By the chief executive committee: H. R. W. Johnson to Benjamin P. Avery , United States, May 17, 1875

Mr. Johnson to Mr. Avery.

My Dear Sir: Please permit me to refer unofficially to my official com you of the 1st instant, in reference to the Shinchang affair, and to hand you certain documents touching the question at issue, which may not have come to your excellency’s notice, being unofficial papers.

The questions submitted in my unofficial communications above referred to were asked Mr. Low in a private note, as far back as 1872, under the following circumstances: In 1872 Mr. Hart, then as now superintendent of the American Methodist Episcopal mission at Kiu-kiang, expressed a wish to establish a station in the interior, at, I think, the capital of Kiangsi Province. I had several interviews with Mr. Beebe, then acting consular agent at Kiu-kiang, and finally it was determined to write to Mr. Low and obtain his views on the subject. Accordingly, on the 16th of December, 1872, Mr. Beebe wrote Mr. Low a private note, asking him certain questions in regard to the rights of missionaries to locate in the interior, &c.

Mr. Low replied to Mr. Beebe, in an unofficial note dated January 15, 1873, in which he answered Mr. Beebe’s question plainly and decidedly. I now hand you copies of the two letters above referred to, thinking you may like to see them, and supposing there are no records of them in the legation, they being unofficial communications.

The question at issue is one of grave importance, and should be settled at once decidedly.

If the missionaries have no right to establish in the interior, then they should be informed of the fact, and warned against building or renting chapels outside of the treaty-ports. But if, on the contrary, they have a right by treaty-provision to rent or build chapels in the interior, then they should be protected in this right to do so, and the local authorities should be held responsible for such occurrences as the Shinchang affair. I beg to ask that your excellency will give me your views on this subject, and instruct me what action to take in case American missionaries again wish to rent chapels outside of this port or Kiu-kiang.

I might mention that I have shown Mr. Low’s letter (to Mr. Beebe) to the missionaries at Kiu-kiang for their information, but they seem disinclined to accept his view of the case.

The feeling among the natives at Kin-kiang, as I recently wrote you, is one of bitter hatred of all foreigners, especially missionaries, and, unless the latter are very prudent in their movements, I fear trouble of a serious kind may arise.

I have nothing further to report in regard to the destruction of the chapel at Kiu-kiang than what I gave you in my 348 of the 12th instant.

I am, sir, very respectfully, yours,