C.O.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
SOUTH-WEST CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[22369]
No. 1.
513
[July 2.]
SECTION 1
C.O.
26367
Consul-General Wilkinson to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 2.)
RECE (No. 14.)
Ref 19 JUL 06
Sir,
WITH reference to my despatch No. 10 of the 24th ultimo, on the accusation against a French missionary of having caused the death of a Thibetan in Weihsi, I have now the honour to inclose copy of a further report to His Majesty's Legation, giving the version of the missionary himself.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
W. H. WILKINSON.
(No. 21.)
Sir,
Inclosure in No. 1.
Consul-General Wilkinson to Mr. Carnegie.
Yunnan-fu, May 13, 1906.
REFERRING to my despatch No. 14 of the 24th ultimo, reporting the execution of a Thibetan in Weihsi by, as was alleged, order of a French priest, the priest in question, Père Vignal, arrived at Yunnan-fu yesterday afternoon on his way to appear before the French Consul at Mengtse (the French Consulate-General here has no judicial functions). Knowing that I was interested in this matter, Père Monbeig wrote inviting me to come to the Mission and hear from Père Vignal himself how unfounded was the charge.
Père Vignal confirmed the story of the two attempts made on his life previous to his arrival at Atuntzu, and of the slaying of the would-be murderers by his guards. At Atuntzu he was provided by Prefect Peng with an escort of eighty men, under command of three "shao-kuan," or company officers. At Nati, two stages north, he was lodged at the house of the Thibetan Headman (the "maire," as Père Vignal called him). The Headman told the missionary that one of the twenty-one persons whose names appear on the list handed to the Weihsi authorities by Père Genestier of instigators in the late riots was at his (the accused's) house in that very village. Père Vignal thereupon warned his escort that they must be on their guard, after which he retired to rest. Presently the accused was brought in, and offered Père Vignal all his possessions if his life might be spared. Père Vignal replied that he had no authority, the man must be judged by the Chinese officials.
Later on in the evening Père Vignal's interpreter, a Christian, told him that the shao-kuan were trying the man, and that unless the Père would go surety for him they would probably execute him. Père Vignal replied that he certainly could not go surety for a man denounced by Père Genestier, and that justice must take its course. He was ignorant of Chinese law (I ought to have mentioned that Père Vignal speaks and reads Thibetan, but not Chinese). Whether the "shao-kuan" had power to themselves execute the accused, or would have to send him to the Prefect at Atuntzu, he could not say then, but now knows that they must have had no such power.
The next morning he learnt that the man had been decapitated, but there was no sign of commotion in the village, and he and his escort proceeded on their way to Yarkalo. Arrived there, he sent back his escort to Atuntzu, giving them his Chinese visiting card to be handed to Prefect Peng, in accordance with the usual etiquette. He wrote no letter to the Prefect, as the latter had alleged in his Report to the Yunnan Government.
Apparently the "shao-kuan" had themselves written on the card the statement that the execution had taken place at his (Père Vignal's) order, and did not concern the escort. Their object, of course, was to escape the consequences of their own extralegal act.
[2077 b-1]
Page 56
C.O.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
SOUTH-WEST CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[22369]
No. 1.
513
[July 2.]
SECTION 1
C.O.
26367
Consul-General Wilkinson to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 2.)
RECE (No. 14.)
Reef 19 JUL 06 Sir,
WITH reference to my despatch No. 10 of the 24th ultimo, on the accusation
Yunnan-fu, May 14, 1906. against a French missionary of having caused the death of a Thibetan in Weihsi, I have now the honour to inclose copy of a further report to His Majesty's Legation, giving the version of the missionary himself.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
W. H. WILKINSON.
(No. 21.) Sir,
Inclosure in No. 1.
Consul-General Wilkinson to Mr. Carnegie.
Yunnan-fu, May 13, 1906. REFERRING to my despatch No. 14 of the 24th ultimo, reporting the execution of a Thibotan in Weihsi by, as was alleged, order of a French priest, the priest in question, Père Vignal, arrived at Yunnan-fu yesterday afternoon on his way to appear before the French Consul at Mengtse (the French Consulate-General here has no judicial functions). Knowing that I was interested in this matter, Père Monbeig wrote inviting me to come to the Mission and hear from Père Vignal himself how unfounded was the charge.
Père Vignal confirmed the story of the two attempts made on his life previous to his arrival at Atuntzu, and of the slaying of the would-be murderers by his guards. At Atuntzu he was provided by Prefect Peng with an escort of eighty men, under command of three "shao-kuan," or company officers. At Nati, two stages north; he was lodged at the house of the Thibetan Headman (the "maire," as Père Vignal called him). The Headman told the missionary that one of the twenty-one persons whose names appear on the list handed to the Weihsi authorities by Père Genestier of instigators in the late riots was at his (the accused's) house in that very village. Père Vignal thereupon warned his escort that they must be on their guard, after which he retired to rest. Presently the accused was brought in, and offered Père Vignal all his possessions if his life might be spared. Père Vignal replied that he had no authority, the man must be judged by the Chinese officials.
56
Later on in the evening Père Vignal's interpreter, a Christian, told him that the shao-kuan ታቃ
were trying the man, and that unless the Père would go surety for him they would probably execute him. Père Vignal replied that he certainly could not go surety for a man denounced by Père Genestier, and that justice must take its course. He was ignorant of Chinese law (I ought to have mentioned that Père Vignal speaks and reads Thibetan, but not Chinese). Whether the "shao-kuan power to themselves execute the accused, or would have to send him to the Prefect at Atuntzu, he could not say then, but now know that they must have had no such power.
"had
The next morning he learnt that the man had been decapitated, but there was no sign of commotion in the village, and he and his escort proceeded on their way to Yarkalo. Arrived there, he sent back his escort to Atuntzu, giving them his Chinese visiting card to be handed to Prefect Peng, in accordance with the usual etiquette. He wrote no letter to the Prefect, as the latter had alleged in bis Report to the Yunnau Government.
Apparently the "shao-kuan" had themselves written on the card the statement that the exccution had taken place at his (Père Vignal's) order, and did not concern the escort. Their object, of course, was to escape the consequences of their own extralegal act.
[2077 b-1]
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