September 8, 1900.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
179.
Prince TUAN, the head of the Society. Prince TUAN's name is not prominent in the official correspondence, but there can be no doubt that he supplied the backbone of the Tsungli Yamen, whose attitude can be watched as it changes from one of (outward) regret and dismay at the murder of the un- fortunate Mr. BROOKS to one of contemptu- ous indifference and wilful procrastination, on which nothing but open threats have any effect. Seeing this, it is surprising that the Ministers were so sparing in their threats. And yet, if there was ever a situation calling for the application of Sir MICHAEL SEY- MOUR's often quoted saying, in 1858, that “nothing but the conclusive evidence of irresistible force will ever fully the Chinese Government," it was at this satisfy
manner in which the Chinese England to put
ing of the 26th May the French Minister to the safety of Peking. He admitted that | power and the substitution of the rule of informed his colleagues that his information "the Government was reluctant to deal harsh- led him to believe that a serious anti-Euro-ly with the movement, which, owing to its pean outbreak was on the point of occurring anti-foreign character, was popular." It in Peking. It was determined to ask the was clear from the interview that the Yamen Yamen what measures they had taken and wished the Minister to understand that the also that the terms of the Edict of which situation was most serious, and that, owing they spoke should be communicated. On the to the influence of ignorant advisers with 27th Sir CLAUDE interviewed Prince CHING the Empress-Dowager, they were powerless and the Yamen and was convinced that to remedy it. The only resource which the energetic measures were being taken by the representatives of the Powers could see was Government against the Boxers. The to ask for a special audience with the Throne. Ministers decided to wait another twenty- It was decided, however, on the 6th to four hours. On the 29th Sir CLAUDE wait three days before asking for this, announced to Lord SALISBURY the burning and it does not appear that the request was of stations at Yengtai, six miles from Peking, ultimately made at all. and the interruption of the Tientsin-Peking Next day Sir CLAUDE reported the issue in service; and later in the day that the the Gazette of the Decree ascribing the re- Ministers had decided to send for guards for cent trouble to the admission to the ranks the Legations. The Yamen promptly re- of the converts of bad characters, and de-point. fused permission for the guards to come to claring that the Boxers and converts alike The Peking, in spite of the fact that the populace were the objects of the Throne's sympathy. Government induced was in a very excited state and the troops This Decree admitted that there were bad up with a belated and totally inade mutinous. On the 30th the British, French, characters among the Boxers, but the gen-quate punishment for the murder of Russian, and United States Ministers declar-eral tone, Sir CLAUDE writes, was most un- Mr. BROOKS no doubt encouraged the ed to the Yamen that the guards must be satisfactory. On the 8th he wires that it had anti-foreign party in their contempt of Eu- brought up immediately, that the number produced a very bad effect, and he received on would be small if facilities were granted, that day a telegram from H. M. Consul at hold on the reins of government. Then ropean diplomacy and strengthened their but would be increased if they were refused. Tientsin, announcing the presence of Boxers again the shuffling tactics of the Yamen in After a further attempt at delay, permission near Yangtsun. On the 11th he reported the the matter of the publication of a Decree was given for thirty to each Legation, and burning of the summer Legation, an assault denouncing the Boxers in the Peking Gazettë on the 31st May the British, American, on the Secretary of the Belgian Legation by were from the Chinese point of view en- Italian, Russian, French, and Japanese Chinese soldiers in Legation Street, and an tirely successful. In March the Yamen for arrived, no disturbances occurring, although attack on some student interpreters by three weeks vouchsafed no answer to an ur- on the previous day when the French and Boxers, from whom they only escaped by us- Russians attempted to start the Chinese ing firearms. This telegram he despatched by Decree, and they so put off the publication gent circular letter again demanding this troops threatened to fire on them, and they the Kiachta route, as communication with that when at length in a roundabout manner were obliged to turn back. The number Tientsin was now interrupted. Admiral it appeared its effect was nil. And so affairs was not limited to thirty, for Sir CLAUDE SETMOUR was believed to be at Langfang. continued to the end, the Ministers being con- MACDONALD states that three officers and On the 12th Sir CLAUDE sent a pressing stantly put off and disregarded, yet unwill- seventy-five men, with a machine-gun, made message, asking that the relief party shoulding to advise an instant and vigorous de- up the British detachment. On the 2nd be informed that the mutinous Kansu monstration by the Powers. They seem to June Sir CLAUDE telegraphed that murders soldiery were in possession of the Pek- have feared more than anything lest they of Christian converts and destruction of ing railway terminus and might offer should be thought alarmists. It is to the missionary property were occurring daily, some resistance. The Government of credit of M. PICHON, the French Minister' and that he learnt the situation at the Palace China, he added, seemed powerless, and he that he did his best to open his colleagues, was very strained, the EMPRESS DOWAGER trusted the Admirals would not hesitate to eyes, being convinced, from information re- not daring to put down the Boxers, although deplete their ships for the relief of Peking. ceived from French priests in Chibli, that wishing to do so, on account of the sup. On the 14th he reported the murder of the the situation was graver that it appeared on port given them by Prince TOAN and Japanese Secretary of Legation by Tartar the surface. Sir CLAUDE MACDONALD on other conservative Manchus, and also cavalry on the previous day. Here the story the 21st May wrote to Lord SALISBURY :— because of their numbers. Later on the abruptly breaks off, and the Legations were As regards my own opinion as to the dan- same day he telegraphed that the French cut off from the outside world and their fate
ger to which Europeans in Peking are ex- Minister had learnt on good authority that plunged in that great obscurity from which the EMPRESS DOWAGER was preparing to they have at length emerged on the capture
posed, I confess that little has come to my "own knowledge to confirm the gloomy an- fly to Sian-fu, owing to hostile demonstra- of Peking on the 15th of last month.
