Mr. Rockhill to Mr.
Hay.
No. 156.]
Commissioner of
the United States to China,
Peking,
China, August 29,
1901.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith for your
information translation of a note sent by me to the Chinese
plenipotentiaries asking that prompt action be taken on my note of July 1
last, asking for the rehabilitation of Chang Yin-huan, also translation of
the reply of the Chinese plenipotentiaries received yesterday.
Viceroy Li Hung-chang has repeatedly assured me of late, in conversation,
that he could promise me that favorable action would be taken by the
Government on our request.
I am, etc.
[Inclosure No. 1. Dispatch No.
156.—Translation.]
Mr. Rockhill to the
Chinese Plenipotentiaries.
Commissioner of the United States to China,
Peking, August
27, 1901.
Your Highness and Your Excellency: On the 1st
of last July I had the honor to communicate to you the earnest desire of
my Government to see rehabilitated the memory of Chang Yin-huan, late
minister of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China to the United
States, who was put to death last year in Turkestan.
Not having heard from your highness and your excellency on the subject, I
have the honor to recall the matter, in which my Government takes great
interest, to your attention, and would deem it a great personal favor if
His Majesty’s Government could be communicated with by telegraph on the
subject.
Hoping that I may promptly be in a position to inform my Government that
its wish has been complied with, I avail myself of this opportunity to
renew to your highness and your excellency the expression of my highest
consideration.
[Inclosure No. 2. Dispatch No.
156.—Translation.]
Prince Ching and Earl
Li to Mr. Rockhill.
Prince Ching, minister plenipotentiary, etc., and Li, minister
plenipotentiary, grand secretary, etc., send this reply:
We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, on the 14th of this moon
(August 27), of your excellency’s dispatch, making urgent inquiry
concerning the matter of cleansing from stain the memory of Chang
Yin-huan, formerly minister of China to the United States.
As to this matter we have already prepared a memorial stating in detail
the circumstances, which was forwarded by fast courier to His Majesty,
and we now await His Majesty’s reply, on receipt of which we will again
write and inform your excellency. To this end we send this reply.
