This legation has requested Mr. Seymour not to enter into any discussion of
the subject of indemnity or of the question of the outrages in general, this
being at present a matter of negotiation at Washington.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 117.]
United
States Consulate, Canton,
China.
An official communication from his
excellency Chang, governor-general of the two Quanqs, to Hon.
Charles Seymour, United States consul, Canton, relative to
anti-Chinese riots in San Francisco.
[Translation.]
I have to reply to his honor the consul’s dispatch [herein the dispatch
is quoted verbatim et literatim] of which I, the
Viceroy, have made a full perusal. On a thorough examination, the
telegram published in Hong-Kong papers is hard to believe. Relating to
this case I, the Viceroy, had previously sent a telegram to his
excellency Juan, Chinese minister to America, requesting him to exert
his capability in consulting with the foreign office to discover the
rioters, to indemnify the claims, and to protect the Chinese subjects.
There was nothing said of reprisal. I, the Viceroy, have heretofore been
aware of the exceedingly friendly relation maintained between your
honored country and mine, and also of the utmost equity and justice with
which your honored country in a polite manner manages affairs. So, on a
former occasion, there was an official communication from me begging his
honor the consul to telegraph to your honored country to promptly and
satisfactorily adjust the matter with the wish of nothing more than to
cause the Chinese and American merchants to live in mutual tranquillity
and to manifest in a higher degree the existing friendliness.
It will be seen on examination that I, the Viceroy, recently have adopted
many ways in the line of protection, and in guarding against and
suppressing any outbreak, from which my sincerity in treatment is wholly
apparent. As to what the London telegram states, there is no truth in
it, although rioters in San Francisco are numerous, yet the
proclamations of your honored country prohibiting and punishing the
rioters have already come to my knowledge. For instance, your honored
country has not justifiably adjusted the matter, and, being called upon
on several times, refused to adjust the affair with justice. Our
Government will desire an upright and justifiable way of managing the
affair; on hearing the subject clearly memorialized by his excellency
the minister, and would not tolerate the common people seeking any
occasion for disturbance. My Government’s humanity is so extensive and
far-reaching there would never be any such act of slaughter. I, the
Viceroy, having pure minded and clear perception, would not bring about
any such uncalled for action. Just as a foreign telegram came stating
that your Government had ordered the Senate to settle the indemnity in
the Lock Spring case, so this London telegram states, that because your
Government had refused, reprisals are threatened at Canton. Take this
for an inference, it can be deduced that it is a piece of unauthentic
talk. After the affairs had taken place in San Francisco, foreigners in
China have been somewhat cautious, and on account of rumor being
circulated to and fro, and when it is circulated to a further extent,
translators of English would make all the more mistakes, so it reaches
to this point, which is not at all worthy of credence. However there
ought to be a prompt settlement of the lives and property of those
Chinese subjects who have suffered from the calamity, and also to adopt
good measures for meeting contingency that comes after in order to be in
accordance with reason and common sense.
The Irish party or faction, it appears, has been a long time naturalized
as American citizens, so they are really your honored country’s people.
Now, if that faction is allowed to act obstinately and brutally treat
others; to force the Chinese laborers out of work, and injure their
lives and property, without the least scruple or fear, when this is
circulated to the different countries, people will regard the official
orders of your honored country’s high officials as having no force and
having no power over the natives; is this not still more deeply to be
regretted? Although I, the Viceroy, can prohibit any reprisal, but if
the affairs in San Francisco are not satisfactorily adjusted the feeling
of the people, would not be contented; when their feeling is not
satisfied, although they dare not seek any occasion for disturbance,
there would be many hindrances placed against the affairs that are to
come. It is requested that your honor the consul will again forward a
telegraphic message to the consul-general to telegraph to your honored
country to adjust the matter satisfactorily, for which thanks are
rendered. As to measures for guarding, protecting I, the Viceroy, am
still giving proper orders.
With compliments, &c.
Quang Sii, twelfth year, second moon, sixth
day (March 11, 1886).
