Telegraph from Sir Claude MacDonald to the Marquess of Salisbury regarding murder of Missionary Brooks
January 5, 1900
January 5, 1900
No. 9.
Sir C. MacDonald to the Marquess of Salisbury. — {^Received February 19.)
My Lord, Peking, January 5, 1900.
FOR several months past the northern part of the Province of Shantung has been
disturbed by bands of rebels connected with various Secret Societies, who have been
dei'ying^ the authorities and pillaging the people. An organization known as the
" Boxers " has attained special notoriety, and their ravages recently spread over a large
portion of Southern Chihli, where the native Christians appear to have suffered even
more than the rest of the inhabitants from the lawlessness of these marauders. The
danger to which, in both provinces, foreign missionary establishments have been thus
exposed, has been the subject of repeated representations to the Chinese Government
by others of the foreign Representatives — especially the German and United States'
Ministers — and myself.
Early last month the Governor of Shantung, Yu Hsien, was ordered to vacate his
post and come to Peking for audience, and the General Yuan Shih-E'ai was appointed
Acting Governor in his place.
In Southern Chihli the task of dealing with the disturbances was entrusted to the
Viceroy at Tien-tsin. Her Majesty's Consul at Tien-tsin has had repeatedly to complain
to the latter of the inadequacy of the protection afforded to British life and property in
the districts affected by the rebellion ; and in consequence of these representations and
of my own communications to the Tsung-li Yamen, guards of soldiers have been
stationed for the special protection of the missionary premises which were endangered.
On the 29th ultimo I took occasion to warn the Yamen by letter that if the disorder
were not vigourously quelled, international complications were likely to ensue.
Being well aware, therefore, of the condition of things in Northern Shantung, it
was with much anxiety that I received, on the 2nd instant, through Bishop Scott, of
the Church of England Mission here, a telegram from the Mission at P'ing-yin, in
Northern Shantung, announcing that on the 30th December Mr. Brooks, of the Missions-
had been attacked, wounded, and captured by thirty " Boxers " in the Fei Ch'eng
district.
I at once sent Mr. Ker, the Assistant Chinese Secretary, to communicate the
contents of this telegram to the Yamen, and to ask that urgent telegraphic instructions
should be dispatched to the Governor of Shantung to take measures to deal with the
rebels and especially to secure the release of the missionary.
The Yamen Secretaries said that information of this occurrence had reached the
Yam^n, and that a telegram had been sent to Shantung to inquire particulars. They
promised that my message would be reported to the Ministers and a further telegram
dispatched. They said that the new Governor Yiian had already reached the capital and
taken over the seals of office.
On the following day I visited the Yamen. On inquiring what was being done, I
was informed that the Governor had promply taken stops with a view to effecting the
release of Mr. Brooks. The Yam^n had, however, to their great regret, received a
telegram that morning from the Governor to report that the Deputy sent in haste to
the scene of the outrage, had arrived only to find that Mr. Brooks had been put to
death on the 31st December, the day after he was captured. A despatch was being'
prepared, informing me of this lamentable intelligence, and expressing- the deep regret
of the Chinese Government.
I have the honour to transmit herewith to your Lordship a copy of this despatch.
In addition to the particulars related therein, T have since learned that the unfortunate
man was beheaded by the rebels and his body flung into a ditch.
In acknowledging to the Ministers of the Yamen at my interview the expressions
of regret which they offered, I laid stress on the importance of proving the sincerity of
this regret by strenuous action in dealing with this case, and in guarding against the
possibility of similar occurrences elsewhere.
Yesterday, when the Ministers of the J'sung-li Yamen and other high officials paid
their annual formal New Year's call at the Legation, the Grand Secretary Wang Wen
Shao informed me that he was specially authorized by the Emperor and Empress
Dowager to express to me the deep concern which was felt by the Throne on hearing
of this outrage. An Imperial Decree was, he said, being issued enjoining the
immediate capture of the murderers, and the punishment of the officials who had
neglected their duty.
The Decree to which the Grand Secretary referred was published in the Gazette
this morning, and 1 have the honour to inclose a translation of it herewith,
I had the honour to telegraph to your Lordship yesterday the news of
Mr. Brooks' murder, and the substance of the message which I received from the
Throne ou the subject.
As regards the future situation in Northern Shantung, the most hopeful feature is,
I think, the choice of Yiian Shih K'ai as Governor. This official filled for many years
the post of Chinese Resident in Corea, and has lately been in command of some 8,000
foreign-drilled troops near Tien-tsin. He has already announced the necessity of
having the whole of this force sent after him to his province, and the decision of
character and readiness to use force when necessary which has marked his action at
various critical situations in his career, make it possible to expect that he will succeed in
making short work of the rebels in the province which he administers.
