Mr. Denby to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, January 14, 1890.
(Received March 17.)
No. 1032.]Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copies of
my correspondence with the yamên touching the case of Rev. Gilbert Reid, to
wit: A copy of my communication of November 23, a copy of the communication
of the yamên to me of December 1, and a copy of their communication to me of
January 10, 1890.
In presenting the claim of Mr. Reid, I explained to the yamên that I did not
present it sooner, because I hoped that between the missionaries and the
local authorities a just and peaceful settlement could be arrived at without
the necessity of bringing the matter to the attention of the prince and
Their Excellencies. I then presented a statement of the facts as prepared by
Mr. Reid and as nearly as possible in his own language. In this connection I
refer to my dispatch No. 529 of December 20, 1887 (Foreign Relations, 1888,
folio 238), and to my dispatch No. 621 of April 13, 1888 (Foreign Relations,
1888, folios 292, 293, 294, and 295). Many other communications on this
subject passed between the yamên and the legation, but they were not deemed
of sufficient importance to send copies, being usually, on my side, requests
for prompt action and on the side of the yamên promises that the land matter
should be arranged.
In my dispatch No. 1005 of November 19 I informed you that the discussion had
resulted in the acquisition by the missionaries of 7 acres of valuable land
close to the city, and that the missionaries, nevertheless, insisted on
being put in possession of the original small city lot which they claimed to
have bought. In the dispatch of the yamên to me of December 1 it simply
repeats its statements to be found in its communication at folio 294,
Foreign Relations, 1888. It reiterates that Rev. Gilbert Reid forced his way
into the inner courtyard of the house in question, and the women and girls
pushed him and he fell. It states that it will again communicate with the
authorities in Shan-Tung and will report to me their statement.
The dispatch of the yamên to me of January 10, 1890 (the third inclosure
herein), sets forth the report of the authorities at Chi-nan-fu containing
the following statements in substance: That the money paid by the
missionaries for the town lot is in the treasury, subject to their disposal,
and awaiting the return of the deeds which were received by Mr. Reid, when
the whole matter will be terminated. It shows that the land selected by Dr.
Coltman has been deeded to him and the deeds sealed. They ask that I
instruct Mr. Reid to surrender the deed to the city property and take back
his money, so that the matter may be settled and peace and quiet may
prevail.
On this report the yamên remarked: “The local authorities have already
assisted them (the missionaries) in the matter, and thus the missionaries
have accomplished their purpose of carrying on their charitable work. In the
matter of all the former pieces of property leased, these should, as a
matter of course, be considered as ended, and thus clear up all the
accumulated papers in regard to them.” I substantially take the same view of
the land transaction. But in this last communication the claim of Mr. Reid
for damages is not distinctly disposed of.
I shall demand a positive answer.
I have, etc.,
[Page 156]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 1032.]
Mr. Denby to the
Tsung-li-yamên.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, November 25,
1889.
No. 27.]Your Highness and Your Excellencies: It is
known to Your Highness and Your Excellencies that on the 21st day of
December, 1887, I presented to Your Highness and Your Excellencies a
statement setting forth the difficulties under which my countrymen were
laboring at Chi-nan-fu and asking your kind interposition in their
behalf.
In that communication I set forth four things to which I particularly
called your attention. I did not then specify the personal claim of the
Rev. Gilbert Reid for damages received at the hands of a mob in
Chi-nan-fu, because I hoped that between the missionaries and the local
authorities a just and peaceful settlement could be arrived at without
troubling Your Highness and Your Excellencies on the subject.
Mr. Reid has been persistent, since he received the injuries he complains
of, in his applications for redress to the governor, taotai, and
magistrate; but his claim has not been entertained, and, as he sets
forth, no redress of any kind has been afforded him. He has therefore
presented to me a lengthy petition that I would bring to the attention
of Your Highness and Your Excellencies and ask that damages be paid to
him for the wrongs and injuries so sustained.
From the statement furnished by Mr. Reid, I have prepared the recital of
the circumstances as he has written it, and I have the honor to transmit
it for the consideration of Your Highness and Your Excellencies.
I avail, etc.,
[An inclosure in No. 27 to
yamên.]
