Mr. Burlingame to Mr. Seward
No. 75.]
Legation of the United States,
Peking,
May 30, 1864.
Sir: Please find correspondence (marked A) with
the Chinese government in relation to the notification of consuls; also
circular to consuls with respect to Chinese documents (marked B;) also
letter to Prince Kung (marked C,) notifying the arrival of Joseph C. A.
Wingate to be consul at Swatow; also notice from Prince Kung (marked C)
of the appointment of Mr. Mackay to Nin-chwang.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, &c., &c.,
&c.
A.
Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for foreign affairs, herewith
makes a communication.
The governor of the province of Fuhkien, Leu, has sent the following
minute: “In my opinion it would be well for the ministers of foreign
nations residing at Peking to notify to the Foreign Office the full
name of each consul who is appointed to a port, as is the usage now
in this province; it can then be transmitted to the local
authorities at that port, who, with the employés connected with
commercial affairs, will all know it and can act accordingly. I
therefore respectfully suggest this for the consideration and action
of the Foreign Office.”
It appears to me that whenever a foreign consul is designated to act
at any of the maritime open ports, or along the Great river, at all
which places they are continually engaged in official correspondence
with the native authorities, it is very desirable that the full name
of each one should be furnished to this office, in order that they,
and all who are officially connected with commerce, may be able to
act with the consuls in full accord at all times. The names of
consuls appointed by the United States at Ningpo, Shanghai,
Tientsin, Ninchwang, Hankau, Fuhchau, and Kin-kiang, have all been
made known to me; but if there have been any changes in these ports
I wish that such may be notified; and also that the names of those
at other ports may be given in, so that a full list may be available
at this office. Tie names will then be forwarded to the respective
ports for the examination of the custom-house and other officials,
who will then know with whom they are to conduct their business. No
person will then be able to assume the consular duties and carry on
an official correspondence who is not authorized to do so, and,
perhaps, thereby
[Page 390]
give rise
to much trouble and perplexity. The advantages of the course now
proposed are likely to be great in the transaction of public
business, and I submit the matter to your excellency’s
consideration, with the hope that you will favor me with a reply in
accordance to these suggestions.
His Excellency Anson Burlingame,
United States Minister,
February 13, 1864—Tungchi, 3d year, 1st
moon, 6th day.
Mr. Burlingame to Prince Kung
Legation of the United
States,
Peking,
February 18, 1864
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your communication of the 13th instant, in which you
remark, “That as consuls are appointed at all the maritime ports and
those along the Yangtse river, by foreign countries, their names and
surnames ought to be furnished to this office, in order that the
local authorities may be informed of the same and know with whom
they are to correspond. No person will then be able to assume the
consular duties who is not authorized to do so, and thereby,
perhaps, give rise to much trouble and perplexity.”
To this I would reply that it has heretofore been the constant usage
to furnish the names of every consular functionary to the Chinese
government as soon as appointed. However, it occasionally happens
that a consul, either from illness or imperative business, leaves
his office for a while in charge of some other person and reports
the same; the regulations of the consular service allow this
practice. But in such cases the deputy consul will always use his
own name in his official papers, and never that of the consul; but
if such documents bear the consular seal, they can always be
credited, and no doubt held of any person simulating it for sinister
purposes.
I herewith append a list of the names of all the consular officers of
the United States now in China for your information.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
His Imperial Highness Prince Kung.
Consul general at Shanghai, George F. Seward. Consul at Canton,
Oliver H. Perry.
“ “ Amoy, Oliver B. Bradford.
“ “ Fuchau, William H. Carpenter.
“ “ Ningpo, Willie P. Mangum.
“ “ Hankau, William Breck.
“ “ Kin-kiang, Henry G. Bridges.
“ “ Tientsin, S. Wyllys Pomeroy.
“ “ Nin-chwang, Francis P. Knight.
“ “ Swataw, Joseph C. A. Wingate.
[Page 391]
B.
Circular to consuls.
Legation of the United
States,
Peking,
December 19, 1863.
Sir: It has sometimes occurred that when
questions have been referred from the consulates to this legation
for decision, that their examination has been much embarrassed for
want of the Chinese documents connected with them, and it is deemed
to be desirable, therefore, to mention to you the importance of
enclosing copies of such papers, with their translation, in all
cases of appeal to the minister. Your own judgment will enable you
to select the important papers needed in each case.
I am your obedient servant,
S. WELLS WILLIAMS, Secretary of
Legation.
To United States Consul
at Canton, Shanghai, Hankau, Amoy,
Fuchau.
C.
[Untitled]
Legation of the United
States,
Peking,
February 24, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that
the President of the United States has been pleased to appoint
Joseph C. A. Wingate to be consul for the United States at Swataw,
and that he has entered upon the duties of his office. I have to
request, therefore, that instructions may be sent to the proper
authorities to this end, to give him all the assistance in executing
the duties of his office that may be necessary.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
His Imperial Highness Prince Kuno,
&c., &c., &c.
Prince Kung to Mr. Burlingame
Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for foreign affairs, herewith
makes a communication.
On the 2d instant Mr. Hart, the superintendent of customs, reported
as follows:
“I have sent orders to Mr. Mackay, an assistant in the custom-house
at Tientsin, to proceed to Nin-chwang to take charge of the
custom-house, taking with him such persons as are competent to aid
him in the arrangements of the office. I have also directed the
commissioner at Tanchon (that is, Chifu) to proceed overland to
Tientsin, and assume the charge of the customs there.”
Having learned this, I now inform your excellency of these
arrangements, that the American consul at Nin-chwang may be notified
thereof; and this is the object of the present communication.
His Excellency, Anson Burlingame,
United States Minister to China.
February 11, 1864—Tungchi, 3d year, 1st
moon, 4th day.