In a note which I addressed to the Yamen this morning I took occasion to remind
the Ministers that there were other British missionaries living in the district where
]Mr. Brooks was killed, and to impress upon their Excellencies the necessity of securing
efficient protection to these. I do not, however, entertain serious apprehensions as to their
safety, because guards of soldiers have been for some time past stationed to protect
the various missionary residences. The unfortunate man who was murdered was seized
when he was travelling by wheel-barrow, without escort, through the country infested by
the rebels.
I have. &c.
(Signed) '" CLAUDE M. MacDONALD
Inclosure 1 in No, 9.
The Tsung-li Yamen to Sir C MacDonald.
(Translation,)
Sir, Peking, January 3, 1900.
WE have the honour to inform your Excellency that on the 2nd instant we received
a telegram from the Governor of Shantung as follows : —
" I have just received a petition from the Magistrate of P'ing-yin stating that on
the 30th December the English missionary Brooks was travelling in the Fei Ch'eng
district. At a place called Chang Chia Chuang he was attacked and wounded on the
head by a band of red turbaned "Boxer " rebels, who were all armed with swords, &c.
The rebels carried him off and are keeping him in hiding in some place in Fei Cheng
district. I, the Governor, immediately selected a trustworthy official, and dispatched
him to travel night and day with cavalry to rescue the missionary."
The Yamen at once submitted this telegram to the Throne, and an Imperial Decree
was issued commanding that ^the Governor be ordered by telegraph to immediately
devise means for the rescue of the missionary. No mistake or delay could be
permitted.
This telegram was sent to the Governor.
We have now received his reply as follows: —
" On receipt of the previous report I immediately deputed the Prefect Tseng;
Ch'i-hsun to travel night and day and in conjunction with the Magistrates of Fei-cheng
and P'ing--yin, acting under his orders, to devise all possible means for the ransom of
the missionary Brooks, and to arrange for cavalry to follow so as to prevent the rebels'
escape, I calculated that they would arrive on the spot by the evening of the 2nd
January. But I have just received a telegram from the Magistrate of Fei-Ch'eng,
reporting that on the 31st December the missionary was taken by mounted " Boxers " to
Mao Chia P'u, and there murdered.
" 1 have telegraphed to Tseng Ch'i to act with the two Magistrates, and have given
them three days within which to capture the murderers. I have also directed the
provincial Judge to depute an official to proceed to Tai-an Fu and invite one of the
foreign missionaries to go with him to identify the corpse, and to make proper arrange-
ments for burial and expenses.
" I have to report to the Yaraen the circumstances attending my inability to be in
time to rescue the missionary."
We have the honour to observe that troops have been repeatedly sent to deal with
the " Boxer " rebels, who have been creating disturbances in Shantung. Governor Yuan
had only just arrived at his post, and was in the act of arranging the disposition of
his troops when this unforeseen occurrence took place. The missionary arrived in Fei
Ch'cng district, and was carried off by the rebels. The Governor, on hearing of this,
immediately sent a deputy to rescue him, but before the soldiers arrived the missionary
had been killed. It is undoubtedly true that there was no time to rescue him.
We have to express our deepest sorrow, and in addition to telegraphing to the
Governor to immediately capture the murderers, it is our duty to address your Excellency
for your inforniaticm.
(Seal of Yamon.)
Inclosure 2 in No. 9.
Imperial Decree, dated January 5, 1 900.
(Translation.)
YUAN SHIH-K'AI reports by telegraph that rebels have collected and made
disturbances in the two districts of of P'ing Yin and Fei-cli'eng, in Shantung. They seized
a missionary and convened him to Mao Chia P'u. The Governor tried every means to
ransom and save him, and sent cavalry to capture the rebels, but suddenly before he
could be rescued the missionary^ was killed Hby the ruffians.
On perusal of this report we were most deeply grieved. The Treaties provide that
all nations may propagate their religions in China, and we have repeatedly issued
Decrees ordering the Provincial Governments to direct the local officials to afford
efficient and constant protection. Notwithstanding our repeated orders and injunctions,
this murder of a missionary takes place in Shantung, The neglect of precautionary
measures by the civil and military officers of that province is an offence which cannot be
condoned ; and if the murderers of this missionary be not immediately arrested, it will
show an utterly disgraceful state of affairs.
Let Yuan Shih-k'ai denounce to the Throne and propose punishments' for all the
officials involved in this neglect of duty, and let him at the same time fix a date for
the capture of the murderers, who must be caught and brought to justice so as to
restore peace to the district and preserve friendly relations with our neighbours.
