This time we got into a big mess with the foreigners, and things developed quickly and chaotically, completely unexpectedly. Those foreign ministers abroad are so far away that it is impossible for them to fully grasp the situation, making it hard to explain clearly to their governments and help them understand China's true intentions. Now let me explain the whole situation to you in detail.
At the beginning, there were some uprisings in the provinces of Zhili and Shandong, where people were practicing martial arts and engaging in superstitious rituals in the villages. The local officials didn’t discover it in time, and as a result, it spread rapidly, soon becoming nearly ubiquitous, even reaching Beijing. The whole thing seemed pretty strange, and people started joining in. Then some cunning individuals advocated the theory of "anti-foreigner sentiment." In mid-May, they suddenly revolted, burning churches, killing Christians, and the city exploded into chaos; nobody could control it.
When the riots first broke out, various countries requested to send troops to Beijing to protect their embassies. The emperor was in a real bind and reluctantly agreed. At least five hundred soldiers from various countries were sent to Beijing, which showed just how much China cared about its relations with other countries. The embassies of various countries in Beijing got along fine with the locals before; but since the foreign troops entered the city, they only focused on protecting their embassies, shooting up the city, patrolling the streets, and accidentally hurting a lot of people. They even nearly stormed Donghuamen Gate before being stopped. The people and the soldiers were furious, both blaming the foreign troops. The rebels seized the opportunity, burning and slaughtering Christians with even greater ferocity. Various countries sent more troops, but they were intercepted and killed by the rebels on the way, never reaching Beijing. By then, the rebels from Zhili and Shandong had joined forces, making it impossible to fight them individually.
The court did not want to order a severe crackdown on these rebels, but the situation was urgent. They were worried that they would not be able to protect the embassies of various countries in time. In case of a major disaster, they were also concerned that the provinces of Zhili and Shandong would rise up simultaneously, killing all the missionaries and believers in both provinces. Therefore, the court could only adopt a wait-and-see approach. There was no choice but to order the foreign envoys to take refuge in Tianjin temporarily.
Just as everyone was discussing, something suddenly happened: the German envoy, Mr. Klinde, was attacked by rebels on his way to the Governor-General's office in the morning. Mr. Klinde had made an appointment to visit the Yamen a few days ago, but the Governor-General's office did not agree to meet him on time due to the chaotic situation on the road. Since this incident, the rebels grew bolder, and it was not advisable to escort the envoys to Tianjin. The court had to order an increase in the troops protecting the embassies, as a precaution.
Unexpectedly, on May 20th, the customs officers at Dagukou actually went to see the Governor, Mr. Luo Rongguang, asking him to surrender the fort. They said if he did not agree, they would forcibly occupy it at two o'clock the next day. How could Mr. Luo Rongguang, with his responsibilities, surrender the fort? As a result, the next day, they indeed started attacking the fort. A day-long standoff ensued, and eventually, the fort fell.
From that moment on, the war began, but it was not initiated by us. Even if China had been so foolish as to overestimate its own strength, it would not go to war with all countries at the same time, let alone rely on rebels to fight against various nations. This point should be understood by all countries.
The above is the detailed account of the events and the response measures taken by China out of necessity. You ministers should explain these situations in detail to the governments of various countries, so that they understand China's true intentions. Now, the officers in charge of the troops must continue to protect the embassies with all their might. As for these rebels, deal with them as you see fit. When encountering diplomatic affairs with other countries, you ministers should continue to handle them as usual, without hesitation. I have so telegraphed.
Yours sincerely.
