Mr. Denby to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, November 7, 1890.
(Received December 30.)
No. 1190.]Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of
my last communication to the foreign office on the subject of the Chi-nan-fu
troubles. In a communication of the 15th instant, the mission advises me
that it is entirely willing to surrender its claim to the suburban property
if it can secure title to convenient and suitable property in the city on
which to carry on its work. I have communicated this proposition to the
foreign office, with the earnest request that on this basis a settlement
satisfactory to all parties may be arrived at.
I have, etc.
[Inclosure in No. 1190.]
Mr. Denby to the
Tsung-li yamên.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, November 1,
1890.
Your Highness and Your Excellencies: I am
compelled by a sense of duty to again call your attention to what are
now widely known as the Chi-nan-fu troubles. The attention of the public
in China has been largely attracted to the difficulties that the
American missionaries have experienced and are experiencing at
Chi-nan-fu in their attempt to prosecute their charitable and religious
work. It is known to you that the missionaries do not regard the
granting of the suburban tract of land as a settlement of their demand
to have secured to them the lot in the city which they bought and paid
for, as they thought, with the consent of the local authorities. But,
from various communications sent me by Your Highness and Your
Excellencies, I gather that you consider that the suburban tract was
granted to the missionaries in lieu of the city lot, and that they ought
to abandon all claim to retain the property bought lying in the city or
to secure any other city property. The position of the missionaries is
quite easily understood. They have no desire to secure property
exceeding a reasonable and suitable quantity for school, hospital, and
residence, but for these objects they desire a location that is
convenient for their present work in the city. As their possession of
the suburban property seems to Your Highness and Your Excellencies to
present an objection to the securing of a city lot such as they need, I
am advised by the missionaries that they are entirely willing, in order
to secure a settlement of the land question, to surrender and give up on
equitable terms the suburban property.
It would seem to me that on this basis a satisfactory solution of the
troubles relating to a location might be reached. I would be very much
obliged if Your Highness and Your Excellencies would direct the local
authorities to confer with the missionaries
[Page 209]
as to the selection of a new site in the city, and
to secure such site and allow the mission to have title thereto, and to
arrange for the surrender of the suburban property, and to manage all
the details in a spirit of justice and equity. It must be understood,
however, that in proposing this arrangement I do not waive or compromise
the present claim of Rev. Gilbert Reid for injuries done him by a mob.
It is to be greatly hoped that this subject can also be taken up in a
spirit of fairness, and that some conclusion satisfactory to both
parties can be arrived at. But if the local authorities and Mr. Reid can
not agree on a settlement, his claim will be considered by me as still
pending and unsettled. An early answer to this communication is
earnestly desired.
I avail, etc.,