ticipations of the French Fathers. The tions against her by the Boxers.
demeanour of the inhabitants of the the 4th Sir CLAUDE reported that the foreigners in Peking might at any moment
city continues to be quiet and civil to- "wards foreigners.
I am convinced be besieged, with the railway and telegraph From the long résumé which we gave yes- lines cut, and therefore requested Lord SALIB-terday of the correspondence in the new BURY to instruct Admiral ŠEYMOUR to consult | Blue-book relating to the attitude of the with the Commanders of the other foreign Chinese Government toward the anti-foreign squadrons about concerted measures for relief. On the 5th the British Minister called on the Yamen to ask what steps were being taken to punish the murder of Mr. ROBINSON, news of which was received
on
On
(Daily Press, 7th September.)
agitators, certain deductions can be made. It seems in the first place probable that the strength of the movement did actually take by surprise the majority of the governing clique, though the extreme conservative on the previous day, The Yamen Manchu party must have been able to judge stated that the Viceroy was the respon- with accuracy. Even the Empress Dowager sible person, and that they had tele- must in the main be exonerated from com- graphed to him to send troops toplicity with the early actions of the so-called the spot. They expressed no regret, and "Boxers," though it was of course her in- during the interview displayed the greatest vincible ignorance and her disgraceful sub- in difference. Sir CLAUDE, after warning servience to the worst influences of her the Tamen that the Chinese Government Court which rendered the success of the would be "held responsible for their crim-reactionaries possible at all. The Boxers, it inal apathy," demanded an interview with is plain, were by no means well disposed to Prince CHING, which was fixed for the next her personally, and her conduct was inspired day. Accordingly on the 5th June he saw largely by terror of them rather than by friend Prince CHING and the Yamen together, ship. This feeling ultimately reached such a when great regret was expressed for height that at the beginning of June she the murder of Messrs. ROBINSON and was actually preparing to fly from Peking to NORMAN (for it now appeared that both Sian-fu to escape the hostile demonstrations had been killed). Prince CHING did not against her. Her fears were well justified, attempt to defend the Chinese Government for the spread of the Boxer influence syn- and was unable to reassure Sir CLAUDE as ' chronised with the complete waning of her
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that a few days' heavy rainfall, to termi- "nate the long-continued drought, would do "more to restore tranquillity than any mea-
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sures which either the Chinese Govern- "ment or foreign Governments could take." Little more than three weeks after this let- ter was written the Legations were fighting for their lives. Why is it that the French Minister alone should have had the means of estimating the state of affairs correctly ?
The Foochow Daily Echo of the 25th ult. con- tains the following two items:-The prolonged drought, which for some time past has been causing anxiety amongst farmers, is now begin- classes. The first crop of rice was poor enough ning to be regarded a serious matter by all through the floods at the end of June, and now that the second crop is threatened from want of rain and the sweet-potato crop is suffering from the same cause, the prospects for food supply are viewed as extremely gloomy-In reply 7 to our enquiries about the tigers at The visits of the striped monsters to farm- Kuliang a correspondent writes, "no change. · houses in the neighbourhood of the foreign bungalows are of nightly occurrence. Owing to frequent losses, the natives are now locking up their dogs at night time,"
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