ANNEX NO. 16
IMPERIAL EDICT of December 24, 1901
[TRANSLATION]
It has been stipulated in the treaties concluded between China and the Foreign Powers that the citizens of these Powers shall be allowed to penetrate into the interior.
The Court, in order to ensure and maintain relations with other countries, has already published decrees ordering that most sincere efforts be made in the provinces to guarantee protection. Nevertheless, the local authorities having gradually grown lax (in the exercise of their duties), malefactors have caused trouble, and attacks have been directed against foreigners. Similar incidents have repeatedly occurred.
We realize that our ability was too limited to reform the ignorant people, which has led us to make very grievous mistakes. Not a single local mandarin has, in normal times, been able to interpret European affairs, and none has comprehended the importance of foreign relations. Consequently the conflagration spread everywhere, threatening the Empire; and, if they reflect, they will find they have cause for uneasiness.
Henceforth each one of you must strive to overcome his resentment and to lay aside his prejudices. You must know that the maintenance of friendly relations with foreign countries has in all times been a fundamental law. People coming to China from afar, whether as merchants to exchange their products, or as travelers to increase their scientific knowledge, or yet as missionaries to preach religion with the object of exhorting the people to do good, have crossed mountains and seas at the cost of the greatest exertions.
Since China passes for a civilized country, it must practice the duties of a host toward his guests. Moreover, the Chinese who have gone abroad in recent years number at least several hundreds of thousands. The safety of their persons and property depends upon the guaranty assured them by the Powers, who have given them their protection. How could we continue to treat their citizens differently?
We again command all the responsible High civil and military Authorities of all the provinces to order their subordinates to protect, in the most efficacious manner, the agents and nationals of the foreign Powers who may enter within their districts. In case audacious malefactors should go so far as to maltreat and massacre foreigners, order must be restored immediately and the guilty parties arrested and punished without delay. No delay must occur. If, owing to indifference, or even to voluntary tolerance, great calamities should take place, or if treaties should be violated and no immediate steps taken to make reparation or inflict punishment, the Governors-General, Governors, and the provincial or local Officials responsible will be removed and
