initiative in urging the powers to unite in a request to Japan to withdraw her troops from Korea. On the 13th the Chinese minister at this capital visited the Department by appointment and informed me that he was directed by the viceroy to bring to the attention of the United States the fact that by the presence of a large force of troops in Korea, Japan was endeavoring to induce the Government of that country to change its domestic administration; that China had proposed the simultaneous withdrawal of all foreign troops, which offer Japan had declined; that he was instructed by the viceroy to express the hope that this Government would instruct its minister at Tokyo to unite with other diplomatic representatives there in a joint effort to influence Japan to abandon her warlike purpose against China. The minister further said that China's policy was one of peace, and that she did not desire to engage in war with Japan or any other power. I replied that the United States desired to continue and strengthen friendly relations with both China and Japan; that while we earnestly hoped to see those Governments remain on terms of peace, we could not intervene between them otherwise than with our good offices; that we had neither the right nor the inclination to go further; that by direction of the President I had already, through our minister at Tokyo, made a strong but friendly rep resentation to Japan in the interest of peace, and did not see that we could do more; and that we could not unite with other powers in any kind of an intervention. The minister repeated that Japan refused to withdraw her troops until the above-named reforms had been made; that he feared war was inevitable unless the powers exerted strong influence upon Japan, and asked what I thought of the situation, and whether I could make a suggestion that would improve it. I replied that from information received from Mr. Dun and other sources I was slow to believe that Japan would resort to war, and that a course was open to China which had been adopted by other powers, namely, an offer to settle the controversy by friendly arbitration. I am, etc., W. Q. GRESHAM. No. 29.] Mr. Sill to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Referring to my dispatches of June 25 and July 2 and 16, regarding military operations in Korea, I now have to inform you that at 4 a. m. on yesterday the Japanese forces broke into and took possession of the royal palace, a number of soldiers on both sides being killed. The King was very courageous and stood his ground, quieting all by his dignified bearing. The Japanese then compelled the presence of the ex-regent, father of the King, and bitter enemy of the Queen's party, thus seeming to wish to pit one faction against another; we fear that assassination will result. In his distress the King asked the foreign representatives to come to see him. We decided to do so, and later in the day we went in a body to the palace, the Japanese minister having arranged for us to pass his strong guard. As a result of this meeting we decided to do the only thing we could, that is, to cable the facts to our respective Governments and ask their good offices. This will be the subject of another dispatch. The city was in a great turmoil. Our legation began to fill up with refugees, and having no American guard our Koreans were unable to protect the gates; soon we had forty or more on the place and were unable to exclude others. The telegraph to Chemulpo was cut, but the Japanese minister kindly agreed to forward a message for me to Captain Day, of the Baltimore, over his military line. I also sent a fast courier with a letter, having been furnished a Japanese military pass for him to go through the lines. The courier returned in twenty-four hours, bearing a letter from my agent in Chemulpo stating that both messages had been received and delivered on board the Baltimore. I have no intimation from Captain Day, however, as to his intentions. China must resent this insult, and once her hordes begin to press across the northern border no force here will be able to stay the tide. The Chinese merchants have all left here, fearing the looting by their own troops that they say will surely follow their first success. Captain Impey seems to think that we need no guard, as the Japanese will protect us. I am quite aware that the Japanese will do this. I have had only courtesy from them and have been courteous in return. At the same time I feel that I would be violating my instructions and laying myself open to severe and merited disapproval from my Government if I should ask for a Japanese guard when I may just as well apply to my own Government forces for protection. I could not do a thing more offensive to the Government to which I am accredited, while I would render our own position very precarious by so doing, since the Chinese when they come would certainly resent our having made the Japanese position so much stronger by such action. I have eighty American men, women, and children, of high standing in their own country, under my care here, and I feel that I must use the greatest caution in preserving a strict neutrality in all these troubles. If I do not hear from Captain Day very soon I shall cable you for assistance. I have, etc., JOHN M. B. SILL. No. 30.] Mr. Sill to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Referring to my dispatch of July 24, I have the honor to inform you that I could not communicate to you by cable, as intended, the facts regarding the taking of the palace by Japanese. I have, however, written Mr. Dun and asked him to inform you by cable of the substance of my letter. I also wish to inform you that on yesterday Captain Day, of the U.S. S. Baltimore, at Chemulpo, sent me a guard of 50 men under command of Captain of Marines George F. Elliott. The arrival of this guard is very timely, as Japanese soldiers and disorderly Koreans in the garb of Japanese have been looting houses in the immediate vicinity of their legation as well as in other parts of the city. Our own lives were in danger. Also the apparent friendliness of the foreigners with the Japanese has aroused a very dangerous antiforeign feeling, and as more than half of the population of the city, including mostly the women and the better classes, have fled to the country, the city is in a very lawless condition. The British consulate has a marine guard, and the Russian legation will receive one to-day. We have reports of a naval engagement 30 miles south of Chemulpo, in which the Japanese sunk three Chinese vessels. A land engagement is also reported, but these are not yet authenticated. We know that a large Japanese force has gone south to meet the Chinese. Meantime the King