Wells Williams to the ministers of the foreign office, April 4, 1874

Mr. Williams to the ministers of the foreign office.

Sirs: I have already brought to your notice the attack on Rev. H. Corbett by the people of Chi-mi, who stoned and robbed him, and then received a reply stating that orders had been sent to the governor of Shantung to examine into the affair.

I have since received a report from the American consul at Che Foo, who has been investigating this case with the intendant there, in which he complains that the latter is dilatory, and is trying to slur over the whole affair of the attack and robbery of Mr. Corbett. His report leads me to ask why the intendant should delay the case three whole months, and then just turn around and say that he had finished it? It is not easy to explain this, except by supposing that he is partial in some way. If he will examine the 11th article of the treaty he will see what is required to be done, and that his report of the facts is entirely at variance with what the consul has ascertained. The names of more than ten men, who were engaged in the robbery, have been given in with the evidence, and yet he avers that the case is already finished. I think this shows clearly that he is unwilling to try it at all.

I therefore earnestly request that other orders may be sent to Shantung requiring the governor to direct his subordinates to have this whole matter tried in Chefoo, to which place the criminals, and all that are connected with it, shall be removed, and where the intendant shall summon the witnesses. Here, in conjunction with the consul, it can be fully examined and decided in accordance with equity and the criminals punished. It will not be difficult, under such circumstances, to get at the truth; for, as the proverb says, “when the water has fallen the rocks appear.”

As I write this note I improve the opportunity to wish you every happiness.