James Burrill Angell to Prince Kung, August 2, 1881

Mr. Angell to Prince Kung.

[After reciting the facts and quoting largely from Messrs. Murray and Hunter’s letter, the dispatch proceeds:]

I have never heard that any complaint was made against our missionaries in Tsi-nan-fu. You will agree with me, I think, that they have showed a proper spirit of conciliation in consenting promptly to make an exchange of their property for some other eligible site.

It is hard that men of such a spirit should be so maltreated. I cannot think the Taotai was as efficient as he should have been. When warned in advance that an attack was to be made upon the building, he did not make proper preparation to prevent it, and when the attack was begun in the morning it was not until late in the afternoon that the soldiers were called out to suppress the mob.

As to the mob and the leaders of it, I trust that your highness will urge the governor to punish the guilty parties.

Furthermore, it seems to me only fair that these peaceable missionaries who have so readily agreed to abandon their chosen site in order to prevent trouble should be met in the same spirit and allowed to have some good position. It is hardly to be credited that on a street nearly two li in length, no place can be found for them. I trust the authorities may assist them to find some site on the west end of the main street.

Finally, while now as always it is only with great delicacy that I refer to the punishment of a Chinese subject by the Chinese authorities, may I not speak a friendly word in behalf of the release of the Christian, Lui Yü Ting, unless he has committed some other offense than acting as the intermediary in the purchase of the property.

Confident that your imperial highness will direct the governor of Shantung to do what is right in the premises,

I am, &c.,