Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part III

Mr. Burlingame to Mr. Seward

No. 65.]

Legation of the United States, Peking, March 17, 1864.

Sir: I am happy to inform you that the Chinese government has, at my request, by proclamation, refused to permit the rebel cruisers to enter its waters and ports, and has also forbidden its people to permit them to have any supplies whatsoever. Please find the correspondence annexed, marked A and B.

I shall notify the proclamation by publication at Shanghai, and shall send copies to our naval officers in these seas, for their information, and instruct our consuls to co-operate with the Chinese authorities in such manner as shall make it most effectual.

This enlightened and friendly action of the imperial government has been received with great satisfaction by the representatives of the other treaty powers, and will, I have no doubt, be warmly appreciated in the United States.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

ANSON BURLINGAME.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

A.

Mr. Burlingame to Prince Kung

Legation of the United States, Peking, March 8, 1864.

Sir: Your imperial highness is aware that for some time past a rebellion has existed in the United States against the authority of the same. I am happy to inform you that now, after three years’ contest, it has been beaten from more than half of the space originally occupied by it, and that it is surrounded by our armies and navy, and must, perhaps during the present year, be destroyed. The rebels, in their desperation, have contrived to buy and arm a few steamers, with no other object than to destroy the peaceful commerce of the United States. As they have no ports in their own country into which they can take their prizes, and all other nations forbid them their harbors, they burn them at sea, and thus violate the law of justice and of nations. One of these steamers, the Alabama, flying before the war vessels of the United States, has come into the seas near the coast of China, and in those south of it has already burnt several vessels.

Now this is to request that the imperial government will, in consideration of its treaty obligations, and the friendship that has always existed between China and the United States, and in the interests of universal commerce, by proclamation, deny to that steamer, or any others sailing from the so-called confederacy, entrance into the waters and ports of China; and to the end that the proclamation may be effectual, that the imperial government will instruct its officers to be vigilant against these steamers; and that if by chance any of them shall get within the waters or ports of China, that no supplies of any kind whatsoever shall be given them under the severest penalties, nor shall they be allowed to buy any coal or ammunition.

In making this request I invite you to do nothing which is not clearly in the interests of the government or which is inconsistent with international obligations. The so-called confederacy has not been, and cannot be, recognized by anybody; it has no right to bring its strife into your waters; and if it should do so after you shall forbid it, it will put itself in the wrong. Action such as I request will be in the spirit of the present treaty, and of the 34th article of the treaty of Wanghia, which forbids relations with any individual State of the United States; it will strengthen more and more the friendship existing between the two governments, and commend itself to the justice and good sense of the world.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

ANSON BURLINGAME.

His Imperial Highness Prince Kung, &c., &c., &c.

B.

[Untitled]

Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for foreign affiars, herewith sends a reply:

I had the honor to receive your excellency’s despatch on the 8th instant, in which you inform me that the southern part of the United States has risen in resistance to the government, and that a steamer called the Alabama is now cruising on the ocean, burning and destroying vessels and property belonging to them; you therefore request that a proclamation be issued forbidding her to enter the ports of China, &c., &c.

It appears from this that by the rebellion of the southern parts of the United States against their government, your country is placed very much in the same position that China is, whose seditious subjects are now in revolt against her; and as it is highly proper to prevent this rebel steamer from injuring or molesting American merchant ships, I have notified the various governor generals and governors of the maritime provinces to issue their commands to the local authorities, that if the steamer Alabama, or any other ship intending to injure American shipping, come into their jurisdiction, they are on no account to permit such vessels to come into any port. They are required to issue a proclamation to this effect immediately, in order to do what is suitable for the general welfare.

I have informed the ministers of Great Britain, France and Russia, of these proceedings, that they may notify their consuls at the several ports for their guidance. I also enclose a copy of the despatch issued to the various governors for your excellency’s information and action.

His Excellency Anson Burlingame, United States Minister to China.

March 16, 1864—Tungchi, 3d year, 2d moon, 9th day.

[Enclosed in above.]

On the 8th March a communication was received from his excellency Anson Burlingame, United States minister to China, as follows: (Here the original despatch as quoted, except the first sentence.)

The board of foreign affairs is fully aware that a treaty of peace and amity exists between China and the United States. It cannot be permitted, therefore, that American citizens coming here to trade shall suffer injury from any one while living in the country, nor their ships or goods be destroyed. Now, the steamer Alabama has been burning American vessels with their cargoes on the high seas, and she must not be allowed to enter our ports, still further to destroy their ships; and every other vessel with similar evil designs must be likewise forbidden to enter them. We, therefore, hereby notify all the governor generals and governors of the maritime provinces to enjoin all the local authorities to keep a careful and close oversight; and if the steamer Alabama, or any other vessel-of-war, scheming how it can injure American property, approach the coasts of China, under their jurisdiction, they are to prevent all such vessels entering our ports. Let them also directly issue a proclamation, embodying all these circumstances and reasons for general guidance. A copy of this despatch has been communicated to the ministers of Great Britain, France and Russia, as well as to the American minister, Mr. Burlingame, and is now accordingly forwarded to the Manchu commandants, the governor generals, and governors along the coasts for their action thereon.