It was, however, very unsatisfactory. It did not in any way mention the
demand we had made, and the decrees were apparently issued of the court’s
own motion, although from some things in them we knew our note had been
previously received. They did not record death sentences against Prince Tuan
and Duke Lan, as we required and as had been intimated to us by the
plenipotentiaries could be done. They decreed only imprisonment for Chao
Shu-chiao and Ying Nien, instead of death, and for Chi Hsiu and Hsü Cheng-yu
they said severe punishment should be meted out after sufficient proof of
guilt could, on investigation by Prince Ching and Li Hung-chang, be produced
against them. The decree conferring posthumous honors upon the decapitated
members of the Tsungli Yamen was most unsatisfactory. It charged them with
crimes, and simply restored the rank of which they had been deprived by
their punishment.
These are the usual Chinese methods, which we were unanimous in agreeing
ought to be strenuously resisted. Believing that the court can and will
execute the punishments demanded, we have repeated our demands in a note, a
copy of which I inclose. * * *
[Telegram from Shanghai, dated February 14,
1901, transmitting Imperial decree of February 13.]
[Telegram from the council of
state.]
On the 13th of February, 1901, the following Imperial decree was issued
to the Grand Secretariat:
Since the 5th moon the Boxer rebels have headed disturbances which have
resulted in a breach of our relations with friendly states. Prince Ching
and Li Hung-chang had now, in consultation with the Representatives of
the powers at Peking, negotiated and signed a draft treaty embodying the
principles on which peace shall be restored.
In reflecting on the causes which lie at the root of this calamity we
find that they are to be traced in reality to the attitude of the
princes and high ministers of state, who, in their crass ignorance and
reckless and violent disregard for law arid order, placed implicit trust
in magic arts, brought pressure to bear on the court, and willfully
disobeyed the decrees ordering the suppression of the Boxer rebels. Not
only that, but they went out of their way to aid and lend their support
to these scoundrels in their lawless acts of aggression and combat. As a
consequence, a hellish conflagration broke out, and ten thousands of
evil-doers banding themselves together in our immediate neighborhood,
created a situation with which it was impossible to deal.
[Page 89]
They further incited ignorant general officers and untrained troops to
surround and attack the legations for a period of several months, with
the result that a calamity of an unprecedented nature overtook the
state, that the whole constitution of the nation was placed in dire
peril, that our ancestral tombs and temples were disturbed, that the
whole country was ravaged and plundered, and that our people grievously
perished.
The circumstances of danger and distress, in which we and the Empress
Dowager found ourselves, can hardly be spoken of. Our heart even now is
sore and our head aches. Grief and resentment in equal measure fill our
breast. And all this because the princes and ministers of state, by
trusting to magic and meddling evil-doers, imperiled the shrines of our
ancestors and plunged our people into misery. If they put the question
(to themselves) what punishment is their due, how shall they reply?
We have already issued two edicts on the subject of their punishment, but
we still feel that the penalties are light compared with the gravity of
their crimes, and that the former do not suffice to atone for the
latter. We therefore have again to mete out to them yet severer
judgments in proportion (to their varying degrees of guilt).
Tsai Hsün, prince of Chuang, who has already been deprived of his rank,
aided and encouraged the Boxer rebels to attack the legations. He, on
his own responsibility, issued a proclamation, contrary to treaty, and
lightly giving ear to the counsels of evil-doers, unjustly compassed the
death of many. Of a truth is he clownishly fierce and grossly stupid.
Let him be awarded the privilege of committing suicide. The president of
the censorate, Ko Pao-hua, will proceed to his residence and see that
this sentence is carried out.
Tsai I, prince of Tuan, who has already been deprived of his rank, was
the leader of the princes and Imperial dukes who lightly put their trust
in the Boxers, and with his wild statements was the principal director
of the fighting which caused the trouble. It is of a truth with
difficulty that he can exculpate himself.
Tsai Lan, an Imperial duke of the first order, degraded and transferred
to another post, collaborated with Tsai Hsün in unauthorizedly issuing
the proclamation contrary to treaty. He must also be punished. Let him
be deprived of his rank and offices. In consideration of the fact,
however, that they are our near relatives we will extend to them special
favor. They are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment in the new
dominion. An officer is to be deputed to keep them under surveillance in
the first instance.
