Minutes of the third conference with the Chinese plenipotentiaries, held September 7, 1901.
The diplomatic corps, comprising the ministers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Holland, Russia, and the plenipotentiary of the United States met at 11 o’clock at the Spanish legation under the presidence of Mr. de Cologan, doyen, and affixed their names to the final protocol of the negotiations.
The representatives of the powers were nearly all accompanied by the first secretaries and interpreters of their legations.
Prince Ch’ing and Li Hung-chang, Chinese plenipotentiaries, were accompanied by M. Lien Fang, under secretary of foreign affairs, and M. Tseng, secretary of the governor-general Li Hung-chang, who acted as interpreters.
After the Chinese plenipotentiaries had affixed their names and seals to the twelve copies of the protocol, the foreign ministers also signed these documents. This done, the doyen rose and read the following discourse:
“Highness and Excellency: We have just signed a document of the greatest importance, which establishes the normal relations of amity between the foreign nations and the Chinese Empire.
“This act is the consequence of extraordinary events which are not pleasant to repeat here. It is the earnest wish of my honorable colleagues and myself that in the lapse of time these events will be more and more enveloped with those of the past. Thanks to the faithful accomplishment of the different clauses of this protocol. It is in this manner that China will demonstrate its sincere intention to cultivate the best international relations, and it is also in this manner that the protocol will produce its fruits of good and cordial amity in the future. Such is the earnest desire of the Governments and their representatives here present who, during the lengthy negotiations which they have pursued with you as Chinese plenipotentiaries, have exercised their best efforts to prove to you their goodwill by making you all possible concessions.
“We congratulate ourselves for having contributed to this desirable result, and I have the honor to address to your highness and to your excellency the most sincere wishes which we cherish for the peace and happiness of the Empire.”
M. Morisse translated the discourse of M. de Cologan, to which Prince Ch’ing responded as follows, in Chinese, M. Lien Fang acting as interpreter:
“Messieurs les Ministres: It becomes my pleasure to thank you, in the name of my colleague and myself, for the words which your doyen has seen fit to pronounce on the occasion of the signing of the important document which reestablishes normal relations of amity between the foreign powers and the Chinese Government.
“This document has a most important function to perform; it has to efface the consequences of the criminal and unprecedented events of last year and to preserve our friendly relations.
“We give you our formal assurance that such events as these shall never occur again.
[Page 306]“We thank the representatives of the powers for the good will which they have shown and for the concessions which they have made us in the course of these lengthy negotiations. We entertain the most sincere wishes for the sovereigns and rulers of the powers. We earnestly wish that constant peace and perpetual amity may reign between our respective Governments, and that your excellencies may enjoy happiness and good health in the future,”
After these addresses Prince Ch’ing and Li Hung-chang retired.
The meeting adjourned at 11.30.