John Russell Young to Frelinghuysen, April 1, 1884

No. 42. Mr. Young to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

Sir: I have the honor to confirm my cable dispatch dated February 11, as follows:

Holcombe returned, having satisfactorily settled Chinaufoo case.

In my dispatch No. 285, dated November 14, I informed the Department that I had resolved to send Mr. Holcombe to Chinaufoo to endeavor to arrange long-standing grievances between the American missionaries residing there and the Chinese authorities.

I did this with some reluctance, because I do not wish to encourage a disposition on the part of the yamên to throw the responsibility of settling important questions upon the provincial officials. At the same time, the American citizens in Chinaufoo had been a long time deprived of their rights. All recourse to the yamên had been exhausted, and I saw no better way to secure a practical result than to deal directly with the governor of the province.

This decision I am glad to know met with your approval.

Mr. Holcombe left Peking on the morning of December 25, 1883, and returned February 9, 1884. I wrote the viceroy Li Hung Chang regarding his mission, expressing the hope that all courtesy would be shown him as the representative of this legation.

In my dispatch No. 333, dated January 26, I had the pleasure of saying to the Department that every pains had been taken by the authorities to meet my wishes in this respect and to do honor to Mr. Holcombe. In his report Mr. Holcombe dwells with more detail upon this gratifying incident. I make a special reference to this because, at a time when there is much anxiety in China as to the status of foreigners, it is a gratification to know that a friendly disposition exists towards Americans.

The details of Mr. Holcombe’s settlement will appear in the inclosures.

The agreement as it now stands is satisfactory to the gentlemen directly concerned and meets with my approval. I trust that it will satisfy the Department.

In the mean time I commend to your recognition the judgment and tact shown by Mr. Holcombe in carrying out the orders of the legation and bringing to an honorable result a question which has been for a long time a source of anxiety.

I have informed his imperial highness Prince Kung that the legation regards the “Chinaufoo case” as satisfactorily disposed of, and requested him to thank the governor of Shantung for his most courteous treatment of Mr. Holcombe.

I have, &c.,