Statement of Rev. Gilbert Reid, of the Presbyterian
mission.
He asserts that he is a citizen of the United States, that he is now
domiciled at Chi-nan-fu and was domiciled there at the happening of the
events of which he complains, and that he is and was engaged in
missionary work.
On the 31st of August, 1887, the Presbyterian mission took a perpetual
lease of a certain piece of property in the southeast suburb of the
city.
Other associations have from time to time secured property in Chi-nan-fu,
and it was understood that there was no objection made by the local
authorities.
On the 1st of September, 1887, the district magistrate was ordered by the
taotai to seal the deeds if, on examination, no clandestine illegality
should be discovered.
The landlord, the go-between, and Mr. Reid were successively examined,
and no illegality was discovered. The magistrate and a coacting deputy
at different times ordered that the property should be recognized as
belonging to the mission.
After a delay of 2 months certain gentry of the city interfered and
objected to the transfer of the property. Opportunity was given them,
for the sake of peace, to make a satisfactory exchange in 1 month’s
time, and, if none were made, the mission insisted on possession.
A petition was sent to the taotai to that effect.
A period of 3 months was allowed as a notice to give up the property,
which is in accordance with Chinese custom. The money still due the
original landlord was turned over to his account.
November 28 another petition was sent to the taotai, stating that Mr.
Reid intended that evening to go and occupy the property, and requesting
him to order the local magistrate to make protection and assistance.
About dusk, according to previous arrangement, he went to and quietly
entered the house to occupy one room. He exhorted the different tenants
to occupy for the present their respective quarters and have no fear or
anxiety.
In a short time a rabble began to gather, and certain ringleaders,
unconnected with the property, having entered the house, forcibly
ejected him therefrom.
He entered the house again, followed by a large crowd. Some picked up
clubs, some brickbats, and the rest, with yells and hoots, again ejected
him. Outside the house he was forcibly thrown to the ground, and his
head received a contusion over the left temple either from being struck
by a stone or a fist. He got up and was again hurled to the ground,
stones flying around him and some taking effect. He became exhausted and
half unconscious and lay on the ground.
[Page 157]
He had other injuries, scratches on the body and pain in the hack, which
lasted more than a month.
After an hour’s uproar the constable helped him to go away.
One of his colleagues, Rev. P. D. Bergen, went, as soon as he heard of
the occurrence, to the toatai’s yamên, but an interview was refused. He
then went to the magistrate’s yamên with the same result. The next day
he sent a petition to the taotai, citing the names of the ringleaders,
but from that day to this they have not been arrested or tried.
The officials delayed for 3 days to go to see and examine him, and then
asserted to him that there had been no riot and that he was not
injured.
Mr. Reid has hoped until now that the local authorities would do him
justice. He has repeatedly demanded justice and redress of the governor
and the taotai, but without effect. He now deems it his duty to bring
the matter to the attention of Your Highness and Your Excellencies and
through your interposition to endeavor to secure redress.
He charges that something ought to be done in the case, because the
happening of such outrages creates precedents for others and makes life
insecure. He therefore presents for your kind consideration the
following demands:
- First. That for being violently expelled from the property of
which he claimed the legal possession he be paid the sum of 500
taels.
- Second. That for a public assault and insult a compensation be
made of 1,000 taels.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
1032.—Translation.]
The Tsung-li-yamên to Mr.
Denby.
Peking, December 1,
1889.
No. 31.]Your Excellency: On the 23d of November last
the prince and ministers had the honor to receive a communication from
Your Excellency to the effect that on the 21st of December, 1887, you
presented a statement setting forth the difficulties under which your
countrymen were laboring at Chi-nan-fu and asking interposition in their
behalf; that in that communication you set forth four things to which
you particularly called attention, but you did not specify the personal
claim of the Rev. Gilbert Reid for damages received; that he (Gilbert
Reid) has therefore presented a petition requesting that you bring it to
the attention of the prince and ministers for consideration, etc.
In regard to this case, on the 6tb of April, 1888, the yamên sent a reply
presenting a report from the governor of Shan-Tung stating that the Rev.
