Mr. Yang Yü to Mr. Gresham.
Washington, September 22, 1894.
(Received September 24.)
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I am in receipt of a communication from the foreign office of the Imperial Government to the effect that the facts and circumstances leading to the opening of hostilities by Japan having, in accordance with the usages of nations, been made known by the foreign office to all the diplomatic representatives at Peking, and inasmuch as Japan alone is at war with China, while all other treaty powers continue to maintain friendly relations with us, be it assured that all merchants, missionaries, and other subjects or citizens of the friendly powers are to receive the protection guaranteed them by the treaties. The foreign office has, by telegraph, communicated with the minister superintendent of trade for the northern ports in this matter, asking that all the Tartar generals, viceroys, and governors be notified of this by telegraph, so that premonitory steps may be taken by issuing public notifications to prevent any ignorance on the part of the populace as to the real state of affairs to be the cause of any disturbance or trouble.
The diplomatic representatives at Peking also have been communicated with and requested to instruct their respective consular representatives at the various ports to notify their own people to continue the pursuit of their respective peaceful occupations as hitherto, and not allow the impending war with Japan to cause any uneasiness on their part. On receipt of the above, I have the honor, therefore, to communicate the substance of the same to you for your information, and to avail myself of the opportunity to renew to you the assurance of my highest consideration.