where it does not
agree with the original draft. It is a characteristic of the Canton
people to love novelty and dislike what is antiquated. When they happen
to see or hear anything in the market-place, they will arrange and
concoct circumstances and compose an article on it, which they print and
sell with a view to making a profit. Hitherto, as nothing of importance
was touched on, the local authorities took no means of prevention; but
the printing of these two pamphlets and their wanton falsification is
most blameworthy. Orders have been given to the prefect and magistrates
to take vigorous measures for their suppression, and to find and destroy
the blocks from which they were printed. Friendly relations have existed
for many years between our respective countries, and the intercourse of
the [two] states is constant and stable. The people and the converts,
however, cannot get on together, and are eternally in quarrel and
litigation, whereby disorder is bred. Preaching the gospel was long
since allowed by treaty, and can by no means be now disallowed. Now,
missionaries from western lands of course keep strictly to the rules of
their doctrine, and do not interfere in matters outside it; but many
unprincipled people in the interior, not believing in the doctrine from
the bottom of their hearts, become converts in name only, and, relying
[on Christianity] as on a charm to protect them, create trouble to the
detriment of order in the villages. Thus do they injure the reputation
of the chapels and give birth to suspicion and dislike between Chinese
and foreigners. This class of persons does double harm [i. e.,
[Page 156]
to the chapels and to the people], and should undoubtedly be sought out
and preventive regulations made, so as to avoid a further continuous
series of troubles, and re-establish the former state of tranquillity.
This year the Chinese and foreign ministers have been holding a
discussion, with a view to devise a plan of united action, so that
internal affairs may be tranquil and foreign relations friendly.
There is not the slightest desire to incite the hatred of the Chinese
against converts, or to injure the interests of the officials and
merchants of other nations. The examinations are now over, and the
country is quiet, as formerly. You may, therefore, cast away all
suspicion and doubt.
I have, &c.,
