File No. 23640/52. No. 11.] The Chinese Minister to the Secretary of State. CHINESE LEGATION, Washington, August 5, 1910. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that I have just received a telegram from the Wai-wu-Pu, transmitting to me for delivery a message from His Majesty the Emperor of China to the President of the United States, a translation of which is herewith inclosed. I shall be greatly obliged if you will be so kind as to lay the message before the President. Accept, etc., [Inclosure-Translation.] CHANG YIN TANG. The Emperor of China to President Taft. [Telegram.] Greeting: Prince Tsai Tao, who has returned from his mission to study the military systems abroad, has given us an account of the generous hospitality and warm reception extended to him by Your Excellency during his recent visit to your country, and also of the special facilities and opportunities everywhere afforded him for making personal observations and obtaining full information in regard to matters pertaining to the military establishment. We sincerely appreciate these friendly and open-hearted courtesies from the American Government, which can not fail to draw closer the relations between the two countries, and for which we beg that Your Excellency will accept our warm thanks. RIOTS AT CHANG-SHA AND CLAIMS ARISING THEREFROM. File No. 24074. Chargé Fletcher to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Mr. Fletcher reports rioting at Chang-sha on 13th and 14th, and says governor's yamen, two English and one Norwegian mission burned. Adds that foreigners are safe; that foreign office assures him that there is no reason for anxiety; and that three British gunboats are on their way to Chang-sha. File No. 24074/3. Vice and Deputy Consul General Baugh to the Secretary of State. (Telegram-Paraphrase.) AMERICAN CONSULATE GENERAL, Mr. Baugh reports serious disturbances Hunan missions and the destruction of Chang-sha customhouse and business houses. Says missionaries have been summoned from the interior, that foreign war vessels have been dispatched to Chang-sha, and that the legation has been fully informed. File No. 24074/4. Minister Calhoun to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Peking, April 22, 1910. 1 Mr. Calhoun, referring to legation's April 15, says Mr. Baugh' reported under date of April 20 that Hunan situation had not improved; that it was feared the trouble would spread, and that he had telegraphed Americans to return immediately to Hankow. Mr. Calhoun says further that he requested Rear Admiral Hubbard on 17th to dispose of naval forces so as to render assistance if necessary, and that he [Hubbard] reported the sailing of the Cleveland for Hankow on the 18th to be followed as soon as possible by other vessels. File No. 24074/8. Minister Calhoun to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Peking, April 30, 1910. Mr. Calhoun refers to his April 22, and says that Military Attaché Reeves, who is on a tour of inspection has arrived at Hankow, and that the legation has requested him to go to Chang-sha, especially with a view to ascertaining the extent of the damage done to American property. File No. 24074/9 Minister Calhoun to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Mr. Calhoun refers to legation's April 22, and says vice consul general at Hankow reports Hunan quiet; says there were no disturbances last week; and that most of the missionaries have left Province. File No. 493/11a. Minister Calhoun to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase. AMERICAN LEGATION, Mr. Calhoun reports the receipt of a dispatch from the consulate general at Hankow, which states that foreigners are being approached in Shangsha by Chinese officials relative to indemnity, and that vice consul general is following example of British and advising Ameri 1 Vice and deputy consul general at Hankow. cans to refer matter to consulate lest individual settlement compromise final one. Mr. Calhoun says the vice consul general wishes to know whether the legation desires these claims sent to Peking or whether consulate is to arrange settlement. Asks instructions on this point, and also wishes to be informed as to department's attitude relative to advising Americans settling individually, without intervention of the legation or consulate, and asks, if claims are submitted to the legation, whether department desires to pass upon them before their presentation to the Government of China. File No. 24074/11. The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Calhoun. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Referring to legation's April 30 and May 5, Mr. Wilson says the consul general at Hankow should be instructed to advise Americans to file all claims with him for indemnification for Changsa losses, and after careful substantiation the list should be sent to the legation at Peking, and that the legation should forward it to the department for its approval, together with the findings in each case. Mr. Wilson informs Mr. Calhoun that he may at his discretion inform the Chinese Government that the Government of the United States will expect suitable compensation for losses incurred by American citizens in the riots at Shangsha. File No. 24074/13. Minister Calhoun to the Secretary of State. No. 16.] [Extract.] AMERICAN LEGATION, SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith various clippings from the North China Daily News, Peking and Tientsin Times, Japan Daily Mail, Peking Daily News, and the China Tribune on the subject of the recent riots at Chang-sha and throughout the Province of Hunan. I respectfully call the department's especial attention to the leader in the Peking Daily News of April 23, 1910, entitled "The primary cause of the Changsha riots." I have, etc., [Inclosure 1. W. J. CALHOUN. THE CHANGSHA RIOTS-DISTURBED CITY IN THE CONTROL OF THE MOB-FOREIGNERS REPORTED SAFE-CUSTOMHOUSE AND ALL FOREIGN PROPERTY DESTROYED. [P. and T. Times correspondent.' HANKOW, April 16, 1910. The unrest in the vicinity of Changsha is increasing daily and unless stern measures are taken at once bids fair to assume great proportions. Changsha is still in a state of siege and entirely in the hands of the rioters. The local authorities appear to be unable to cope with the situation and foreign assistance is urgently needed in order to protect foreign interests. It is reported that the governor was wounded at the first outbreak and has since succumbed to his injuries. Customhouse destroyed.-On Friday night the mob sacked and destroyed the customhouse, though the custom staff was not seriously molested. They took refuge in the customs hulk, which was successfully navigated down the river several li from Changsha, where it was anchored to await outside assistance. Foreign hongs burned.-The rioters attacked the hulks and godowns of Jardine Matheson & Co., Butterfield & Swire, and others and burned them, after looting all valuable cargo. In addition they sacked and burned all the foreign property, including a great number of Japanese stores in the city. Relief handicapped.—H. M. S. Thistle attempted to get up to Changsha, but was forced to return to Yochow owing to the low water. A British shallow draught gunboat, probably the Snipe, is proceeding to the disturbed city. Foreigners safe. It is definitely known that all the foreign residents have been removed to a place of safety, with the exception of two Americans, who were unable to get out of the city and are believed to be still there. The cause.-The Chinese officials state the uprising is purely local and neither antiforeign nor antidynastic. I learn that it is due to the high prices of the principal commodities. Official account furnished by the_Wai-wu-Pu.-The press bureau of the Wai-wu-Pu has sent the editor of the P. and T. Times the following letter describing the affair: DEAR SIR: The following is the true and accurate account of the riot in Changsha, Hunan. The telegrams of your correspondent, especially the first one, do not give the correct reasons for the outbreak, which no one regrets more than the Chinese Government and the Chinese people. It seems that the price of rice has gone up in Hunan in recent months to prohibitive rates, with the result that on Wednesday and Thursday of last week the hungry people gathered together and destroyed the gates of the governor's yamen by setting them on fire. Unfortunately the mob also directed their fury at the missionary buildings. The governor immediately dispatched troops for the protection of the foreignres and had them removed to safe quarters. No foreigner was injured by the mob. A telegram received to-day states that the city has returned to its normal state-all the shops have reopened their doors, and complete quiet has been restored. The whole affair was unexpected and seems to have taken place very suddenly. Thanking you for the insertion of this letter. [As the above letter is unsigned we give it for what it is worth.-ED.] [Inclosure 2.] [North China Daily News, Apr. 20, 1910.] NOTES ON NATIVE AFFAIRS-THE CHANGSHA RIOTS. H. E. Chuang Kông-liang, provincial treasurer in Changsha, has sent a telegram to the Shanghai Taotai, stating that, owing to the dearness of rice the poor people gathered together last Wednesday to create riots, and malcontents aggravated the situation. He states that the governor's yamen was burnt, as well as Christians missions and foreign godowns. A few rioters have been executed and the mobs have dispersed. The governor is well and all consuls, foreigners, and missionaries have been safe under protection. Steps are being taken to arrest the ringleaders for punishment. The telegram goes on to say that the Hupeh troops have arrived, and peace has been restored. Belated reports say that on Wednesday the rioters gathered together outside the south gate to rob rice, and the police intendant was wounded in trying to maintain order. Malcontents then joined the mob, which numbered about 30,000 men. The troops, instead of defending their stations, fought the rioters and many casualties occurred. Many yamens, shops, and houses have been destroyed and the loss amounted to several millions of taels. It is stated that the new troops were utterly inefficient and were separated in batches, so that they were helpless in maintaining order. Two British gunboats and two Chinese gunboats arrived on Saturday and on the following day 20 