IV.—The Petition for the Establishment of a U.S. Consulate at Newchwang.
1.—As to the first, the advisability of an Isthmian Canal, 'a general meeting open to the public was held on December bad, 1809, in which the subject was discussed, from the economic, political and" strategienl points of view, and as the result of the discussion a Jotter was addressed to Emory R. Johnson, Esq., member of the Isthmian Canal Commission, expressing ax the view of the Association, that it was most heartily in favour of the project, and in response to a request from the Commission for the views of business men in regard to the effect of the opening of such a canal on comme! interests, a letter was written stating belief that the proposed canal would contribute tos very marked extent in furthering American trade with China, In both of these communications the Association 1 ceived the thanks of the Isthmian Canal Commission.
2.—The memorial on the Reform of th Consular Service. The attention of the Committee was called to a Bill presented Before both Houses of Congress to remodel the Consular Service, and we immediately took steps to put ourselves on record as heartily in favour of this most-needed reform. A circular letter twas addressed to the President, the Cabinet and members of Congress, pointing out the benefits that would accrue to all American interests by a more proficient and permanent Consular Service and the steps that should be taken to procure this desideratum. Our memorial was favourably noticed in many of the leading journals at home, but as the Bill was not pushed in Congress, our efforts have thus far proved fruitless. 'Among the proposed amendments to the Constitution, you will notice that your Committee desires to place among' the objects of the Association the furtherance of reform in the Consular Service. We sincerely hope that this will meet with your approval, and that we will be able in the future as an Association to help in agitating the matter until something is accomplished. as January 23rd of this year our minds were directed to the growing turbulence in the North. Bearing in mind that our Association was intended to protect the interests of the missionary as well as of the merchant, we addressed a letter to the American missionaries in the Shantung Province, asking for particulars in regard to the Boxer disturbances from which their work was suffering, and offering as an Association to urge upon our Minister. the Hon. E.H. Conger, the need of decided and firm action in dealing with the Chinese authorities in order to bring these disturbances to an end. Letters dated March 9th were written to Mr. Conger calling his attention to the serious aspect affairs were assuming, and on March 15th the following significant telegram accompanied by an explanatory letter, was sent to the Secretary State, "Open Door Policy nullified should prescriptive hostility of the Empress continue toward reform party. Unless the Government attitudes be modified, we aprebend rebellion, and anarchy culminating in disintegration of empire and destruction of foreign interests. Position critical, prompt action and concert of Powers In this telegram we indulged in propheey. Alas! as you know only too thoroughly has our political forecast been fulfilled. Asis the fate of most prophets we delivered a warning that passed unheeded, and were perhaps looked upon as mis.uided alarmists.
Affairs however went on from bad to worse, and on June 7th we esbled to the Secretary of the Asiatic Association of New York, hoping that that powerful sister Association might through personal inter. lews of somejpr its members with the Secretary of State and members of the Cabinet, accomplish more than we could by addressing the Government directly. Here perhaps it may be well to say that we hare been in constant communication with Mr. John Foord, the secretary of the Asiatic Associa tion, and that in response to all our appeals, has done g in his power to circulate the in we have sent, and to bring our representations to the notice of our Government. cablegrams and letters have then eff-otod If we are disposed to wonder why our
so little, we must remember that our Associatiun and the Asiatic Association have alike been fighting a battle against, gross ignorance, invincible ignorance, one almost feels inclined to say, and that it has been most difficult to get the American people to come to any appreciation of the significance of the uprising in China. On June 12th we felt it our duty to urge gun boat protection the Yangtze for River. A cable was sent to the Asiatic Associati n urging this step, and a letter was sent to Admiral Kempf to the same effect, I regret to say that we failed to secure any help from our government towards policing the Yangtze river. The other powers especially Groat Britain have Istely kept a large number of ships on the river, and I believe that th presence there has done much to maintain peace in Central China.
On Sunday, July Ist, the members of the Committee were called together for an emergency meeting. News had just come to hand confirming the assassination of Baron von Ketteler, and the gravest fears were entertained as to the safety of al foreigners in Peking. We feel that even here in Shanghai, our seeming quiet might be but the prelude to an awful anti-foreign insurrection. With Mr. Goodnow our Consul General, who met with us, we held a long and serious consultation. He made known to us the desire on the part of the Yangtze Viceroys to make a concordat with the foreign Consuls insuring the maintenance of order in this part of China, provided it did not become the scene of hostile action on the part of the foreign powers.
This policy we heartily endorsed, and on July the 2nd cabled to the Asiatic Assuci tion to that effect.
At the time of greatest tension here in Shanghai, when day after day we were left: in suspense as to the fate of our fellow-countrymen and all foreigners in Peking, we determined on calling general meeting of the American citizens in Shanghai to pass resolutions urging our government to use all the forces available at its command, in conjunction with the forces of other Powers, to rescue the besieged, and to punish those responsible for the outrages. At that period mivst of us thought that the Worst was to be feared, and' that the relieving force when it finally reached Peking: would find that it had arrived too Fortunately, or shall I say providentially these fears were not realise. It was only natural that we should have entertained them, and we know now that the reason they were not realised was on account of the inability of the assailants to overcome one of the most gallant defences of which history bears any record.
Fearing that the disturbances, notwithstanding the good intentions of the Viceroys, might extend to Shanghai, on July 26th we held a joint meeting with the Committee of the China Assvciation to discuss the advisability of urging our Home Government to garrison troops in Shanghai. Although we have repeatedly urged that the U. S. should take some part along with the other powers in securing the absolute safety of Shanghai, and that we should not be beholden to the services of the troops of other nations for the protection of American interests, our representations on the subject have met with no success, and the Government thus far has not' seen its way to do more than cooperate with other powers in the relief expedition sent to Peki On August 8th the welcome news of the relief of Peking reached us. And a few days after we wired our congratulations to Minister Conger, and all other foreigners in Peking.
Upon Me. Rockhill's arrival in Shanghai, as U.S. Commissioner, a sub-Committee was appointed to wait upon hit, to present the views of the Association, and later a letter was addressed to him in which those views were embodied, with the request that he would transmit the same to our Government. In answer Mr. Rockhill informed us that he had cabled the substance of our views to the Secretary of State.
Since that time we have sent a very important letter to the Asi ation, calling attention to the at ment of Dowager in this part of Chi out the danger that would undoubtedly arise if these appointments were quietly acquiesced in by the foreign powers.
So much for a brief outline of the course we pursued as an Association during the China crisis.
Tnow turn to the fourth subject.
IV.—The petition for the establishment of an. S. Consulate at Newchwang. American commercial interests at tht Entil the /upkenent, have been tapuly on ort, as you know, ate very urge, and the increase. Up to this time, however, we have had no proper Consular repre: sentative at the port to look after our interests. In view of the future, and the possible complications tat may arise after the settlement, it has seemed to us highly important that at so valuable a centre of trade there should bea regularly appoir ed, competent U. S. Consul. Through our Consul-General, we have made representation to the Home Gorernment on the matter and at the sime time have written fully to the Asiatic Association of Sew York, urging it to use its influence in securing the appointment of such an official.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.