Source:
Great Britain Foreign Office. (1900). Correspondence respecting the insurrectionary movement in China. London:
Her Majesty's Stationary Office, by Harrison & Sons. Retrieved from
http://archive.org/details/insurrectionaryco0grearich
Sir C. MacDonald to the Marquess of Salisbury. — {^Received February 19.)
My Lord, Peking, January 5, 1900.
FOR several months past the northern part of the Province of Shantung has been
disturbed by bands of rebels connected with various Secret Societies, who have been
dei'ying^ the authorities and pillaging the people. An organization known as the
" Boxers " has attained special notoriety, and their ravages recently spread over a large
portion of Southern Chihli, where the native Christians appear to have suffered even
more than the rest of the inhabitants from the lawlessness of these marauders. The
danger to which, in both provinces, foreign missionary establishments have been thus
exposed, has been the subject of repeated representations to the Chinese Government
by others of the foreign Representatives — especially the German and United States'
Ministers — and myself.
Early last month the Governor of Shantung, Yu Hsien, was ordered to vacate his
post and come to Peking for audience, and the General Yuan Shih-E'ai was appointed
Acting Governor in his place.
In Southern Chihli the task of dealing with the disturbances was entrusted to the
Viceroy at Tien-tsin. Her Majesty's Consul at Tien-tsin has had repeatedly to complain
to the latter of the inadequacy of the protection afforded to British life and property in
the districts affected by the rebellion ; and in consequence of these representations and
of my own communications to the Tsung-li Yamen, guards of soldiers have been
stationed for the special protection of the missionary premises which were endangered.
On the 29th ultimo I took occasion to warn the Yamen by letter that if the disorder
were not vigourously quelled, international complications were likely to ensue.
Being well aware, therefore, of the condition of things in Northern Shantung, it
was with much anxiety that I received, on the 2nd instant, through Bishop Scott, of
the Church of England Mission here, a telegram from the Mission at P'ing-yin, in
Northern Shantung, announcing that on the 30th December Mr. Brooks, of the Missions-
had been attacked, wounded, and captured by thirty " Boxers " in the Fei Ch'eng
district.
I at once sent Mr. Ker, the Assistant Chinese Secretary, to communicate the
contents of this telegram to the Yamen, and to ask that urgent telegraphic instructions
should be dispatched to the Governor of Shantung to take measures to deal with the
rebels and especially to secure the release of the missionary.
The Yamen Secretaries said that information of this occurrence had reached the
Yam^n, and that a telegram had been sent to Shantung to inquire particulars. They
promised that my message would be reported to the Ministers and a further telegram
dispatched. They said that the new Governor Yiian had already reached the capital and
taken over the seals of office.
On the following day I visited the Yamen. On inquiring what was being done, I
was informed that the Governor had promply taken stops with a view to effecting the
release of Mr. Brooks. The Yam^n had, however, to their great regret, received a
telegram that morning from the Governor to report that the Deputy sent in haste to
the scene of the outrage, had arrived only to find that Mr. Brooks had been put to
death on the 31st December, the day after he was captured. A despatch was being'
prepared, informing me of this lamentable intelligence, and expressing- the deep regret
of the Chinese Government.
I have the honour to transmit herewith to your Lordship a copy of this despatch.
In addition to the particulars related therein, T have since learned that the unfortunate
man was beheaded by the rebels and his body flung into a ditch.
In acknowledging to the Ministers of the Yamen at my interview the expressions
of regret which they offered, I laid stress on the importance of proving the sincerity of
this regret by strenuous action in dealing with this case, and in guarding against the
possibility of similar occurrences elsewhere.
Yesterday, when the Ministers of the J'sung-li Yamen and other high officials paid
their annual formal New Year's call at the Legation, the Grand Secretary Wang Wen
Shao informed me that he was specially authorized by the Emperor and Empress
Dowager to express to me the deep concern which was felt by the Throne on hearing
of this outrage. An Imperial Decree was, he said, being issued enjoining the
immediate capture of the murderers, and the punishment of the officials who had
neglected their duty.
The Decree to which the Grand Secretary referred was published in the Gazette
this morning, and 1 have the honour to inclose a translation of it herewith,
I had the honour to telegraph to your Lordship yesterday the news of
Mr. Brooks' murder, and the substance of the message which I received from the
Throne ou the subject.
As regards the future situation in Northern Shantung, the most hopeful feature is,
I think, the choice of Yiian Shih K'ai as Governor. This official filled for many years
the post of Chinese Resident in Corea, and has lately been in command of some 8,000
foreign-drilled troops near Tien-tsin. He has already announced the necessity of
having the whole of this force sent after him to his province, and the decision of
character and readiness to use force when necessary which has marked his action at
various critical situations in his career, make it possible to expect that he will succeed in
making short work of the rebels in the province which he administers.
