many on lease, provisionally for ninety-nine years, both sides of the entrance to the Bay of Kiao-chau," and engages to "abstain from exercising rights of sovereignty in the ceded territory during the term of the lease." China "sanctions the construction by Germany of two lines of railway in Shantung;" and agrees to "allow German subjects to hold and develop mining property for a distance of 30 li from each side of these railways and along the whole extent of the lines." China also engages in all cases where foreign assistance, in persons, capital, or material, may be needed for any purpose whatever within the province of Shantung, to offer the said work or supplying of materials in the first instance to German manufacturers and merchants engaged in undertakings of the kind in question." Kiao-chau was declared a free port on Sept. 2, 1898. (Reichsanzeiger, Sept. 5, 1898.) By a convention signed at Peking March 27, 1898, the Emperor of China, "in order to provide for Russia a suitable base on the northern coast of China, and thereby to render her naval position complete and secure," agreed to lease to Russia for the term of twenty-five years, subject to prolongation by mutual agreement, Port Arthur and Talien-wan, with their adjacent waters, as a depot of military and naval supplies, to be fortified and defended by Russia and administered by Russian officials, it being provided that the "sovereign rights" of China should not be "impaired " by the transaction, but also that Chinese troops should be excluded from the leased territory, and, except with Russian permission, from a space to the north, which was to be left uninhabited. It was agreed that Port Arthur should be regarded as a naval station, to be used by Russian and Chinese ships only, and to which neither the men-of-war nor the merchantmen of any other power should have access. Of Talien-wan, one port was to serve as a naval station for Russia and China, but the rest to be “ commercial port, open for the ingress and egress of the ships of all nations." It was further agreed that Russia might construct a railway to Talien, and a branch line from a point between Newchwang and the Yalu River to the seacoast. a The leased territory extended 160 li (53 miles) from north to south, and 70 li (23 English miles) from east to west. The government of the United States was immediately informed by the Russian legation at Washington that the territory had been "ceded to Russia in usufruct by the Chinese government; that the above-named ports and territories will be immediately occupied by the troops of His Majesty the Emperor of Russia; that the port of Talien-wan will be open to foreign commerce, and that vessels of all friendly nations will be received there with the utmost hospitality." Subsequently, notice was given that all foreigners desiring to visit either Port Arthur or Talien-wan must bear passports duly viséed by a Russian consulate, but this was afterwards modified by making the visé optional. For. Rel. 1898, 182, 183, 184, 185–187. "The extension of the area open to international foreign settlement at Shanghai and the opening of the ports of Nanking, Tsing-tao (Kiao chao), and Ta-lien-wan to foreign trade and settlement will doubtless afford American enterprise additional facilities and new fields, of which it will not be slow to take advantage." (President McKinley, annual message, Dec. 5, 1899, For. Rel. 1899, xviii.) Kwangchau Bay, which has been recently ceded to the French government for ninety-nine years, is situate on the southwestern coast of China, in the district of Leichou, Kwangtung Province. The harbor is said to be a good one. The country back of it is highly productive. One of the chief products is sugar." Mr. Denby, min. to China, to Mr. Sherman, Sec. of State, April 20, 1898, "I have learned from good authority that China has ceded Weihai-wei to Great Britain on the same terms that Port Arthur has been ceded to Russia. Wei-hai-wei is an excellent harbor, much larger, and better than Port Arthur. It is exactly at the mouth of the Gulf of Pechili, and is the nearest point on the Gulf to Korea. It commands the Gulf. It is about 40 miles from Chefoo and 80 from Kiaochou. It is supposed here that it will be a second or northern Hongkong. I do not suppose that Wei-hai-wei will be a treaty port; but it will be an open port. There will be no tariff, and the commerce of the world will be treated fairly." Mr. Denby, min. to China, to Mr. Sherman, Sec. of State, April 5, 1898, "The convention leasing to Great Britain Mirs Bay, Deep Bay, and the adjacent islands near Hongkong, was signed yesterday by the Chinese government. It will take effect from and after the 1st of July next." Mr. Denby, min. to China, to Mr. Day, Sec. of State, June 10, 1898, For. The President of the United States in no case supported the application of a foreign power for a lease of Chinese territory; and the American minister at Peking was instructed to govern himself accordingly, remaining neutral. Mr. Hay, Sec. of State, to Mr. Conger, min. to China, tel. March 2, 1899, September 30, 1898, a mob in the streets attacked foreigners on the way to and from the railway station at Peking. Already foreign fleets were assembling at Tientsin. On the 7th of October Mr. Conger, American minister to China, reported that the Chinese government was increasing its militia, thus insuring immediate protection, but that the general situation in the Empire was growing serious. The British, German, and Russian ministers had placed large guards in their legations, and other ministers had ordered up guards from the fleets at Tientsin. The Chinese government at first protested against the bringing of any foreign troops to Peking, but afterwards, on the unanimous request of the diplomatic corps, furnished a special train and an escort for them. A guard of marines was sent to the American legation. It remained through the winter, but left in March, 1899. September 21, 1898, the Emperor of China issued a decree declaring the Empress Dowager coregent, and she assumed full power. For. Rel. 1898, 217, 218-219, 225-227, 228-232, 239, 240–242. "Meanwhile, there may be just ground for disquietude in view of the unrest and revival of the old sentiment of opposition and prejudice to alien people which pervades certain of the Chinese provinces. As in the case of the attacks upon our citizens in Szechuan and at Kutien in 1895, the United States minister has been instructed to secure the fullest measure of protection, both local and imperial, for any menaced American interests, and to demand, in case of lawless injury to person or property, instant reparation appropriate to the case. War ships have been stationed at Tientsin for more ready observation of the disorders which have invaded even the Chinese capital, so as to be in a position to act should need arise, while a guard of marines has been sent to Peking to afford the minister the same measure of authoritative protection as the representatives of other nations have been constrained to employ." President McKinley, annual message, Dec. 5, 1898, For. Rel. 1898, lxxiii. ment; the Boxers. 