No. 42.
Mr. Seward
to Mr. Fish.
United
States Legation,
Peking
,
June 29, 1876.
(Received August 25.)
No. 95.]
Sir: I have the honor to advise you that I paid a
visit yesterday to the ministers of the foreign office.
* * * * * * *
The conversation about the Chinese in California was a long and frank one. I
mentioned briefly the difficulties which are experienced there; as, for
instance, their competition in the labor markets; their isolation from our
people, as a result of differences of origin, speech, customs, &c.;
their immoralities, consequent upon the lower grade of society from which
they originate, and the absence of women; their inadequate regard for
sanitary conditions, &c. I assured them of the benevolence of our
Government and people, and an indisposition to allow unjust discriminations
to be made against any classes resident within our borders. I took occasion
to dwell strongly upon the need which they have to establish their proposed
legation at Washington, and the almost greater occasion for a consulate at
San Francisco. They met what I said with the simple statements that our
people ought not to complain if theirs were more skillful in certain
avocations; that they had heard of the agitation; that they would dispatch
Chên Lan Pin to establish the mission at Washington soon; that they would
bear in mind what I had said about the need of a consulate at San Francisco,
and that they must look to our Government to protect their people. This
latter point they reiterated, not unpleasantly, several times during the
discussion. They seemed to feel confident that this protection would be
extended, and expressed the wish that their countrymen might be treated as
well everywhere as we treat them.
It is fortunate, I think, that I introduced this discussion. This will be the
better understood when I call attention to a dispatch on the subject which
they have sent to me to-day, a copy of which I inclose herewith. It may be
that they would not have sent it had I not spoken first, and given them, in
doing so, a certain assurance of our disposition [Page 58] to deal frankly and fairly with the matter. In such
case the grievance would have been alluded to first, probably, at some
moment when the grievances of our people here were under discussion. But it
may be that they would have sent their letter irrespective of my remarks.
The fact that I have spoken first is seen to be fortunate, then, whichever
alternative they had followed. Our readiness in the matter can only be
construed by them in a way favorable to us.
Having already dealt so fully with the business, I shall do no more in,
replying to the prince than to refer to the conversation at the Yamen and
state that I have sent the correspondence to you for instructions.
I recognize the peculiar difficulty and delicacy of this matter, and trust
that my course will seem to you discreet.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 95.]
Prince Kung to Mr.
Seward.
Sir: This Yamen is in receipt of a
communication from the northern superintendent of foreign trade, stating
that upon the 11th of June a letter was received from Rung, (Yung-Wing,)
expectant intendant of circuit, now in America, in which he said that
statements were constantly appearing in the newspapers to the effect
that the low Irish residing in the city of San Francisco were in the
habit of molesting the Chinese. The cause of this ill-treatment existed
in the fact that this low class were envious of the Chinese because they
came in such numbers and interfered with their wages. He was also in
receipt of a letter from the guilds in San Francisco, stating that
Chinese upon arrival in that city were continually assailed with every
species of abuse upon their debarkation, and it was known to the guilds
that these same classes had selected two officials and dispatched them
to Washington to consult measures for the suppression of Chinese
emigration, &c.
This Yamen begs leave to remark that the fifth article of the
supplementary treaty with the United States declares that “The United
States of America and the Emperor of China cordially recognize the
inherent and inalienable right of man to change his home and allegiance,
and also the mutual advantage of the free migration and emigration of
their citizens and subjects, respectively, from the one country to the
other, for purposes of curiosity, of trade, or as permanent residents,”
&c. And the sixth article declares: “Citizens of the United States
visiting or residing in China shall enjoy the same privileges,
immunities, or exemptions, in respect to travel or residence, as may
there be enjoyed by the citizens or subjects of the most favored nation;
and, reciprocally, Chinese subjects visiting or residing in the United
States shall enjoy the same privileges, immunities, and exemptions, in
respect to travel or residence, as may there be enjoyed by citizens or
subjects of the most favored nations,” &c.
The purport and intent of which is that the people of either country are
at liberty to go and come at will, and kind treatment on either part is
to be accorded to them, as is so plainly stated in the supplementary
treaty.
We therefore feel bound to hand you the particulars of the treatment
received by the Chinese in San Francisco at the hands of the low classes
of Irish, as narrated in the letter of the northern superintendent of
trade, and their purpose of interfering with Chinese emigration, and to
request that you will communicate with your Government and request, in
accordance with treaty, the suppression of such acts, in order to the
maintenance of friendship between the two nations.
With compliments, &c.,
(
Cards of the Yamen.)
Peking
,
June 29,
1876.
To George F. Seward, Esq., &c.
[Inclosure in inclosure 1 in No.
95.]
Newspaper extract.
Upon the 3d of the present month the O. and O. Steamship Company’s
steamship Oceanic arrived from Hong-Kong and Yokohama after a passage of
25 days. She brings as passengers 846 Chinese, among whom is an officer,
interpreter, and six men [Page 59] who are
under the orders of the government of China, proceeding in charge of the
Chinese exhibit to the Centennial. The nature or amount of this exhibit
could not be accurately learned. There was about 200 tons on board the
Oceanic, and 300 tons on a ship which has not yet arrived. The Oceanic
brings as cargo 1,557 packages of tea, 721 packages of silk, and 25,512
packages of miscellaneous cargo for San Francisco. In addition, she
brings for eastern markets 3,095 packages of tea, 721 packages of silk,
and 99 packages of miscellaneous cargo.
When the passengers were about to debark the Irish and hoodlums, to the
number of several hundred, assembled, blocking up the wharf and streets
adjacent, and on the appearance of the new-comers assaulted them with
mud and stones, and the wounds and bruises received by them were
innumerable. They evidently think that we Chinese are immigrating in
excessive numbers.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 95.]
Mr. Seward to
Prince Kung.
To His Imperial Highness Prince
Kung:
I have received your dispatch of to-day making mention of a report which
has come to the Yamen from Mr. Yung-Wing, in regard to the treatment of,
Chinese in California.
The anxiety of my Government to meet this matter in a candid manner will
have been indicated to you by my conversation with the members of the
Yamen yesterday. Having received your letter, it becomes my duty to
transmit it to my Government for its information.
I take this occasion to repeat very warmly the expression of my desire
that your mission at Washington and a consulate at San Francisco may be
soon established. It is very desirable that you should be accurately
informed of the situation of your people in America, and that my
Government should have the assistance of your officials in dealing with
them.
I have, &c.,