Yü Hsien, the governor who has already been deprived of his rank, when
holding office as governor of Shantung, recklessly believed in the
magical arts of the Boxers, and on coming to Peking extolled their
virtues to such an extent that the princes and high ministers of state
were carried away (by his misstatements). When governor of Shansi he
ordered killed many missionaries and native Christians. More than the
others is he marked out by his crass stupidity and fierce cruelty—a
criminal of the deepest dye and one of the chief ringleaders. He has
already been banished to the new dominion and ought by now to have
arrived in Kansu. Let him immediately be decapitated. A copy of this
sentence is at once to be transmitted (to those concerned) and the
Provincial Judge Ho Tu-kun is deputed to see it carried out.
Kang Yi, an assistant grand secretary and president of the board of
revenue, aided and abetted, the Boxers, brought about the present
disasters, and joined in the issue of the proclamation aforesaid. A
heavy penalty ought to be inflicted on him, but he has already died a
natural death; he is hereby posthumously deprived of his office and is
to be forthwith stripped of his rank.
Tung Fu-hsiang, who has been deprived of his rank, while retained at his
post as commander in chief of the province of Kansu, brought his troops
to act as bodyguard to the Emperor, but did not maintain adequate
control over them. He was further ignorant of international affairs and
acted in an incoherent, reckless, and foolish manner. Although he
surrounded and attacked the legations at the instigation of the princes
and others, already degraded, he can not rid himself of culpability.
Properly speaking, he ought to be severely punished, but in extenuation
be it said that he has rendered most meritorious service in the province
of Kansu and the Chinese and Mahometans render him cheerful obedience.
As an act of extraordinary grace we only deprive him of his rank, such
deprivation to take place immediately.
Ying Men, president of the censorate, who has been lowered in rank and
transferred to another post, attempted to dissuade Tsai Hsün from
recklessly issuing the proclamation contrary to treaty, which is a point
in his favor. But as he was not able to make his opposition effectual,
he can hardly rid himself of responsibility. As an act of grace he is
deprived of his rank and sentenced to imprisonment pending
decapitation.
[Page 90]
Chao Shu-chiao, president of the board of punishments, who has been
deprived of his rank while retained at his post, was not ordinarily
noted, for any antiforeign proclivities, and when sent to investigate
Boxer affairs did not put forward statements screening them. He is,
however, guilty of culpable negligence. As an act of grace he is hereby
deprived of his rank and sentenced to imprisonment pending
decapitation.
Both Ying Men and Chao Shu-chiao are in the first instance to be
incarcerated in the gaol of the provincial capital of Shensi
(Hsian).
The grand secretary, Hsü Tung, and the former governor-general of
Ssu-chuan, Li Ping-heng, who was degraded and transferred, have already
died for their country, but as their conduct has given rise to adverse
criticism, they are both hereby deprived of their rank, and their
posthumous honors conferred on them are canceled.
When this edict shall have appeased all states who are friendly to us
ought to realize that the Boxer troubles really were the outcome of
pressure brought to bear by the ringleaders, and that their actions were
in no way whatever inspired by the court. In punishing the ringleaders
we have not erred on the side of lenient protection, and all our
subjects throughout the land—officials and others—will clearly
understand that the issues involved in this matter are of the
gravest.
Transmitted by the grand council to the 18 provinces.
Third decree issued by the Grand
Secretariat.
The troubles which took place in the course of the fifth moon, and of
which the Boxer rebels were the chief leaders, increased in violence
from day to day. The court, being at a loss to know how to repress or to
appease, on several occasions summoned the ministers to audience, in
hopes that after they had weighed the circumstances of the case they
would afford us an indication of the proper steps to take. We repeatedly
addressed inquiries to Hsü Yung-i, President of the Board of War, Li
Shan, President of the Board of Revenue, Hsu Ching-cheng, vice-President
of the Board of Civil Office, Lien Yuan, Subchancellor of the Grand
Secretariat, and Yuan Chang, a Director of the court of Sacrificial
Worship, but the drift of their answers (was noncommittal), advocating
two courses as equally practicable. The various ministers who
constituted the ringleaders (of the Boxer faction) profited by this
opportunity to bring false denunciations against them, with the result
that they incurred the penalty of death.
When we consider, however, the long service of Hsü Yung-i and the others,
and their capacity for dealing in a friendly spirit with international
affairs, which they ordinarily displayed, their efforts may be described
as meritorious, and as an act of grace we hereby restore Hsü Yung-i, Li
Shan, Hsü Ching-cheng, Lien Yuan, and Yuan-chang to their original
offices.
Let the board concerned take note.
