American Legation,
Peking, September 5,
1905.
No. 84.]
The statement made by the prince “that hereafter all classes of Chinese
will certainly be able to go to America without receiving any
illtreatment” might be thought to show a complete misunderstanding of
the formal and often-repeated declarations we have made him that the
coming of Chinese laborers to the United States is absolutely
prohibited. Read, however, in conjunction with the clear terms of my
note of August 27 and his own statement in the first lines of this note,
there is no doubt that he perfectly understands the position of our
government.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Prince Ch’ing to
Minister Rockhill.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s
dispatch of August 27, in which you said that the Government of the
United States was most desirous to meet, so far as the general
interests of your country permitted, the wishes of the Imperial
Government concerning the coming of Chinese subjects to the United
States, other than those of the laboring classes. Your excellency
then quoted from the President’s order of June 24 last (a copy of
which order you had previously sent to my board), making it clear
that “the purpose of the Government of the United States is to show
the widest and heartiest courtesy toward all merchants, teachers,
students, and travelers who may come to the United States,” and you
assured me that the President could not take any step beyond the
issuance of these orders until further action of Congress on the
matter, as his action is limited by the laws and statutes of the
United States. Your excellency then further stated that
notwithstanding all this my government has allowed the agitation to
continue, to the great pecuniary loss of our people, as well as
yours, and you asked why the Chinese Government had not taken such
action as would have shown the people the real friendship which we
have for the United States.
I have the honor to state that upon the receipt of this dispatch from
your excellency I made inquiry into the boycott matter and found
that an imperial edict had recently been issued, and a copy of it
had been sent to you by my board. From this it is evident that the
Chinese Government has taken thorough action in the matter, to the
end that neither Chinese nor American citizens may suffer pecuniary
losses.
Your excellency has said that the President can not take any further
step in the matter until Congress has taken some action, and I may
say that the Chinese Government has great confidence that the
President will certainly take some such further action later on.
Word has already been sent to the various viceroys and governors
directing them to inform their people that both the President of the
United States and your excellency have a deep feeling of friendship
for China in your hearts, and that hereafter all classes of Chinese
will certainly be able to go to America without receiving any ill
treatment.
But now that the date of the next opening of Congress is not far
distant we ought to take up again the discussion of the coolie
immigration treaty, in order to have it all ready for their
consideration and approval.
It becomes my duty to send this dispatch to your excellency, that you
may inform the Department of State of the matter, and I desire to
state that a reply hereto would be appreciated.
A necessary dispateh.
Kuanghsü, XXXI year, 8th moon, 6th day
(September 4, 1905).
[seal.]