In a note which I addressed to the Yamen this morning I took occasion to remind
the Ministers that there were other British missionaries living in the district where
]Mr. Brooks was killed, and to impress upon their Excellencies the necessity of securing
efficient protection to these. I do not, however, entertain serious apprehensions as to their
safety, because guards of soldiers have been for some time past stationed to protect
the various missionary residences. The unfortunate man who was murdered was seized
when he was travelling by wheel-barrow, without escort, through the country infested by
the rebels.
I have. &c.
(Signed) '" CLAUDE M. MacDONALD
Inclosure 1 in No, 9.
The Tsung-li Yamen to Sir C MacDonald.
(Translation,)
Sir, Peking, January 3, 1900.
WE have the honour to inform your Excellency that on the 2nd instant we received
a telegram from the Governor of Shantung as follows : —
" I have just received a petition from the Magistrate of P'ing-yin stating that on
the 30th December the English missionary Brooks was travelling in the Fei Ch'eng
district. At a place called Chang Chia Chuang he was attacked and wounded on the
head by a band of red turbaned "Boxer " rebels, who were all armed with swords, &c.
The rebels carried him off and are keeping him in hiding in some place in Fei Cheng
district. I, the Governor, immediately selected a trustworthy official, and dispatched
him to travel night and day with cavalry to rescue the missionary."
The Yamen at once submitted this telegram to the Throne, and an Imperial Decree
was issued commanding that ^the Governor be ordered by telegraph to immediately
devise means for the rescue of the missionary. No mistake or delay could be
permitted.
This telegram was sent to the Governor.
We have now received his reply as follows: —
" On receipt of the previous report I immediately deputed the Prefect Tseng;
Ch'i-hsun to travel night and day and in conjunction with the Magistrates of Fei-cheng
and P'ing--yin, acting under his orders, to devise all possible means for the ransom of
the missionary Brooks, and to arrange for cavalry to follow so as to prevent the rebels'
escape, I calculated that they would arrive on the spot by the evening of the 2nd
January. But I have just received a telegram from the Magistrate of Fei-Ch'eng,
reporting that on the 31st December the missionary was taken by mounted " Boxers " to
Mao Chia P'u, and there murdered.
" 1 have telegraphed to Tseng Ch'i to act with the two Magistrates, and have given
them three days within which to capture the murderers. I have also directed the
provincial Judge to depute an official to proceed to Tai-an Fu and invite one of the
foreign missionaries to go with him to identify the corpse, and to make proper arrange-
ments for burial and expenses.
" I have to report to the Yaraen the circumstances attending my inability to be in
time to rescue the missionary."
We have the honour to observe that troops have been repeatedly sent to deal with
the " Boxer " rebels, who have been creating disturbances in Shantung. Governor Yuan
had only just arrived at his post, and was in the act of arranging the disposition of
his troops when this unforeseen occurrence took place. The missionary arrived in Fei
Ch'cng district, and was carried off by the rebels. The Governor, on hearing of this,
immediately sent a deputy to rescue him, but before the soldiers arrived the missionary
had been killed. It is undoubtedly true that there was no time to rescue him.
We have to express our deepest sorrow, and in addition to telegraphing to the
Governor to immediately capture the murderers, it is our duty to address your Excellency
for your inforniaticm.
(Seal of Yamon.)
Inclosure 2 in No. 9.
Imperial Decree, dated January 5, 1 900.
(Translation.)
YUAN SHIH-K'AI reports by telegraph that rebels have collected and made
disturbances in the two districts of of P'ing Yin and Fei-cli'eng, in Shantung. They seized
a missionary and convened him to Mao Chia P'u. The Governor tried every means to
ransom and save him, and sent cavalry to capture the rebels, but suddenly before he
could be rescued the missionary^ was killed Hby the ruffians.
On perusal of this report we were most deeply grieved. The Treaties provide that
all nations may propagate their religions in China, and we have repeatedly issued
Decrees ordering the Provincial Governments to direct the local officials to afford
efficient and constant protection. Notwithstanding our repeated orders and injunctions,
this murder of a missionary takes place in Shantung, The neglect of precautionary
measures by the civil and military officers of that province is an offence which cannot be
condoned ; and if the murderers of this missionary be not immediately arrested, it will
show an utterly disgraceful state of affairs.
Let Yuan Shih-k'ai denounce to the Throne and propose punishments' for all the
officials involved in this neglect of duty, and let him at the same time fix a date for
the capture of the murderers, who must be caught and brought to justice so as to
restore peace to the district and preserve friendly relations with our neighbours.
Source:
Great Britain Foreign Office. (1900). Correspondence respecting the insurrectionary movement in China. London:
Her Majesty's Stationary Office, by Harrison & Sons. Retrieved from
http://archive.org/details/insurrectionaryco0grearich