James Burrill Angell to Walker Blaine, July 28, 1881

No. 169. Mr. Angell to Mr. Blaine.

Sir: I have the honor to submit to you some correspondence between Mr. Vice-Consul Carrow and myself concerning the refusal of a district magistrate at Canton to stamp the deeds of two lots of land purchased by the Rev. E. Z. Simmons for the Southern Baptist Mission.

You will observe by perusing the vice-consuls dispatch (copy inclosed) that the magistrate refuses to stamp the deeds because, as he alleges, first, foreigners have no right to hold lands outside the foreign concessions, and secondly, Mr. Simmons has no right to buy for the society. Now, it is notorious that the missionaries have for years owned and occupied estates outside the foreign concession. It is also well known that the clause inserted in the twelfth article of the British treaty of Tientsin, 1858, authorizing the purchase of property “in other places” than the open ports, was placed there with special reference to the unreasonable opposition which had been made at Canton to securing convenient places of business and residence.

It is also true, I believe, that there is no shadow of any ground in any treaty for asserting that Mr. Simmons may not buy for his missionary society if he can buy at all. This claim of the magistrate probably arises from the fact that the French Roman Catholics, in order to secure real estate in the interior for missionary purposes, do purchase in the name of the society or church of Chinese converts.

This action of the district magistrate does not wear a pleasant aspect. It may be simply the fruit of a superserviceable zeal of a new incumbent of the office. But there are some indications that the authorities of Kwangtung are just now inclined to a rather reactionary policy in the treatment of foreigners. The viceroy has shown a reluctance to accept the regulations concerning official intercourse. I have reason to believe that the provincial authorities have embarrassed the Roman Catholics not a little during the last few months. I have deemed it our right under the treaties, and in every way expedient, to instruct our consular officer to take a firm position. I inclose a copy of my dispatch to him. Trusting my course may meet your approbation,

I have, &c.,