Prince Kung to To his Excellency Frederick F. Low, August 9, 1870

Prince Kung to Mr. F. F. Low.

Sir: Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for foreign affairs, herewith makes a communication.

On the 7th instant I received the following imperial decree:

“Chang Kwang-tsao, the prefect of Tien-tsin, and Liu Kieh, the district magistrate, both of whom have been degraded, were reported by Tsang Kwoh-fan, and have been handed over to the board for trial and punishment. These degraded officers ought properly to be examined where their offense was committed; and at Tien-tsin, personal depositions can be taken, and the accused confronted with witness, which will enable the board of punishments to examine awl decide their eases equitably and intelligently. Let Tsien Ting-ming immediately semi them to Tien-tsin in charge of a special officer, who will wait with them till their depositions and cross-examination are finished. Respect this.”

It appears to me that as the riot in which these officers are involved occurred at Tien-tsin, it will be much easier to cross-examine and get the real facts there; and I have accordingly transmitted the above decree, requiring that the degraded prefect and magistrate give their evidence and be cross-examined before witness at Tien-tsin, preparatory to their being again delivered to the board of punishments for final sentence, to his excelleney Tsang, cabinet minister and governor general of Chihli, to act in conformity thereto, and the object of this dispatch is to inform your excellency of what has been done in this respect.