Mr. Denby to Mr. Olney.
Peking, September 3, 1895. (Received Oct. 21.)
Sir: In addition to the matter wired in my telegram of the 31st ultimo, I desire to make a few observations on the proposition that the delinquent local officials in the province of Szechuan should be severely punished, and that as soon as possible.
The ex-viceroy Liu, was superseded before any riot took place, for causes not affecting foreigners. His successor arrived at Chengtu two months or more ago. Liu started for his home. At the urgent instance of the British minister and myself, he was stopped en route and ordered to return to Chengtu to await the result of the pending investigation. As very conclusively showing his guilt, there were found in his possession missals, books, vases, and other things which had been stolen from the Catholic church and even from its altar.
Liu has, and has had, since his return to Chengtu, nothing to do with public affairs.
As to the proof that this man and several of his subordinates are guilty of culpable negligence, or even direct connivance in the matter of the riots, there is abundance of it. The French commission has concluded its labors and the proof of guilt is complete.
The sum of 700,000 taels has been agreed on as the French indemnity, but I understand that it will not be accepted until the guilty officials have been punished. The British minister and I also have affidavits. It is to be regretted that we have not the report of the official commission as a basis for action. For the British minister and myself it has been found impracticable to have such a commission. As you have been informed, such a commission was proposed, but the acting British consul at Chungking, who was to have been the head of the commission, found himself unable to leave Chungking, because he greatly feared that if he did so there would be an antiforeign riot at that city. I had no official at Chungking. The French were more fortunate. They had two bishops and many members of the clergy in Szechuan, [Page 124] and these persons had remained at their posts, whereas the English and Americans had left.
Distances and difficulty of access must also be taken into account. Chungking is 1,400 miles above the mouth of the Yangtze. It is about 600 miles from Chengtu. It is 434 miles above Ichang, which is the head of steam navigation. I have been frequently told that it takes sixty days to ascend the Yangtze from Ichang to Chungking.
I have continuously hoped that the British minister would see his way to send a commissioner to Chengtu, but I now incline to the opinion that he has abandoned the idea of doing so.
I have fully, in several dispatches, discussed the question of having a commission, and I await your orders on the subject. But whether a commission be organized or not, I regard it as of the greatest importance that the guilty officials should be punished as soon as possible. Their degredation, banishment, imprisonment, whatever the penalty be, should be published in the Peking Gazette, and there should be assigned in the announcement that the reason why the punishment is inflicted is that the officials have been guilty of culpable negligence, at least, in failing to do their duty in protecting foreigners.
I have understood that an appeal has been made to you by the Chinese Government to order me to discontinue pressing the Government to punish the guilty officials. It is plain to me that the first step to take in the treatment of questions growing out of antiforeign riots is to make an example of the local officials. That such action would greatly tend to the prevention of riots is universally believed by foreigners in China.
What should be done if China were to refuse this simple satisfaction need not now be considered.
I have, etc.,