Mr. Denby to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, December 15, 1890.
(Received February 7, 1891.)
No. 1215.]
Sir: I now have the honor to inclose a translation
of the yamén’s dispatch of yesterday, embodying the decree of the Emperor on
the audience question.
This action was purely voluntary and spontaneous on the part of the
Emperor.
During my stay in Peking the foreign ministers have taken no steps whatever
to secure an audience. When the Emperor assumed the actual control of the
Government two years ago there was some discussion of the matter, but the
prevailing opinion was that it was best to wait and let China take the
initiative in the granting of an audience. This policy has been justified by
the event. While I should not have raised this question without instructions
from you, now that an audience is voluntarily tendered, I shall not hesitate
to accept it unless directions, which I do not anticipate, should come to
the contrary. The question has been so much discussed by my predecessors
that but few words from me are now required. I regard an audience of the
representatives [Page 356] of foreign nations
as tending to secure a recognition of the equality of those nations with
China.
I think it will tend, also, to make the Chinese respect foreigners residing
in China more than they now do. It is also an educational step in
international law. Such an education may in the course of time remove
barriers which now exist to free intercourse, and thereby the commerce of
the world may be benefited.
The foreign ministers will meet to-day to discuss the action to be taken. I
do not anticipate that any unbecoming conditions will be proposed as a part
of the ceremony, but there may be some difficulty as to the locale and minor points of detail.
With the experience of 1873 before the ministers (see Foreign Relations, 1873, p. 143 and
following) matters ought to go on smoothly.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No.
1215.—Translation.]
The tsung-li yamén to Mr.
Denby.
Peking, December 14,
1890.
Your Excellency: The prince and ministers have
the honor to inform your excellency that on the 12th instant the
following decree was issued by His Majesty the Emperor:
“Since China entered into treaty relations with foreign powers it has
been a never-ceasing custom for diplomatic representatives to pay their
respects to the chiefs of the governments to which they are accredited
by presenting their letter of credence.
“The friendly relations between foreign powers and China have for
succeeding years been more and more of a staunch and firm character. The
foreign ministers resident in Peking have all acted with a sincerity of
purpose to nourish and cultivate good relations and make an alliance of
friendly intercourse between China and the countries they represent. To
us this has been a source of deep satisfaction and joy.
“On the occasion of the national events of rejoicing that occurred in
February and March of last year, Her Majesty the Empress by edict
instructed the yamén of foreign affairs to prepare a banquet to be given
to the diplomatic representatives. Then the representatives of the
nations beyond the seas were assembled together in friendly union in
honor of the happy occasion.
“It is now about two years since we assumed reins of government, and it
is befitting and right that the diplomatic representatives of foreign
countries residing in Peking should have an audience of us. To this we
give our assent, the audience to be held in like manner to that had in
the twelfth year of the reign of Tung Chih. Further, provision is to be
made for the time for holding annual audiences; this in manifestation of
our desire to be courteous and polite [to the treaty powers].’
Therefore, let all the diplomatic representatives of foreign countries,
ministers and chargés d’affaires, have audience of us in February. The
yamén of foreign affairs is to memorialize us requesting us to appoint a
day. The day following the audience the yamén is to prepare a banquet to
be given to the foreign representatives.
“In future an annual audience and banquet will take place in the first
month, Chinese calendar.
“Foreign representatives who may be appointed hereafter will be received
at the annual audience, [lit: according to the year].
“On all national days of rejoicing when foreigners and Chinese
participate the yamén is to memorialize us and request that a banquet be
given in honor of the event to the foreign representatives, thus
manifesting the Court’s further desire of cultivating friendly relations
with foreign countries.
“As to the details of the ceremonial to be observed, let the yamén first
memorialize us on the subject.
“Respect this.”
Now, besides having recently had a copy of the above decree prepared and
forwarded to the Chinese representatives abroad, requesting them to
communicate the same to the governments to which they are accredited,
the prince and ministers, as in duty bound, send this communication for
your excellency’s information, necessary communication addressed to his
excellency Charles Denby.
