Mr. Denby to Mr.
Blaine
.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking
,
August 4, 1890.
(Received September 22.)
No. 1140.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I have
sent to the foreign office the communication of which a copy is
inclosed.
The question arose, in the case of a French man-of-war which had engaged in
surveying and sounding one of the closed ports, whether it was allowable for
foreign officers to make such surveys. The foreign ministers, after a
discussion, unanimously held that this was a treaty right. The question was
presented to the yamên during my absence, and I had only to approve the
conduct of my colleagues. While it is [Page 194] to be supposed that the great maritime countries of
Europe might prohibit such surveys, still the case is, or ought to be,
different with China. She has absolutely neglected hydrographic work,
perhaps for the good reason that she had no scientific officers. She has
stood by and seen the foreigner sound and make charts for all her coasts.
There seems to be no good reason why she should now object to a completion
of the work. It happens that we are the only nation that has a treaty which
by just intendment may be held to include this subject.
The ninth article of the treaty of June 18, 1858, reads as follows:
Whenever national vessels of the United States of America, in
cruising along the coast and among the ports opened for trade for
the protection of the commerce of their country, or for the advancement of science, shall arrive at or near
any of the ports of China, the commanders
of said ships and the superior local authorities of government
shall, if it be necessary, hold intercourse on terms of equality and
courtesy in token of the friendly relations of their respective
nations; and the said vessels shall enjoy all suitable facilities on
the part of the Chinese Government in procuring provisions or other
supplies and making necessary repairs.
The last clause of this article provides that our national vessels may
“pursue pirates, and, if captured, deliver them over for trial and
punment.”
There have been several examples of such work being done by American ships,
notably that of the Wyoming in 1862 or 1863. Unless
the ports shall have been sounded and surveyed, such pursuit in many cases
would be impracticable. It seems to me very clear that in the interest of
humanity and of commerce this right should be insisted on.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 1140.]
Mr. Denby to the
Tsung-li yamên.
Your Highness and Your Excellencies: I have the
honor to inform Your Highness and Your Excellencies that since my return
to Peking I have learned that my colleagues have addressed Your Highness
and Your Excellencies on the subject of permitting officers on board
men-of-war to make surveys of the various ports of China.
I take this opportunity of saying that I cordially approve of the course
of my colleagues. I have made four voyages on the coast of China and
have just returned from one on which I traveled over 4,000 miles. Every
few feet of this coast has been sounded, and accurate charts have been
prepared by the officers attached to the ships of various nationalities.
The value of such services to humanity and to trade and commerce can not
be overestimated. These charts, together with the splendid system of
light-houses and buoys organized by the inspector-general of the
imperial maritime customs, have made the very dangerous coast of China
easy and safe for navigation. But it will always happen that in stress
of weather or on account of accidents ships will be compelled to take
refuge in ports. The treaties provide that such refuge may be had. How
can a ship enter a port safely which has never been surveyed or charted?
The open sea, in such event, might be less dangerous than an unknown
port. China has hitherto failed to do this necessary work herself. She
should not, therefore, object to its being done by other nations. I call
Your Highnesses and your Excellencies’ attention finally to the ninth
article of the treaty of June 18, 1858, made between the United States
and China, wherein it is distinctly provided that the vessels of the
United States may visit any of the ports of China. The last clause
provides that the national vessels of the United States may pursue and
capture pirates. There have been several cases of the pursuit and
capture of pirates by American ships. How can this work, which is thus
distinctly specified, be done unless the various ports are properly
sounded and surveyed in advance? In the interest of humanity, as well as
of commerce, Chinese and foreign, I hope that Your Highness and Your
Excellencies will see your way clear to the approval of the right of
foreign scientific officers to continue and complete the hydrography of
all the ports of China.