12. BOXER MOVEMENT. (1) SIEGE AND RELIEF OF LEGATIONS. § 808. In a despatch of December 7, 1899, Mr. Conger, United States minister to China, reported "a very critical state Antiforeign move of affairs among the missionaries and their converts in certain parts of Shantung." He mentioned the appearance in the preceding October of a secret society called Boxers, who, in pursuit of their avowed object of driving out foreigners and extirpating Christians, had come into collision with the authorities.a a For. Rel. 1900, 77. Subsequent disorders arising from the same source and the attitude of the government towards them, formed the subject of later correspondence." By an imperial decree of January 24, 1900, P'u Ch'un, grandson of Prince Tuan and a brother of the Emperor's father and of the late Prince Kung, was designated as heir apparent." January 29, 1900, Mr. Conger reported that the numbers of the Boxers and Big Sword Society were daily increasing, and that more serious trouble was threatened." March 9, 1900, Mr. Conger cabled that the missionary troubles were still spreading, and that the situation was very critical. The ministers of England, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States had sent to the foreign office a second identical note demanding the publication of a strong imperial decree without delay. Mr. Conger and his colleagues telegraphed their respective governments that if the Chinese government should refuse this request a naval demonstration should be made in North China waters. The government of the United States replied that the Navy Department would detail a ship " for independent protection American citizens and interests in China." Mr. Conger was also instructed to impress upon the Chinese government that the United States, by the recent assurances which it had obtained from the various great powers holding leased territory or areas of influence in China, concerning the freedom of trade in such regions and the maintenance therein of China's rights of sovereignty, "has obtained thereby a renewed assurance of the policy of the treaty powers not to interfere with the integrity of the Chinese Empire. In a subsequent instruction, relating to the native antagonism excited by German enterprises in the Province of Shantung, Mr. Conger was directed to say to his German colleague " that the government of the United States feels that under the circumstances of the case it can expect that the German authorities in Shantung will see to it that American citizens, and particularly American missionaries in that quarter, shall receive equal treatment with Germans in the matter of necessary protection of life and property. . This friendly reliance on German protection within the effective zone of German occupation or action does not, of course, prejudice the course of this a For. Rel. 1900, 86-91. For. Rel. 1900, 91, 92. c For. Rel. 1900, 93. d For. Rel. 1900, 102-109. e Mr. Hay, Sec. of State, to Mr. Conger, min. to China, tel., March 15, 1900, For. Rel. 1900, 110. f Mr. Hay, Sec, of State, to Mr. Conger, min. to China, March 22, 1900, For. Rel. 1900, 111. government with respect to the due protection of our citizens in the remoter interior beyond the limits of German control.”« May 14, 1900, Mr. Conger reported a native attack upon the British and Chinese commissioners, who were marking the boundary of the British leased territory of Wei-hai-wei, under the impression that they were foreigners who had come to take possession of the territory and oppress the natives with increased taxes." Guards for the legations. May 21, 1900, Mr. Conger cabled that the Boxers had greatly increased in and around Peking; that a village forty miles from Peking had been burned; that sixty native Catholics had been killed, but no foreigners attacked. The diplomatic corps had demanded immediate effective measures and the Chinese government had promised the immediate suppression of the disorders.” May 26 Mr. Conger inquired by telegraph whether he might ar range with the admiral for legation guards. He was immediately authorized to do so. The disorders continued to increase. June 1, 1900, Mr. Conger cabled that 350 English, Russian, French, Japanese, Italian, and American guards had arrived during the preceding night, materially quieting the situation in Peking. The Boxers were still active in the country. There were fifty United States marines, with an automatic gun. Murders and persecutions by the Boxers outside of Peking continued to increase. The Paotingfu railway was temporarily abandoned, and work on the Peking-Hankow line was stopped. Foreigners had fled. The Chinese government either could not or would not suppress the disorders, and the troops did not attack the Boxers. Relations between the factions of imperial advisers were much strained and the general situation was very critical." June 4, 1900, Mr. Conger cabled that the situation was worse; that the railways and telegraphs were cut and that it Instructions to the was possible that Peking might be besieged. In that event, he asked, as his colleagues were doing, that the necessary instructions be given to the admirals to take measures for the eventual delivery of the city. He was authorized, in concert with the naval authorities, to take all measures American minister. a Mr. Hay, Sec. of State, to Mr. Conger, min. to China, April 16, 1900, For. Rel. 1900. 118. b For. Rel. 1900, 126. e For. Rel. 1900, 127; see, also, Mr. Conger, min, to China, to Mr. Hay, Sec. of State, May 21, 1900, For. Rel. 1900, 127-131. d For. Rel. 1900, 131. e For. Rel. 1900. 132. 1 For. Rel. 1900. 132. 9 For. Rel. 1900, 132-139. h For. Rel. 1900, 139–141. i For. Rel. 1900, 141. |