File No. 819.55/49.
[Inclosure—Translation.]
The Chinese Minister for
Foreign Affairs to the American
Minister.
Foreign Office,
Peking,
November 15, 1913.
Sir: I have just received a telegram from
the Chinese Consul General in Panama stating that the Secretary of
the American Legation in Panama, acting for the Chinese Consul,
addressed an inquiry to the Panaman Government in regard to the
harsh laws, and that Government replied to him that the Chinese were
an inferior race not entitled to the protection of the Constitution,
and that these harsh laws would be put into effect within
seventy-two hours.
I have the honor to refer to the fact that in September of this year
the Panaman Government suddenly withdrew the exequatur of Consul
General Ou-yang King on the ground that he was giving illegal
protection to Chinese residents in that country.
This Ministry, considering that Panama was laboring under many
misunderstandings, was under the immediate necessity of devising
some method of straightening out the difficulty and therefore
requested that the American Chargé d’Affaires in Panama might act
temporarily on behalf of Chinese residents in the conducting of
diplomatic negotiations. The Ministry therefore addressed a note to
Mr. E. T. Williams, American Chargé d’Affaires, asking him to
transmit its request to the American Government to present for it to
the Panaman Government the alternative measure proposed by the
Chinese Government, consulting with the Panaman Government and
stating that the sole object of the measure was the conservation of
international amity, in the sense indicated in the telegram received
from the Chinese Consul in Panama.
The present action of the Panaman Government in insulting a friendly
nation and offering a slight to Chinese residents is highly
objectionable. This Ministry is telegraphing instructions to Chargé
d’Affaires Chang in Washington to request the aid of the Department
of State in settling matters by negotiation with the Panaman
Government. But in addition to this action I have the honor to make
a renewed request of the American Minister, namely that out of
regard for the friendship between the two nations you will telegraph
to the American Government conveying the hope of the Chinese
Government and requesting it further to extend its friendly
offices.
This Ministry lately received a telegram from the Chinese residents
in Panama stating that Cyrus F. Wicker, Esquire, Secretary of
American Legation
[Page 1136]
in
Panama, is very conversant with the details of this matter and
requesting that subsequent to the arrival of the new American
Minister Mr. Wicker continue to be entrusted with the sole
management thereof. I have the honor to make the comment with regard
to this request that ever since Mr. Wicker began acting for the
Chinese Consul Mr. Wicker has shown himself most zealous in his
attention to this subject, greatly to the gratitude and
gratification of the Chinese residents. If, therefore, it would be
possible for you to telegraph to the Department of State asking
whether it would not be possible to direct Mr. Wicker to continue
the direction of this affair until the arrival of the new Chinese
Consul, I should be both highly pleased and grateful.
Availing myself [etc.]
