Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the President, December 4, 1871

No. 29.

Mr. Low to Mr. Fish

No. 61.]

Legation of the United States, Peking, April 3, 1871. (Received July 22.)

Sir: I have the honor to send herewith translation of a note from the Foreign Office, in reply to one from me requesting the good offices of the Chinese government to send a letter from me to the King of Corea.

The note, you will observe, contains a declaration that, while Corea is considered and treated as a tributary kingdom, entire independence is conceded in all that relates to its government, religion, and intercourse with foreign nations. This declaration is made at this time, undoubtedly, to guard against complications that may possibly grow out of an attempt by foreign nations to open intercourse with Corea, and relieve this Government of all responsibility for the acts of the Coreans, whether hostile or otherwise.

It is altogether probable that this course has been adopted by the Chinese officials in consequence of the action of the representative of France, who assumed to hold China responsible for the acts of the Coreans who murdered and expelled the French missionaries in 1866.

The announcement that the sending of the letter is a departure from long-established custom and therefore exceptional, which must not be construed into a precedent for granting similar favors in the future, is put forth in this way to be quoted in case any other government should ask a similar favor.

The timidity of the Chinese officials when called upon to perform any duty not in accordance with long-established precedent and custom is quite apparent, and also their desire to avoid all complications which may by any possibility involve their government in difficulty.

The note in question also exhibits in rather a striking manner the superabundance of circumlocution with which all action of the officials is attended. This will be more apparent when you are informed that, prior to writing the letter in question or making any request to have it sent, I sought an interview with the members of the Foreign Office, at which I explained fully my purposes, the objects I have in view, and what I desire them to do, and obtained from them a promise that my wishes should be complied with.

I have the honor, &c.,

F. F. LOW.

No. 1.

Letter from the Foreign Office, March 28, 1871.

Sir: We were honored on the 7th of this month by receiving your dispatch, in which you informed us that, as you had been appointed special envoy to go to Corea, there to negotiate upon matters of public interest, you had decided to send a letter to the authorities of that land, and therefore requested us to forward it on your behalf.

In relation to this request we may observe, that although Corea is regarded as a country subordinate to China, yet she is wholly independent in everything that relates to her government, her religion, her prohibitions, and her laws; in none of these things has China hitherto interfered. It was necessary, therefore, in order to forward your dispatch, for the Foreign Office to present a memorial, requesting that it might be transferred to the board of rites to be sent on; but we previously stated to you, that it is impossible to determine now whether the Corean authorities will return an answer.

On the 12th instant we memorialized the throne, requesting that the board of rites might be allowed to write a dispatch to accompany this letter to be forwarded to Corea, and notified that board at the same time. We have now received an answer from the board, stating that on the 22d of this month His Majesty had been informed that this dispatch, carefully sealed, had that day been transmitted to the board of war to be sent on by its couriers. This answer further stated that in all the relations of China with its dependent states the long-established rules of the board of rites had never contained any provision about forwarding letters to them; the permission now granted for it to do such a thing was therefore only for this occasion; it was an extraordinary favor, quite in excess of usage, and one which could not, on any account, be again granted.

We therefore make known this reply to your excellency; and while doing so avail ourselves of the opportunity to wish that you may enjoy daily happiness.

Cards of WANSIANG,

PAOYUN,

TUNG SIUN,

SHIN KWEI-FAN,

MAO CHANG-HI,

TSUNGLUM,

CHINGLIN.