Mr. Denby to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, May 23, 1892.
(Received June 28.)
No. 1535.]Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a
translation of a decree which was issued by the Emperor the 21st instant.
This decree may be taken in some sense as an answer to my late request that
strenuous action be taken with regard to the “Hu-Nan publications,” a copy
whereof was inclosed in my dispatch No, 1514 of April 12. It will be seen
that the Taotai Chou Han who was supposed to be chief circulator of the
“Hu-Nan publications” has been degraded. He is to be sent to his native
place and kept under surveillance.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No.
1535.—Translation.]
Imperial decree of May 21, 1892.
Sometime since Chang Chib. Tung and others memorialized the throne that
they had investigated the case of the Hu-Nan publications and the
counterfeiting of ofcial documents.
At the time we instructed the yamên of foreign affairs to consider the
matter and report to us. The yamên has now requested us to take action
in accordance with the suggestion of the memorialists. In this case
although the Taotai Chou Han did not publish and circulate the placards
or counterfeit official documents, still he is an officer, and his words
were false and exaggerated like those of an insane person, and rowdies
used his name as an excuse to circulate stories that were calculated to
excite the feelings of the people. He is decidedly guilty of an offense
that can not be overlooked. Let Chou Han, an expectant taotai of the
province of Shensi be at once degraded. He is to be sent to his native
place and the local officials are to keep him under surveillance and not
allow him to go away and cause trouble. Regarding other matters
presented in the memorial, let action be taken as decided on by the
memorialist. Let the proper board take note.
