Mr. Rockhill to Mr. Hay.
Peking, China, February 28, 1901.
Sir: I have the honor to report that the foreign representatives, in their meeting held yesterday, considered the question of punishments to be demanded for provincial officials and other persons most directly responsible for the massacres and riots of last year. The list comprised about one hundred names, against ten of whom it was proposed that capital punishment should be asked, the others to be cashiered and never to be employed again; some also to be punished by exile for life.
The Russian minister informed his colleagues that his Government was opposed to demanding of the Chinese further capital punishments, and that he could not agree to the demand now proposed without explicit instructions from St. Petersburg. I informed my colleagues of the substance of your instructions cabled Mr. Conger under date of [Page 95] the 24th instant, stating that the President’s earnest wish was that the effusion of blood should cease; that, with the execution of the chief authors of the recent troubles, and in view of the severity of the material punishment inflicted upon China, he would be pleased if the powers would agree not to ask for more death sentences. I added that the President did not propose, however, to decide on the necessity of such demands and that, therefore, I would not put myself in opposition if they agreed to it, but that I would not demand the capital punishment of any person, though I would ask dismissal from the public service against a number. The question will probably be disposed of within a week. I am inclined to think that the number of capital sentences asked for will be less than those now submitted. At the same time as this demand is sent in to the Chinese I will endeavor to have a demand made for posthumous honors for Chang Yin-huan.
The conference then proceeded to a consideration of the names of the localities in which examinations are to be prohibited during five years. I submitted a tentative list, which will be added to or revised by each legation and submitted to the Chinese Commission at the same time as the list of punishments.
Committees were then appointed from among the representatives to prepare and submit at the earliest possible date memoranda on the prohibition of the importation of arms, etc. (Joint Note, Article V), and on the reform in court ceremonial and reorganization of the Tsung-li Yamen (Article XII). The first-named committee is composed of the Russian and British ministers and myself; the second, of the Japanese minister and myself. I am also on the committee charged with the preparation of rules for assessing claims. On this committee are also the German, Belgian, and Netherlands ministers. It is hoped by this latter committee that it will be able to present a report to the conference within a week. This will serve as a basis for discussion, and will, I hope, be adopted in some shape by all the powers in establishing their claims. The question is, however, a particularly difficult and delicate one, especially in view of our wish to ask for a lump sum from China, to be afterwards distributed among the powers. So far no strong opposition has developed against your proposition for a lump sum, and I hope it may be finally agreed to.
I am, etc.,