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.
[Page 376]
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,
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,
His Imperial Highness Prince Kung,
&c., &c., &c.
[Page 377]
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.
