Mr. Rockhill to Mr.
Hay.
No. 157.]
Commissioner of
the United States to China,
Peking,
China, August 29,
1901.
Sir: In my dispatch No. 151, of the 8th instant, I
had the honor to inform you that the representatives of the powers had
requested the Chinese plenipotentiaries to memoralize the Throne for an
edict prohibiting
[Page 304]
the importation
of arms, ammunition, and of materials used exclusively for their manufacture
for a period of two years.
I inclose herewith a note from the Chinese plenipotentiaries to the dean of
the diplomatic corps transmitting the text of an edict, promulgated the 25th
of August, prohibiting said importation, and also the reply of the dean of
the diplomatic corps to the same, dated the 28th instant.
Although I did not fully agree with my colleagues that the facts stated in
the edict are not true, I did not think it necessary to refuse to agree to
the letter.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure No. 1.—Dispatch No.
157.—Translation.]
The Chinese
Plenipotentiaries to Mr. de
Cologan.
On receipt of the telegraphic report sent by us to the Throne to make
known the fixing of a term of two years, during which should be
prohibited the importation of arms and ammunitions, and to request an
Imperial edict for that purpose, we learn by telegram from the grand
council at Si-an that the following edict has been promulgated on the
12th of the present month (August 25):
“The importation of arms is contrary to law. Nevertheless, traders at the
ports open to commerce are constantly, under pretext of official
purchases, importing and clandestinely selling these arms. Considering
that recently peace has been troubled by brigands, and that it is highly
important to publish express prohibitions so as to prevent the
occurrence of troubles, we command all Tartar generals,
governors-general and governors of provinces, as well as customs taotais
to prohibit, in the first place for a period of two years, the
importation of arms and of materials serving exclusively in their
manufacture and coming from abroad.
“Inform the board concerned.
“By Imperial order.”
Although this decree will be promulgated by the grand secretariat, we
deem it necessary to communicate it to your excellency by the present
dispatch, requesting you to bring it to the knowledge of the foreign
plenipotentiaries.
[Inclosure No. 2, dispatch
157.—Translation.]
M. de Cologan to
the Chinese plenipotentiaries.
Highness, Excellency: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th instant, by which you
transmit to me an Imperial edict prohibiting the importation of arms and
ammunition.
The representatives of the powers after having examined this document
have directed me to forward to you the following observations:
- (1)
- The preamble of this edict, not being in conformity with facts
and restricting the bearing of Article V of the Joint Note of
the 22d December, 1900, should be struck out.
- (2)
- The prohibition of the importation of arms and ammunition and
of material used exclusively in the manufacture of arms and
ammunition, applied to the Chinese Government itself as well as
to all its agents.
In view of the above, the only portion of the Imperial edict which will
be annexed to the Final Protocol is the following:
“We command all Tartar generals, governors-general, and governors of
provinces, and also the customs taotais to prohibit, in the first place
for a period of two years, the importation of arms and of materials used
exclusively in their manufacture and brought from abroad.
“Inform the board which it concerns.
“By Imperial order.”
I avail myself of this opportunity, etc.,
