Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Peking, September 9, 1903. (Mr. Conger reports that recent examinations by Commander Ward, of the United States Navy, and others show conclusively that Ta-tungkou, because of the lack of water and low, muddy banks, is practically unapproachable at low tide. An-tung, an important city at crossing of principal Manchurian-Korean road, 20 miles farther up the river, has good banks, much more water, and should be opened instead of Ta-tung-kou. Admiral Evans strongly recommends it. Mr. Conger has conferred with the Prince and asked the substitution in our treaty. The Prince has no objection, but will confer with his colleagues and answer definitely in a few days. Mr. Conger inquires if the Department approves the proposed substitution.) Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay. No. 1385.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Peking, September 9, 1903. SIR: I confirm my telegram of this date regarding the importance of substituting in our treaty the city of An-tung in place of Tatung-kou as the port on the Yalu to be opened to foreign trade. Referring to my dispatch No. 1374, of August 25, on the same subject, I now inclose copy of an extract from the report of the British officer mentioned. I also inclose copy of a letter from Admiral Evans, and respectfully refer you to the report of Commander Ward on file in the Department of the Navy. From all this it will be seen that Ta-tung-kou is a flat, low, muddy, unhealthy location, with no facilities for bunding or dock building, and is approachable only through a ditch which is dry at low water, while An-tung has 20 feet of water, a mile and a half of better banks, is of much more importance, and of better business promise. Its location is higher and healthier, is at the crossing of the main route from Manchuria to Korea, and seems to be in every way preferable to Ta-tung-kou. * * In a conference with Prince Ch'ing yesterday I explained fully to him the situation, telling him that we had relied upon old reports and surveys in selecting Ta-tung-kou, and because it was the nearest to the sea, but that after sending a naval officer to explore and survey we had discovered the channel silted up, too little water, muddy banks, etc., while An-tung seemed to have nearly everything desirable, and as business development was the object of opening a port, it was certainly for China's interest, and, I presumed, her desire also, to open a place where business could be developed and carried on. Í therefore suggested that An-tung was the proper port to be opened, and asked that we agree that in the preparation of the treaty it should be inserted instead of Ta-tung-kou. He agreed with me and said he saw no objection to making the substitution, but it was a new question and he would be obliged to consult his colleagues, and would give a definite reply in a very few days. 66 An-tung was formerly called Sa-ho, but in 1877 it was made a " Hsien” city and named An-tung. E. H. CONGER. I have, etc., [Inclosure 1.] Extract from British officer's report. Ta-tung-kou is a village with about 5,000 inhabitants, but the population is migratory, and during the winter is about half this number. It is not at the mouth of the river. The Chinese character for kou is not “mouth” but “ditch,” the village being approached by a winding ditch about 20 to 50 yards broad and 2 miles long, which is dried up at low water. It is the place where all the timber from the Yalu is collected previous to being shipped, and there is a Chinese custom-house there. The place where steamers from Chefoo anchor at present is about 3 miles from Ta-tung-kou and about 5 miles in a direct line from the actual entrance to the river. It is surrounded by low-lying muddy ground, and has by no means the amount of trade or importance that Antung has. Ân-tung, the headquarters of the Hsien, is the most important place in these parts, and has a population of about 7,000. It has a most prosperous appearance and the houses are all of a very superior stamp. It is a great shipping and forwarding center, and will no doubt in time develop much more, as it has a good bund with 20 feet of water at low tide, and can, I believe, be reached by steamers drawing 8 to 10 feet. If Ta-tung-kou is selected instead of An-tung I think a great mistake will be made. No. 130-M.] [Inclosure 2.] Admiral Evans to Mr. Conger. COMMANDER IN CHIEF'S OFFICE, UNITED STATES ASIATIC FLEET, FLAGSHIP "KENTUCKY," Chefoo, China, September 1, 1903. SIR: 1. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 1908, of the 25th ultimo, relative to the selection of the port of Antung Hsien, or Saho, as that to be opened upon the Yalu River by the terms of the treaty which you expect will be signed about October 8, 1903, and requesting that I send a gunboat up the Yalu to investigate the situation and furnish you with a report thereon. 2. In reply I have to inform you that with the object of investigating the conditions in the Yalu and the determination of the most suitable port for opening to foreign trade upon that river, the Austria was dispatched to the Yalu early last month, and after careful inquiry and investigation of the various localities I am satisfied that Saho should, by all means, be the port selected, and no other port should be accepted as a substitute for Saho. 3. Lieutenant-Commander Marsh, who left last night for Peking, has been furnished with a copy of the report of the commanding officer of the Austria, which will be delivered to you. Very respectfully, R. D. EVANS, (Mr. Conger reports that the Chinese Government consent to the substitution of An-tung for Ta-tung-kou.) Mr. Adee to Mr. Conger. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, (Replying to Mr. Conger's telegrams on the subject, Mr. Adee states that the draft article substituting An-tung instead of Ta-tung-kou is approved; and that this change is gratifying.) Mr. Adee to Mr. Conger. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Mr. Adee states that the date for signing completed treaty, October 8, is absolute and not contingent on action of Russia. This date has been formally accepted by the Chinese Government and this Government notified. By the Department's telegraphic instruction of August 15 Mr. Conger was told to make this clear to Prince Ch'ing, and Mr. Conger is directed to so inform the Prince again. Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] * * * LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Peking, September 24, 1903. (Acknowledging the Department's telegram of the 23d instant, Mr. Conger reports that telegraphic instructions of August 15 were complied with; that the Prince has again verbally promised that treaty shall be signed October 8.) Messrs. Conger, Goodnow, and Seaman to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] Shanghai, October 8, 1903. (Messrs. Conger, Goodnow, and Seaman report that the treaty with China has been signed.) EXPIATORY MONUMENT ERECTED IN MEMORY OF BARON VON No. 1191.] Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to report that on yesterday the monument erected by the Chinese Government in compliance with the terms of the protocol of September 7, 1901, on the spot where the German L minister, Baron von Ketteler, was murdered, on the 20th of June, 1900, was formally dedicated in the presence of high Chinese officials, members of the diplomatic corps, the German garrison, an equal number of Chinese soldiers, most of the foreigners here resident, and an immense crowd of Chinese. The inaugural ceremony consisted of libations poured out by his highness, Prince Chung, brother of the Emperor, who made a brief speech in Chinese, which was translated into German and to which Baron von der Goltz, German chargé d'affaires, made reply in German, which was translated into Chinese. At the close of the ceremony the Germans marched through the central arch, preceded by a German band. The monument is a large granite pailou, composed of three arches, built across the street, and bears inscriptions in German, Latin, and Chinese. I inclose translated copies of the inscriptions, and of the speeches made. I have, etc., E. H. CONGER. [Inclosure 1.] Inscription on monument erected by the Chinese Government to Baron von Ketteler. This monument has been erected by order of His Majesty the Emperor of China for the Imperial German Minister Baron von Ketteler, who fell on this spot by heinous murder on the 20th of June, 1900, in everlasting commemoration of his name, as an eternal token of the Emperor's wrath about this crime, as a warning to all. [Inclosure 2.] Speech of Prince Chung at the dedication of the von Ketteler monument. The monument erected to the memory of the late Imperial German minister, Baron von Ketteler, stands before us. By order of His Imperial Majesty I have poured out the libations and have inaugurated therewith formally this monument. My sovereign wishes this monument to be a warning to the people, a token of the friendship existing between our two nations, and a sign of the blessings which general peace bestows. May the name of the deceased Baron von Ketteler remain lasting for all times, like the stately monument before us; that is my sincere wish. [Inclosure 3.] Reply of Baron von der Goltz to Prince Chung. The monument standing before us, so say the inscriptions engraved thereon, has been erected to the everlasting memory of the Imperial German minister, Baron von Ketteler, murdered on this place on June 20, 1900, and as an eternal token of the Emperor of China's wrath about the crime. Your Imperial Highness has now inaugurated this monument through libations in accordance with the orders issued by His Majesty. China has therewith fulfilled loyally one of the obligations which it took upon itself after the events of 1900. May the Ketteler monument transmit this glorious name to all posterity, and may it remain for all time a symbol of China's wish to foster and to strengthen good relations with the foreign countries. No. 1193.] REBELLIOUS MOVEMENTS, BRIGANDAGE, ETC. Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: As showing the present condition of affairs in Sze-chuan, I inclose copy of a letter of Doctor Canright, an American medical missionary living at Ch'engtu, the provincial capital. A more alarming situation exists in the province of Kansu and the northern portion of Shensi. According to newspaper reports and current Chinese rumor, Prince Tuan and General Tung Fu-hsiang, instead of remaining in the banishment to which they were sent, are said to be on the border line of Kansu and Shensi with a large organization of soldiers, preparing to make certain demands upon the Imperial Government, and, if they are not complied with, to raise the standard of rebellion, attacking first the foreigners and the friends of the Government, and then march toward Peking and the coast. Just what their demands are can not be learned. organ The disturbances in the south seem to continue, and rumor says that, taking advantage of the antagonism every where aroused by the indemnity taxgatherers, it will not be difficult for the two rebellious izations in the north and the south to unite the whole country in active opposition to the Government and all foreigners in the Empire. With capable leaders, having abundance of arms and money, this would be possible and not improbable, in view of the inherent weakness and present helplessness of the Chinese Government; but the leaders, arms, and funds are all lacking. I have had several conferences with members of the foreign office, and have insisted that, having telegraphic communication with the various provincial officials, they must be fully cognizant of the situation, and I demanded that they inform me correctly, so that I might intelligently advise our missionaries in that direction. They say that the local officials all report quiet, but they admit that Prince Tuan and General Tung Fu-hsiang are in the locality mentioned, and undoubtedly have some organized soldiers and others at their command, as well as many friends among the people, but that no offensive operations are indicated and no serious trouble is anticipated as long as the Government makes no movement against them. The ministers say that Prince Tuan and General Tung Fu-hsiang are simply preparing for resistance in case their arrest or removal should be attempted. Knowing well the helpless condition of this Government, I agree that with them "discretion is the better part of valor." In the northeastern part of this province, and in Mongolia north, and in the vicinity of Kalgan, there are at present operating many bands of brigands of considerable size, most of them deserted or disbanded soldiers, well armed and equipped, with which the local militia are powerless to contend. Their object, however, seems only to plunder, and at present they appear to avoid foreigners or native Christians. Viceroy Yuan Shih-k'ai promises in due time to suppress them, but in this case, as well as in that of Prince Tuan and General Tung Fuhsiang, their toleration for the present may be wise and prudent. I have, etc., E. H. CONGER. |