is acceding to the demands of Japan, as he must under the circumstances. His father is said to be now virtually regent of Korea, and a number of pro-Japanese officials have been appointed to positions of great importance. I have, etc., No. 31.] JOHN M. B. SILL. Mr. Denby, chargé, to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Peking, July 27, 1894. (Received September 11.) SIR: I have the honor to report that the Emperor has nominated two commissioners to investigate and report upon the Viceroy Li's conduct of the Korean business. These commissioners are Weng Tung-ho, president of the board of revenue, and Li Hung-tsao, president of the board of rites. I have, etc., CHAS. DENBY, Jr. No. 32.] Mr. Denby, chargé, to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Peking, July 28, 1894. (Received September 11.) SIR: I have the honor to report that the Tsung-li-Yamên received yesterday afternoon a telegram from Korea announcing that the ship Kowshing, having on board 1,500 Chinese troops, had been fired upon by Japanese men-of-war, near A-san (or Ya-san), on the coast of Korea, some miles south of Chemulpo, and that she had gone down, only 11 lives being saved. Amongst the drowned was Mr. von Hanneken, a German military officer, who had been many years in the viceroy's service as military instructor. The ship Kowshing was the property of the Indo China Steam Navigation Company and flew the English flag. She was chartered on or about the 16th instant by the Chinese Government to be used as a dispatch boat. The agreement between the company and the Chinese Government was that she should be sailed under the British flag as long as it should be safe to do so; if captured, the purchase money already agreed upon was to be paid to Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., agents. On a formal declaration of war it was agreed that the vessel should run into the nearest Chinese port and hoist the Chinese flag. She was under the English flag when fired on yesterday. It is not known what incidents preceded this act of violence on the part of the Japanese nor how it is regarded by the British authorities. The effect can hardly be other than an immediate declaration of war between China and Japan. At this moment the Japanese chargé d'affaires is still in Peking and has no orders to withdraw. The Chinese Telegraph Administration refuses to transmit cipher telegrams unless sealed by the Tsung-li-Yamên. I have, etc., CHAS. DENBY, Jr. No. 33.] Mr. Denby, chargé, to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Peking, July 30, 1894. (Received September 12.) SIR: On the 28th instant the Tsung-li-Yamên, in an official dispatch of which I inclose a copy herewith, advised me that Japan had now commenced hostilities. They asked me to convey this information to you and to request you to telegraph to the United States minister at Tokyo, their intention being to have him at once take under his protection the subjects of China in Japan. On the same day I telegraphed you as follows: Yamên announces outbreak of hostilities; requests instructions American minister Tokyo assume protection Chinese. The Chinese Telegraph Administration refusing cipher telegrams, unless sealed by the Yamên, to secure which involves much loss of time, I preferred to forward the message to you in open text. On the 29th instant, I sent a reply to the Yamên, of which a copy is inclosed, informing them that I had complied with their request. The language of the Yamên, though guarded, viz, "the Japanese have now commenced hostilities and it is difficult to say what will be the condition of affairs," is practically a recognition of a state of war. The chargé d'affaires of Japan, however, has not been asked to withdraw by China, nor has he been recalled by his own Government. For six days he has been without instructions from Tokyo, and the only inference is that telegrams directed to him are retained. I have, etc., CHAS. DENBY, Jr. [Inclosure 1 in No. 33.] The Tsung-li-Yamên to Mr. Denby. JULY 28, 1894. Upon the 21st instant the chargé d'affaires of the United States called on the Yamên and stated that he had been instructed by telegram that, should war break out between China and Japan over the troubles in Korea, the Japanese Government would request the United States to protect Japanese residents in China in case the Government of China would consent thereto. The Yamén replied that Mr. Wang, Chinese minister at Tokyo, had come to an understanding with the United States minister that, in event of war, the United States would be asked to give protection to the Chinese residents in Japan, and they supposed that this proposal had already been submitted to the honorable Secretary of State. The Japanese have now commenced hostilities, and it is difficult to say what will be the condition of affairs. There are large numbers of Chinese residents in Japan. Many reside at the treaty ports and at Tokyo and vicinity, where they have their families, money, and property, and where they are engaged in business. The Government of the United States has kindly undertaken to take them under its protection, as provided by international law. For this the prince and ministers are sincerely grateful. In sending this communication for the information of the chargé d'affaires of the United States, the prince and ministers would beg him to be good enough to advise the honorable Secretary of State, requesting him to issue telegraphic instructions to the minister of the United States at Tokyo. [Inclosure 2 in No. 33.] this Mr. Denby to the Foreign Office.(te angle YOUR HIGHNESS AND YOUR EXCELLENCIES: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch of yesterday, in which you refer to our interview of the 21st instant, and to the protection by the United States of the citizens of China and Japan in each other's territory in case of war. You state that "the Japanese have now commenced hostilities, and it is difficult to say what will be the condition of affairs;" that there are many Chinese in Japan, and that as the United States has agreed to take them under its protection, you request that the honorable Secretary of State be asked to forward to the United States minister at Tokyo telegraphic instructions. In reply, I have the honor to state that I sent yesterday to the honorable Secretary of State a telegram in accordance with your request. • I avail, etc., CHAS. DENBY, Jr. No. 34.] Mr. Denby, chargé, to Mr. Gresham. [Telegram.] PEKING, August 1, 1894. (Received August 2.) War is declared. Japanese chargé d'affaires left Peking to-day. Has placed interests [of] Japanese subjects in charge of legation of the United States. Outbreak feared [at] Tientsin. Request war vessel. DENBY. |