Gilbert Reid in the night forced his way into the inner courtyard of Lin
Mêng Kwei, and the women and girls pushed him and he fell; that he was
not assaulted, and that the money had already been recovered and
received by the missionaries, etc. The case of the said missionary
leasing this house has for a long time been settled. As Your Excellency,
however, repeatedly requested the prince and ministers to interest the
local authorities of said province to assist the missionaries in
acquiring other property, the yamên frequently addressed the Shan-Tung
authorities to devise a plan of rendering assistance to them. But in the
buying and selling of house property it is necessary that the people as
a whole should give their consent. The local authorities would find it
difficult to force or compel action in the premises. If at one time
matters can not be brought about or successfully arranged, then the only
thing to do is to be forbearing and wait another time and not be hasty.
The said missionary having failed to accomplish the leasing of the house
property in question, now drags in and sets forth the former affair and
demands indemnity in the way of money. This the yamên certainly regards
as an unbecoming act.
Your Excellency, in the management of affairs, is just and equitable, and
the yamên thinks that you have probably not regarded the claim as it
should be, for the reason that hitherto you have never brought it up.
Now, having received Your Excellency’s communication as above, the
yamên, besides having addressed the governor of Shan-Tung again on the
subject, to in turn instruct the local authorities to satisfactorily
cause the action to be taken in the matter, and on receipt of a report
the contents will be communicated to you. As in duty bound they send
this reply for Your Excellency’s information.
A necessary communication, etc.
[Page 158]
[Inclosure 3 in No.
1032.—Translation.]
The Tsung-li-yamên to Mr.
Denby.
Peking, January 10,
1890.
Informal.]Your Excellency: In the matter of the case of
the purchase of land and erection of buildings at Chi-nan-fu by the Rev.
Gilbert Reid, on the 23d of November last Your Excellency again
addressed the yamên, wherein you requested that we would give it our
consideration and attention.
On receipt of Your Excellency’s communication, the yamên strenuously
urged the authorities of Shan-Tung to speedily effect a settlement of
the matter. A report has now been received from Chi-nan-fu as
follows:
“In the case of the leasing of house property through misapprehension or
mistake by the Rev. Gilbert Reid from Lin Mêng Kwei, a long time since
instructions were issued to the magistrate, who clearly investigated the
matter and brought it to a close. The money paid (by the missionaries)
was also recovered and deposited in the treasury of the magistrate
awaiting the handing over by the Rev. Gilbert Reid of the deeds that
were issued to him, when the money will be returned, and thus bring the
matter to a termination. As to the property leased by Man Lu Tao (Dr.
Coltman), situated within the jurisdiction of the Li Cheng district, on
account of Chao Ping Chéng employing an anonymous name and buying it in
an underhanded way, the gentry and people of the place came forward and
again lodged a complaint against the transaction.
“Now, instructions were issued to the magistrate to use many means to
explain and show them the right way to pursue, and the land was decided
to be the property of Dr. Coltman. The missionaries have therefore been
placed in possession of land which can be used in the carrying on of
their good work, and, as a matter of course, they should give way to the
wishes of the people in the matter of the house property rented outside
of the city, to the end that peace and quietness may reign among the
missionaries and the populace. If the matter is to drag on for a long
time in a leisurely and dilatory manner, the deeds not returned to the
magistrates and the money also not received, the end will be that no
settlement will be effected. It is right to request that a reply be sent
to His Excellency Mr. Denby asking him to instruct Mr. Reid without
delay to send the deeds to the magistrate for cancellation and to
receive the money originally paid, and thus bring the case to a
termination. This will prove advantageous to both the people of the
place and the missionaries.”
Now, it appears to the yamên that Dr. Coltman and the other missionaries
in leasing houses and purchasing land is for the object of establishing
a hospital. The local authorities have already assisted them in the
matter, and thus the missionaries have accomplished their purpose of
carrying on their charitable work. In the matter of all the former
pieces of property leased, these should, as a matter of course, be
considered as ended, and thus clear up all the accumulated papers in
regard to them.
As in duty bound, we send this note to Your Excellency, with the request
that you will in turn instruct the Rev. Gilbert Reid to act
accordingly.
Cards with compliments.
