No. 51.
Mr. Fish to Mr. Low.
Washington, December 30, 1872.
Sir: Your dispatches, numbered 199 and 203, the latter dated 26th October last, referring to the marriage of the Emperor of China, his attainment of his majority, and the audience question, were received on the 26th instant. Your message, under the same date as the latter of these dispatches, transmitted by telegraph from San Francisco, had come to hand a few days previously, and was made the subject of my No. 115, dated 21st December, which was dispatched from the Department in season, it is hoped, to go forward from San Francisco by the packet of the 1st of January, agreeably to your wish.
[Page 137]Having already expressed in that instruction my views upon the subject of the audience, I have now to add that your proceedings at the interview between yourself and two of the ministers who called upon you to give notice of the marriage, as reported in your No. 199, are approved, as is also your note to Prince Kung, in reply to his note giving more formal notice of the marriage after it had occurred.
The exclusion of the representatives of foreign countries from the ceremonies of the imperial wedding cannot but be regarded as evincing a state of feeling on the part of the advisers of the young Emperor inconsistent with the rights of friendly powers which maintain a representation at the Chinese court. If China intends to continue an assertion of superiority over all other nations which this exclusive policy seems calculated to foster among her people, the other powers of the world must necessarily be led to take into serious consideration the mode of intercourse with her proper to be adopted under the circumstances, and even the expediency of maintaining relations with a state which manifests so little respect for the rights of others.
It may be hoped, however, that on perceiving how the matter is regarded by the various governments of the world, in view of the measures which may be adopted by the body of foreign representatives, and your action in concert with your colleagues, as indicated in my No. 115, the ministers of the Emperor will be led to adopt a more liberal policy, which shall entitle China to take her just rank as one among many powerful nations, and permit the Chinese people to understand the true position which their country occupies in the world.
I am, &c.,