Mr. Denby, chargé,
to Mr. Gresham.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, August 8, 1894.
(Received September 22.)
Sir: On the 6th instant the prince and
ministers wrote to this legation, stating that they were informed that
Japanese spies had been sent into the interior of China in disguise, and
announced their intention of dealing severely with them if
apprehended.
In replying to this dispatch, I considered it my duty to urge the Chinese
Government to proceed with moderation and to be influenced rather by
motives of humanity than by bitterness toward Japan.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
The Tsung-li
Yamên to Mr. Denby, chargé.
As Japan has commenced hostilities, all Japanese merchants and others
residing in China have been placed Under the protection of the U. S.
Government. The prince and ministers, on receiving, some time ago, a
communication from the chargé d’affaires of the United States on the
subject, addressed the high officers of the various provinces, and
also sent a reply to the chargé d’affaires.
The Yamên have now received a telegram from the minister
superintendent of northern trade to the effect that some twenty or
thirty Japanese have been deputed from Tientsin as spies. They have
changed their dress and shaved their heads and made their way
secretly to various places for the purpose of prying into the
condition of our military affairs.
By the rules laid down in international law, paragraphs 627 and 641,
the most severe punishment is meted out to military spies. As
relations of friendship have been broken off and war exists at the
present time between China and Japan, merchants and others, natives
of Japan, who are peacefully pursuing their vocations, will be
protected as provided by treaty, but military spies do not come
within the rule of being entitled to protection, and the most severe
punishment will be inflicted upon them, as provided by international
law.
The Yamên have addressed the Tartar generals, governors-general, and
governors of the various provinces to take strenuous measures to
secretly apprehend all who are engaged as spies, and, as in duty
bound, the prince and ministers send this communication for the
information of the chargé d’affaires Of the United States.
[Page 101]
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Denby,
chargé, to the Tsung-li-Yamên.
Your Highness and Your Excellencies: I have
the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch of the 6th
instant, with reference to the reported presence of Japanese spies
in the interior of China, engaged in gaining information as to the
military affairs of the country.
Should Japanese be found in the interior under such circumstances as
to excite suspicion as to their character, it is to be hoped that a
most careful examination will be made and every opportunity given
them to prove their innocence before any action is taken against
them. In such matters it would be easy to make mistakes whose
consequences would be much to be regretted.
As there are no armed forces of Japan within Chinese territory, and
as the war is being conducted entirely abroad, the infliction of
extreme penalties would be unjustifiable. I respectfully suggest to
your highness and your excellencies that the safety of China would
be sufficiently guarded and sufficient punishment inflicted on
Japanese found unlawfully or in disguise within the interior if they
were taken to the nearest seaport and transported to their own
country. I hope that your highness and your excellencies will be
guided in this matter by humane motives and not allow your action to
be influenced by feelings of bitterness toward Japan.
I avail, etc.,
