Mr. Thiébaut, Chargé d’Affaires, to Mr. Hay.
Washington, July 2, 1900.
Mr. Secretary of State: I had the honor in the course of the conversation I had with you this afternoon, to lay before you certain considerations suggested to my Government by the events in China. I deem it my duty to specify the points touched upon in the telegram of this day’s date, the essential parts of which were orally communicated to you.
His Excellency, Mr. Delcassé, first calls to mind that from the very beginning of the Chinese crisis the powers came into accord for the purpose of insuring the safety of their representatives and their nationals in Pekin and throughout the Empire; of maintaining the territorial statu quo, and, lastly, of preventing, by demanding substantial guarantees, a recurrence of the unfortunate events that have already given cause for lament. The fate of the foreign legations being the foremost consideration, each Government sent to Pekin, as rapidly as distance permitted, the detachment which formed the [Page 318] relief column with which Admiral Seymour vainly endeavored to reach Pekin and which he had to bring back to Tientsin. This first failure demonstrates the necessity for a greater effort; indeed, the unavoidable result of a second reverse would be to embolden the Chinese who stand on the way to Pekin and to increase their numbers. My Government is therefore of opinion that it matters little whether the powers have equal forces in the Gulf of Pechili; the interest of all lies in reaching as promptly as possible an end which is of too humane a character to allow any apprehension of inexplicable jealousies. The main point seems to be that these various forces shall not act separately, but be united and move in a single direction. In order to do so, a concert of the powers, with a view to sending identical instructions to the commanding officers of their respective forces in the Pechili and requesting them to state the full amount of forces requisite for the fulfillment of their missions, would be urgent.
I shall thank you kindly to enable me to communicate to my Government, as early as possible, your views concerning the foregoing considerations.
Be pleased to accept, etc.,