Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the President, December 2, 1872, Part I

No. 79.
Mr. Low to Mr. Fish.

Legation of the United States,
Peking, February 5, 1872. (Received April 26.)

No. 130.]

Sir: When passing through Tien-tsin, on my way to Shanghai, last spring, I called upon Li-Hung-chang, the governor-general of this province. At this interview I was informed that a project of sending a number of young men to the United States to be educated was under consideration; that the plan would be in a few months definitely decided upon, when the details would be more fully made known to me. The viceroy said that if the proposition commended itself to my good judgment lie would esteem it a special favor if I would, at the appropriate time, inform my Government of the matter; he would also be glad if I would use my influence in the proper direction to secure to the scholars kindness and consideration, and thus facilitate their reception into the proper schools, academies, and colleges.

In reply, I informed him that I cordially approved of the project, and hoped that his enlightened efforts would be sanctioned by the imperial government. I promised that I would do anything in my power to facilitate the enterprise.

In response the viceroy said that it was doubtful if the imperial government would be willing to assume the control and direction of this matter; if not, it would make little difference, for in that case it would be carried into effect by the joint efforts of himself and the Viceroy Tseng-Kwo-fan.

I am now in receipt of a note from Li-Hung-chang, in which he says that definite arrangements are made for sending the first installment of the pupils the present year.

I beg to inclose translation of what he writes concerning this subject; also my reply thereto.

The consul-general has, I believe, furnished the Department with the particulars, which renders it unnecessary for me to enter into the details of the scheme.

If I am correctly informed, this enterprise is under the patronage of the two viceroys, Tseng-Kwo-fan and Li-Hung-chang. It has, I believe, the sanction of the central government, but the foreign office assumes to exercise no control over the project itself or the details. It is not unlikely that the reason why this matter is placed in the hands of these viceroys is to be found in the fact that the government here, having established in Peking a school for teaching foreign science, it would not be consistent for the foreign office to become the responsible authors and promoters of a scheme which might, in the estimation of the Chinese, be construed as antagonistic to the Peking college.

The conception and carrying into effect of a plan for educating Chinese youths abroad is one of the most hopeful signs of progress I have seen. It goes to prove two facts: First, that the expectation of finally expelling foreigners and restoring the empire to its original status of exclusiveness is being abandoned; and second, that the high officials realize that foreign knowledge is indispensable in the development of the resources of their own country, if they would place her in a position to compete with Christian nations.

In this connection I may observe that, in the conversation with the viceroy Li-Hung-chang concerning this matter, I was struck with his clear conception of what he wanted to accomplish, and the proper way to do it. He said that the time had arrived when it seemed absolutely necessary to develop China’s internal resources, in order to arrest decay, stop retrogression, and place her on the road to reform and advancement; that to accomplish this a knowledge of our sciences and arts is necessary; that the employment of foreigners, while it accomplished immediate results, gave no promise for a permanent and prosperous future; therefore it seemed to him that an earnest effort should be made to educate their own people, and fit them for this work. With reference to the sending of these youths to the United States, the viceroy said that this decision had been taken partly because of the unbroken amity which had existed between our country and China, but more particularly for the reason that, from all the information obtainable, he was satisfied that our schools possessed a superiority over those of Europe in imparting practical knowledge.

In this connection he remarked that their decision in this regard would excite jealousy, and it was not unlikely that he would be subjected to ungenerous criticism, because a part, if not the whole, were not sent to Europe.

To all such small-minded criticisms he professed to be entirely indifferent.

A recent editorial in one of the Shanghai newspapers, shows only too plainly that the viceroy’s anticipations are being realized.

As you will see from my note to the governor-general inclosed, the Pacific Mail Steamship Company have generously proposed to convey the pupils, their teachers and guardians, to San Francisco for one-half the usual rates of fare. I cannot too strongly commend this enterprise to the kind and generous attention of the Government and people of the United States.

If success attends this initiatory step, it will, no doubt, encourage its promoters and lead to an enlargement and fuller development of the plan.

I have, &c,

FREDERICK F. LOW.

[Inclosure 1.]

Extract from a note from Li-Hung-chang, governor-general of Pe-chee-lee, to Mr. Low, under date of January 13, 1872.

[January 13, 1872]

“During the interview I had with your excellency at Tien-tsin, I referred to a plan for selecting boys to be sent to study in the United States, which plan seemed to gratify you. The plan has now been definitely fixed, and next year^* the students are to be sent. Since the relations between China and the United States are extremely friendly, I take advantage of your personal friendship to say by this opportunity that if you-will request the Secretary of State to take a kind interest in the enterprise I shall feel very grateful.”

[Inclosure 2.]

Extract from a note from Mr. Low to Li-Hung-chang, governor-general of Pe-chee-lee, under date of January 27, 1872.

“In reply, I have the honor to say that it will afford me pleasure to comply with your request, and I doubt not my Government will use its good offices in any way it can consistently, to promote the object you have in view. I cannot too warmly indorse the movement inaugurated by your excellency. It will, I trust, result in great advantages to your country and people, and tend to increase the friendship already existing between the government of His Imperial Majesty and that of the United States.

“As an evidence of the interest which the people of the United States feel in the movement, I am authorized by the owners of the steamers running between Shanghai and the United States to say that all students, their teachers and guardians, desiring to go, will, upon presenting a certificate signed by me, be furnished with passage-tickets at one-half the regular rates of fare. If the students are obliged to bear their own expenses this offer will prove of pecuniary advantage to them; if their expenses are borne by the government, your excellency will receive the proposition as a token of friendship, which I trust will not be declined. If agreeable to you, I shall order the consul-general at Shanghai to ascertain the names of the persons who will go this year, so that I may furnish them with the proper certificate.”

1. This refers to the next Chinese year, which commenced on the 9th of February, 1872.