2
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
490
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Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Rev. T. Richard to Messrs. Fox, Walshe, and Paton.
Christian Literature Society for China,
Dear Brethren,
44, Boone Road, Shanghae, January 14, 1907. YOUR communication to the Provisional Committee of the Centenary Conference of Mission in China was discussed at a meeting of the Committee on the 10th instant. I was invited to be present. It was decided that the Chairman, Bishop Graves, American Episcopal Mission, and the Secretary, the Rev. G. H. Bondfield, agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, should write a reply in the sense expressed by members of the Committee. There were two views represented in the Committee. One was that the questions put by your Committee were of such importance that they feared they had no power to answer them, and that it would be better for the Conference itself to answer these. The other was that they were glad of your interest in our work, and that if any of you came out here they would do everything in their power to help them to a full understanding of the missionary condition in China.
But the Chairman and Secretary will give you the full answer.
As one who urged the formation of such a Committee as you have now formed, allow me to thank you for your deep interest in our work.
Since my return to China I have been some time in the interior and twice in Peking, when I had the opportunity of repeated interviews with members of the Foreign Office, the members of the Board of Education, and the leading mandarins of the Province of Shansi, the Viceroy of Chihli, and the Viceroy of Canton, and the High Commissioners who negotiate the Commercial Treaties in Shanghae. I also had interviews with the British Legation and Dr. Morrison. The impression produced on me by these, and by opinions expressed in the Chinese and foreign press in China, is that we are in the midst of imminent peril to all Christian missions and foreign intercourse generally which may come to pass speedily, if not averted by some wise action to change the opinion of the central and provincial authorities, in whose hands the peace of China lies; for there is an intense anti-foreign feeling being actively fostered throughout the Empire now.
Most of the missionaries, however, are too busy with their local work to have an opportunity of forming a sound opinion in regard to the general feeling throughout the Empire. Nor do I pretend to speak of the whole Empire, although it is my duty to keep a sharp look-out. All I can do is to give you my impressions, and they are what I have just mentioned.
The Conference would afford a rare opportunity of knowing the general feeling of the missionaries, after which special inquiries could be made with missionaries and with Chinese and foreign officials, especially the Japanese, who have many thousands through- out the land pushing forward a greater propaganda than Christian missions in China, and with the editors of Chinese and foreign press, so as to have a comprehensive view of all the forces at work here at present. Some of us are staggered by the vastness and the urgency of the problem.
Again thanking you all for the deep interest which you take in this greatest of all revolutions on earth to-day. With much respect and gratitude, &c.
(Signed) TIMOTHY RICHARD.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[7184]
No. 1.
اسبت
[March 31 SECTION 140923
REGE 26 MAR 07,
Mr. Drummond to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received March 3.)
(Telegraphic.) En clair.
IT is most unjust to press China to pay for Shanghae riot in December 1905
Shanghae, March 2, 1907. without first having a full and fair joint investigation or trial as to the cause of the riot. In my opinion, the Municipal Council was solely to blame. Strong evidence exists, if China is forced to pay without a trial, there may be serious trouble in these provinces, where the matter is well understood and the people are very indignant and angry. The present pressure on the Chinese Government at Peking, while objecting to a joint investigation or trial as to the cause of the riot, is doing great harm to the good name of England for fairness.
[2418 c-1]