Mr. Denby to Mr.
Sherman.
Legation of the United States,
Pekin, China, May 3,
1898.
No. 2924.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose a translation
of a communication from the Tsung-li Yamên wherein the princes and
ministers inform me that China has declared her neutrality in the
existing war between Spain and the United States.
I have, etc,
The Tsung-li Yamên to
Mr. Denby.
Your Excellency: The princes and ministers
have had the honor to receive a communication from the minister of
the United States, stating that the Congress of the United States
passed on the 20th of April a joint resolution directing
intervention for the pacification and independence of Cuba. The
Government of Spain on the 21st instant informed the minister of the
United States at Madrid that it considered this resolution
equivalent to a declaration of war, and that it had accordingly
withdrawn its minister from Washington and terminated all diplomatic
relations with the United States.
[Page 852]
The Congress of the United States thereupon, by an act approved the
26th of April, declared that a state of war exists between the two
countries since and including the 21st of April.
The minister of the United States is directed by his Government to
give this information to the princes and ministers, so that the
neutrality of the Empire of China may be assured in the existing
war.
In reply, the princes and ministers have to observe that the
Government of China will duly maintain the laws of neutrality. The
Yamên have therefore telegraphed the viceroys, governors, and
tartar-generals of the yangtze and maritime provinces to issue
instructions to their subordinates that they are to observe the laws
of neutrality. Further, instructions have been issued to the high
authorities of all the provinces and to the inspector-general of
customs to issue proclamations for general information.
The princes and ministers have the honor to send this reply for the
information of the minister of the United States.
