REHFUES, North German Confederation to His Imperial Highness Prince Kung, & c, June 24, 1870

Representatives of Treaty Towers to Prince Kung.

Sir: It is with the deepest grief and indignation that the undersigned, who represent the foreign governments accredited to China, have learned the news of the atrocious crime which has been committed at Tien-tsin. as it were at one of the gates of the capital of the empire. The consul of France, the missionaries, and Sisters of Charity and other Frenchmen residing at Tien-tsin, have been massacred and their establishments burned. From the particulars which have yet reached Pekin, not very exact, it is true, there is reason to fear that the fanatical populace will not refrain from further excesses toward the foreign residents at Tien-tsin.

The undersigned do not doubt that the government of his Majesty the Emperor of China in its wisdom sympathizes in the general indignation felt in consequence of these atrocities, and is fully sensible of the grave responsibility which rests upon it, as well as its duty to take the necessary measures to prevent the repetition of such acts; which, wherever they may occur, cannot fail to seriously compromise the position of the imperial government in the eyes of all the world.

The occurrences at Tien-tsin prove, in fact, that foreigners are not everywhere sufficiently protected by these Chinese, local authorities. It is therefore for the interest of the imperial government itself to demonstrate, by the clearest acts, its firm intention to assure the safety of all foreigners who have trusted themselves to its fidelity, wherever they may be within the confines of the empire. If such a catastrophe as this could happen only eighty miles from the capital, the undersigned cannot but fear that, unless the guilty persons are promptly punished, new attempts will be made at places further from the capital, where the authority of the central power has less efficiency. It is indispensable that, as other countries hear the tidings of this crime, they should at the same time be informed that justice is being done: and thus each of them will be reassured as to the condition of its citizens who have trusted themselves to the protection of China.

The undersigned gladly avail themselves of this occasion to renew to his imperial highness the assurance of their respectful consideration.