It prays that as “an extra act of grace” the Emperor will allow envoys to be
sent abroad.
Any remarks offered by me on the relation of Corea to the society of nations
must be construed as bearing only on my own country and the country to which
I am accredited. I have nothing officially to do with Corea.
Vattel discusses, at page 2, the status of dependent states with reference to
foreign powers. This discussion furnishes little information applicable to
the peculiar relations existing between China and her dependent states. The
text has little application to countries which, in their history, antedate
international law, of which, also, they never had any knowledge. What
unwritten law or tradition controls the relations of China with her
dependencies remains unknown.
I assume that the position of the United States with reference to Corea is
contained in Mr. Frelinghuysen’s declaration that—
Your own dispatch No. 27, of date July 27, 1887, to Mr. Dinsmore, contains
this statement:
The co-equality of Corea with the United States being thus recognized, it
would seem that no questions but those of expediency remain.
In the solution of such questions the geographical locality of Corea, its
distracted condition internally, its possible relations to Japan, Russia,
England, and China, if complete independence be assured, are all to be
looked at.
I have, etc.
[Inclosure in No. 521.—Memorial from King
of Corea to Emperor of China.]
Draft of memorial presented to His Majesty, the
Emperor of China, by the King of Corea in the matter of sending
envoys abroad.
Li-hsi, King of Chosen (Corea), reverently presents a memorial upon the
subject of sending envoys to western countries, requesting that
permission be first granted by the issuance of your majesty’s mandate to
the end that officers may be deputed hence.
Upon the 7th day of the eighth moon (23d of September, 1867),
Shen-wu-tse, a councillor (Ling-I-cheng), of the council of state,
memorialized the throne that he had, on the same day, received a
communication from Yuen Shih Kai, chief commissioner representing the
Government of China, stating that he had received a telegraphic message
from the grand secretary, Li Hung Chang, to the effect that the Tsung-li
Yamên had sent the following edict, issued by the Emperor of China, to
wit:
“In the matter of Corea sending diplomatic officers to western countries,
it is necessary first to ask our sanction when such officers can be
sent, thus acting in accordance with the rules and usages of dependent
states. Respect this.”
The grand secretary instructed me to make this known to the council of
state without delay, so that his majesty’s injunctions may be
observed.
Having received the above instructions, as in duty bound, the chief
commissioner addresses a communication to the council of state and beg
that they will peruse the same, and that a memorial be presented (by the
King) asking permission (to send envoys abroad) in due observance of
imperial instructions.
The King is mindful that the small state over which he presides has for
generations been the recipient of favors from the Heavenly Court—favors
as high as the sky and as thick as the earth, as exalted as the
mountains, and as deep as the sea; that your majesty perceives and
understands all things, and he that asks shall receive.
But in the matter of intercourse with foreign nations your memorialist
has been the special recipient of your majesty’s regard and kindly
thoughts toward his dependent state, using your power and strength to
elevate and assist her, and permitted her to enter into commercial and
friendly relations, first with the United States, and dispatched an
officer to assist in the negotiation of a treaty. Further, a dispatch
was sent (to the United States authorities) before the negotiation of
the treaty clearly setting forth that Corea was a state tributary to
China, but that hitherto full sovereignty had been exercised by the
Kings of Chosen in all matters of internal administration and foreign
relations.
As a dependent state Corea reverently maintains and observes the proper
rules of courtesy and respect, but as regards equality and mutual
reciprocity with foreign nations, governmental prestige, and
international relations, each has full powers.
Later, other western nations negotiated treaties with Corea, all after
the terms in general of the United States treaty, and after their
provisions were agreed upon by the negotiators a memorial was presented
to your majesty asking your sanction and approval. After the United
States treaty was ratified, the United States Government, in accordance
with the provisions of treaty, sent a minister plenipotentiary to reside
at Seoul. Your memorialist in turn sent an embassy of congratulation to
the President of the United States, which in due time returned to Corea.
But no mission has
[Page 238]
ever been
sent to the other treaty powers. These powers, in consequence, have
frequently represented to the Government of Corea that, as they are
represented by accredited agents at Seoul, they invited Corea to send
ministers to their courts. Your majesty’s dependent state was not
unmindful of the urgency of the times, at the same time it was desirous
of carrying out the provisions of the treaties.
Your memorialist has now appointed his minister Pu Ting Yang as envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, and proposes to send him to
the United States; also his minister Chao Chen-hsi as envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, and proposes to depute him
to represent Corea at the courts of Great Britain, France, Germany,
Italy, and Russia, to be clothed with power to attend to international
questions arising in those countries.
Your memorialist, in presenting the foregoing facts, begs that as an
extra act of grace your majesty will condescend to give your sanction
and approval to the sending abroad of the ministers named, to the end
that the question regarding envoys may be settled in conformity with the
stipulations of treaty.
Under the existing laws governing Corea, in the matter of tribute and
ceremonial, all memorials have been presented to your majesty by the
board of rites, but all questions of an international nature (with
foreign countries) have been presented to your majesty, in behalf of
Corea, either by the prince and ministers of the Tsung-li Yamen, or by
the minister superintendent for northern trade, Li Hung Chang. Unless in
matters of the utmost importance your memorialist would not venture to
memorialize your majesty.
Your majesty’s mandate, which has just been communicated by telegram, has
been received by your memorialist upon bended knees, and he finds it
impossible to express his feelings of gratitude, as well as those of
fear.
Your memorialist, instead of withdraw] ng from troubling your majesty,
ventures to present this memorial, and is sincerely quaking with
emotions of fear and alarm for your majesty’s injunctions.