Chinese guard boats and two companies of troops arrived. Business was resumed on that day and the people in the city were reassured. The governor, it is stated, has been dismissed, and H. E. Yang Wen-ting, treasurer of Hupeh, is appointed to act in his place. The Hunan gentry have asked their provincials who are in office in Peking to denounce Governor Tsên Ch'un-ming for provoking the riots by shooting the rioters. A report says that censor Huang Juí-lin has already impeached the governor for precipitating the riots and has urged his severe punishment. The Peking Government has dispatched a deputy to investigate the incident, and the ministry of war and the army advisory council ordered the viceroy in Hupeh to report on the situation from time to time. A Peking telegram states that the Prince Regent, on receipt of the news, commanded the grand council to order the provincial authorities to take all precaution against further troubles, as the people in Hunan province are turbulent and pug nacious. [Inclosure 3.] [China Tribune, Apr. 22, 1910.] CHANGSHA RIOT. According to a telegram from Changsha, poor people of the town suddenly rose up in a riot on the evening of the 13th instant on account of the price of rice having gone up. They plundered grain shops, attacked the governor's yamen and the Taching Bank, setting fire to a church and school buildings. On the 14th they burned Jardine Matheson, Butterfield & Swire, Mitsui Co.'s buildings, and the customhouse. The British consul left Hankow with foreign residents by an English ship. At 5 p. m. the Japanese consul, through the advice of the governor, took refuge on the river with 70 Japanese residents. Soon afterwards the consulate and the Japanese post office were pillaged and then reduced to ashes. Next day the mob cut the telegraph wires. As nothing indicated the immediate subjugation of the rioters the Japanese consul embarked, on the evening of the 15th on the Hsiangkiang- Maru, Japanese steamer, that was just going on her upstream voyage, and retreated to Hankow with the Japanese settlers. The steamer arrived at Hankow in the afternoon of the 17th. The refugees had nothing but the clothing on their backs. Japanese residents at Hankow are doing everything in their power to express sympathy for the unfortunate compatriots. England, France, and Japan have all instructed warships to hurry to the scene of disturbance. The rioters were suppressed on the 16th, and order was somewhat restored. According to a telegram from Hankow, dated the 19th, three Japanese who stayed behind at Changsha are safe. The building of the China-Japan Steamship Co. escaped destruction. Peace has been restored in Changsha, but disturbances are created at Hsiang-tan, Ch'iyang, and other local towns. On the 18th the steamer Yuankiang- Maru arrived at Changsha from Hankow with two companies of modern troops. The town is quiet, but the local disturbance has not subsided. The British consul and other foreigners are said to have returned to Changsha. Japanese Vice Consul Murayama is expected to return there on the 21st by the warship Uji. [Inclosure 4.] (The Peking Daily News, Apr. 23, 1910.) THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THE CHANGSHA riot. As a result of the recent riot in Hunan an imperial edict was issued on Thursday commanding Teen Chun-ming to vacate his office and appointing Yang Wenting as acting governor of Hunan. The Government is apparently exerting itself to find out who is to blame for the riot. Report has it also that a certain foreign representative has, on account of the great amount of foreign property that was destroyed by the rioters, made representations to the Wai-wu-Pu demanding that all the local officers who are responsible for the riot should be dealt with severly. Such a representation would be a fair one, no doubt, if the local authorities are really to blame and if the riot should be the actual or approximate consequence of the acts of such officials, or, in other words, if they should be guilty of gross negligence in their official capacity. The direct cause of a social or political upheaval is necessarily complicated, and is usually obscured by many accidental circumstances. Such is true of the Hunan riot. Foreign journalists, judging by the great number of foreign buildings destroyed incidentally by the rioters, have jumped to the conclusion that the cause of the riot was antiforeignism. To a man who is at all familiar with the condition at present prevailing in Hunan, antiforeignism does not adequately account for this sudden popular (though sectional) uprising in Changsha, but such an ebullition of social feeling, like many instances of similar nature occurring in Europe and America, has for its cause some economical consideration. The economical consideration in the Changsha incident is undeniably the scarcity and dearness of rice. This view, which we maintained in one of our last articles, is supported by documents, official and semiofficial, and the editorial utterances of the Chinese press generally. Our conviction, formed at the time when we wrote our last article, is being confirmed now and again by fuller reports of the unfortunate happening in Hunan. |