This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[29102]
C O.
34535-
[August 27.]
SECTION 4.
Rec’d. 18 SEP 06
No.
633
E
Mr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey.(Received August 27.)
(No. 292.) Sir,
Peking, July 4, 1906.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 237 of the 17th May, I have honour to state that on the morning of the 19th June their Excellencies Lien Fang and Tong Shao-yi called to inform me that an Agreement had been come to with the French Minister in the Nanchang case and would be signed next day. On the same afternoon (the 19th June) at the Wai-wu Pu I was shown French and Chinese versions of the document in which this Agreement was to be recorded.
In my telegram No. 126 of the 20th June I summarized the terms of this Agreement, which was, in effect, signed the same day by the French Minister and the Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the Wai-wu Pu; expressed the opinion that the punishments mentioned in it were satisfactory, and proposed, with your approval, to inform the Wai-wu Pu that on payment of 4,700l. by the Kiangsi authorities to His Majesty's Consul at Kiukiang or Shanghae, His Majesty's Government would consider the case closed. I mentioned that I would at the same time ask for rewards for Chinese officials who had rendered assistance to British missionaries, and explained that the 4,700l. included 4,000l. for the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kingham, and 700l. for the house and property destroyed.
On the 21st June I received your telegram No. 116, approving the proposed settlement, on the understanding that compensation had been agreed upon in regard to all other British property lost, as mentioned in Mr. Werner's despatch No. 3 of the 20th March.
I ascertained from Mr. Werner that these local claims had all been satisfactorily settled by the former Governor of Kiangsi, Hu Ting-kan, and on the 27th June I addressed to Prince Ching a note, copy of which I have the honour to inclose. In this I recapitulated the contents of a note received from his Highness on the 30th April, a translation of which is also inclosed, and so much of the French terms of settlement as concerned our case; stated the punishments which had been arranged when Mr. Werner was at Nanchang for the persons implicated in the murders of the Kinghams; mentioned that the sum of 4,700l. fixed as compensation did not include certain small claims for the destruction of property belonging to British missionaries, which claims had already been settled by the Provincial Government of Kiangsi; and submitted a list of the officers and men in the service of the Chinese Government, who had exerted themselves to protect the lives and property of foreigners, with a request for a substantial reward to be given to each person for his meritorious conduct. I concluded by informing his Highness that, as soon as he assured me that the punishments stated would be faithfully carried out, that the sum of 4,700l. would be paid to His Majesty's Consul at Kiukiang (either at Kiukiang or Shanghae, as he would select), and that the officers and men whose names were submitted would be suitably rewarded, I would at once inform His Majesty's Government and recommend that the case be closed.
I received Prince Ching's reply on the 30th June, translation of which I inclose. In this I was assured that instructions would be sent to the provincial authorities of Kiangsi to carry out the punishments agreed upon, as mentioned in my note; to pay 4,700l. to His Majesty's Consul within three months; and to reward the officers named in my list in a suitable manner.
In a personal interview at the Wai-wu Pu on the 3rd July, I expressed my satisfaction with the terms of the last note from his Highness, and said that I would communicate the details of the settlement to you by post, for the approval of His Majesty's Government. I took the opportunity to refer to the possibility of a successor to Mr. Kingham requiring the site of the destroyed house, or another suitable site, for the purpose of continuing the missionary work, and I received a ready promise from the members present, the Grand Secretary Na-t'ung and their Excellencies Lien and Tong, that the Chinese Government would not permit any local opposition in such a matter. They expressed their high appreciation of the amicable and reasonable spirit in which
[2102 dd-4]
B
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[29102]
C O.
34535-
[August 27.]
SECTION 4.
Rec
İRr. 18 SEP 06
No.
633
E
:
Mr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey.(Received August 27.)
(No. 292.) Sir,
Peking, July 4, 1906. WITH reference to my despatch No. 237 of the 17th May, I have honour to state that on the morning of the 19th June their Excellencies Lien Fang and Tong Shon-yi called to inform me that an Agreement had been come to with the French Minister in the Nanchang case and would be signed next day. On the same afternoon (the 19th June) at the Wai-wu Pu I was shown French and Chinese versions of the document in which this Agreement was to be recorded.
In my telegram No. 126 of the 20th June I summarized the terms of this Agreement, which was, in effect, signed the same day by the French Minister and the Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the Wai-wu Pu; expressed the opinion that the punishments mentioned in it were satisfactory, and proposed, with your approval, to inform the Wai-wu Pu that on payment of 4,7001. by the Kiangsi authorities to His Majesty's Consul at Kiukiang or Shanghae, His Majesty's Government would consider the case closed. I mentioned that I would at the same time ask for rewards for Chinese officials who had rendered assistance to British missionaries, and explained that the 4,7007. included 4,000/. for the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kingham, and 7001, for the house and property destroyed.
On the 21st June I received your telegram No. 116, approving the proposed settlement, on the understanding that compensation had been agreed upon in regard to all other British property lost, as mentioned in Mr. Werner's despatch No. 3 of the 20th March.
I ascertained from Mr. Werner that these local claims had all been satisfactorily settled by the former Governor of Kiangsi, Hu Ting-kan, and on the 27th June I addressed to Prince Ching a note, copy of which I have the honour to inclose. In
this I recapitulated the contents of a note received from his Highness on the 50th April, a translation of which is also inclosed, and so much of the French terms of settlement as concerned our case; stated the punishments which had been arranged when Mr. Werner was at Nanchang for the persons implicated in the murders of the Kingbams; mentioned that the sum of 4,7001. fixed as compensation did not include certain small claims for the destruction of property belonging to British missionaries, which claims had already been settled by the Provincial Government of Kiangsi; and submitted a list of the officers and men in the service of the Chinese Government, who had exerted themselves to protect the lives and property of foreigners, with a request for a substantial reward to be given to each person for his meritorious conduct. concluded by informing his Highness that, as soon as be assured me that the punishments stated would be faithfully carried ont, that the sum of 4,7001. would he paid to His Majesty's Consul at Kiukiang (either at Kiukiang or Shanghae, as he would select), and that the officers and men whose names were submitted would be suitably rewarded, I would at once inform His Majesty's Government and recommend that the case be closed.
I
the
I received Prince Ching's reply on the 30th June, translation of which I inclose. In this I was assured that instructions would be sent to the provincial authorities of Kiangsi to carry out the punishments agreed upon, as mentioned in my note; to pay 4.700l. to His Majesty's Consul within three months; and to reward the officers named in my list in a suitable manner.
In a personal interview at the Wai-wu Pu on the 3rd July, I expressed my satisfaction with the terms of the last note from his Highness, and said that I would communicate the details of the settlement to you by post, for the approval of His Majesty's Government, I took the opportunity to refer to the possibility of a successor to Mr. Kinghara requiring the site of the destroyed house, or another suitable site, for the purpose of continuing the missionary work, and 1 received a ready promise from the members present, the Grand Secretary Na-t'ung and their Excellencies Lien and Tong, that the Chinese Government would not permit any local opposition in such a matter. They expressed their high appreciation of the amicable and reasonable spirit in which
[2102 dd-4]
B
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