Minister Rockhill
to the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Peking, November 10,
1905.
No. 146.]Sir: In continuation of my dispatch No. 112, of
October 4, I have the honor to inclose in translation copy of a dispatch
received from Prince Ch’ing informing me of the measures which the
viceroy of Liang-kuang has telegraphed him he has taken to suppress the
boycott and anti-American agitation in the Province of Kuang-tung.
I shall continue to press the Imperial Government for further action on
every specific case which is brought to my attention. What I fear the
most in the interior is the distribution of inflammatory placards,
which, as has been shown in the past, it is very difficult to put a stop
to.
I have no means of knowing whether the viceroy’s statement that the
boycott does not extend beyond Canton, Swatow, and Wuchow is true, but I
am disposed to think he is right. As to the anti-American feeling, that
is quite a different matter. The massacre at Lien Chou may have a very
quieting effect.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Prince Ch’ing to
Minister Rockhill.
In the matter of the boycott of American goods in protest against the
immigration treaty by the merchants of the Two Kuang Provinces, I
already had the honor on the 8th instant to inform you of the issue
of a proclamation by the viceroy at Canton and of his method of
dealing with the matter, as the records will show. I am now in
receipt of another telegram from the viceroy at Canton, as
follows:
“I have already repeatedly issued emphatic proclamations making known
the recent imperial edict, and have issued general instructions to
my subordinates to make earnest efforts to persuade the merchants to
conduct trade as usual and to strictly forbid the holdings of
meetings, the making of speeches, and the posting of placards
opposing the treaty and preventing others by threats from buying or
using American goods. I have already several times reported to you
by telegraph the facts as to my action in this matter, as the
records will show.
“In this matter the merchants have been aroused to patriotic zeal,
and it is scarcely possible all at once to check the wind and tide.
However, it is only at Canton, Swatow, and Wuchow that the movement
exists. At other places inland, which are not ports of international
trade, the sale of American goods does not amount to much. The
people simply know them as foreign goods and do not distinguish them
as coming from any particular country. I have repeatedly had reports
from local authorities inland in my jurisdiction saying that there
are no meetings being held to promote a boycott of American
goods.
“As to Canton and the other ports mentioned, I have repeatedly issued
admonitions, and all meetings of the people and speechmaking were
stopped long ago. I have also directed my subordinates to
investigate the matter of printing and circulating placards and to
seize them. An investigation of the present condition of affairs
shows that in the Two Kuang Provinces the movement in opposition to
the treaty is gradually subsiding.”
As in duty bound, I send this dispatch for your excellency’s
information.
A necessary dispatch.
Kuanghsü, XXXI year, 10th moon, 13th day
(November 9, 1905.)
