(locality of the action of 11th instant,) ignoring your ship's short-comings from the right, and only blaming our soldiers for attempting to ward off calamity; in your utter unwillingness to listen, and your sole interest upon raising a disturbance, when the affairs had already been completely solved in correspondence? Looking at it now, one can know thus much for certain: under outward professions of friendship you cherish false and deceitful designs. To come to your landing, and thoroughly displaying your forte of committing public buildings to the flames, burning cottages, stealing property, sweeping up everything to the veriest trifle. These are the actions of thieves and spies. In your ships you have brought many of our kingdom's outlaws, rebellious brigands who have forfeited life, to connect yourselves with and collect such a following as guides to our neighborhoods. This is to become the lair whither pirates flee. The upshot will be a wild and disorderly discharge of gun and cannon, the battering down of walled town and fort, the slaying and injuring army and people. Where was such unsparing and implacable savagery ever exceeded? You come with professions of friendship and amity, and wish us to treat you with politeness, and your actions, forsooth, are such as these. Not only will every urchin of our kingdom spit at and curse you, but more yet in the world but will indignantly sympathize with us, and debar you from intercourse, and break off such as you already hold. I had not thought that such as these would have been the actions of one intrusted with his kingdom's commission to bind in friendship another kingdom. In those sea-ports where your ships shall hereafter arrive, who will be willing again to meet you with politeness, discuss the obligations of good faith and renew friendship? I conceal the shame I feel for your honorable vessels, the shame I feel for your honorable country. A necessary dispatch is above communicated to the secretary of the American imperial commissioners. [Dated.] TUNG-CHIH, 10th year, 4th moon, 25th day, (11th June, 1871.) No. 13. On Tuesday morning, 13th June, a paper was found attached to a pole on Guerrière Island, which read thus: Messengers from the guardian general of Fu-Ping Prefecture [are in want of a reply to the letter brought by them on Monday, 12th June.] On Wednesday morning, 14th June, a paper was found attached to a pole on Guerrière Island, in which the Fu-Ping Prefect again urges for a reply to his letter of the 12th June. It reads thus: To his excellency, Mr. Drew, chief secretary of the minister: On the 25th day of this moon (June 12) I sent your excellency a letter. I cannot sustain my anxiety that it has not yet been answered, and again send this to trouble you for a reply. Sin Wei year, 4th moon, 27th day. (14th June, 1871.) From Li, guardian general of Fu-Ping Prefecture. No. 14. Edw. B. Drew to Guardian of Foo-Ping Prefecture. I had the honor to receive your note, dated the 12th instant, in which you complained in unbecoming language of the results which necessarily followed the wanton attack upon our vessels. Correspondence between officials, of whatever rank, should contain none other than respectful and polite language; and as you choose to disregard the rule in this respect, it did not occur to me, until your communication came this morning, that a reply was expected. The occurrences of the last few days, and the necessary consequences of the evil acts of your officials, of which neither you nor your government have just grounds of complaint. The minister and admiral regret the necessity which compelled this action. They hoped your government would make such reparation as would render forcible redress unnecessary. Ample time was allowed for this to be done; but instead of responding to our overtures for peace the government remained silent, and the officials from whom we heard, yourself among the number, apparently justified the attack upon our vessels. Under these circumstances how could you expect immunity? The operations of the naval forces have been confined to destroying the places from which we were assaulted and routing the soldiers that defended them; although you cannot fail to be aware that a large district of country, which contains many villages, lies within the reach of the guns of our ships, and which remains unmolested. This ought to afford convincing proof that we have no disposition to make indiscriminate warfare upon your country or your people. The minister and admiral, as was announced to your government in advance, desire peace. They are ready to treat all friendly overtures in a reciprocal spirit, and it is to be hoped that your government will adopt a wise and prudent course, so that in the future all trouble may be avoided. It is desired that you will forward the inclosed dispatch to His Majesty, the King of Corea. TUNG CHIH, 10th year, 4th moon, 2th day, (June 15, 1871.) No. 15. The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States to China, charged with a special mission to Corea, had the honor to announce by letter, written and sent from Peking in March last, that the Government of the United States desired to come to some definite understanding with that of His Majesty with reference to the protection and rescue of seamen who might be wrecked upon the islands and coasts of Corea, and thus remove in advance all cause of a rupture of friendly relations between the two countries. To carry out this intention and allow an opportunity for all matters to be discussed and settled in a spirit of amity and good will, His Majesty was informed that the undersigned would leave his post in China temporarily and go to Corea; that he would go in ships of war, accompanied by an admiral, in order to add dignity to his mission, and not with any design of harming the people as long as the vessels and the men on board were treated with consideration and kindness. His Majesty was also informed that as we were animated by friendly motives we should expect to be received and treated in a friendly way, and the undersigned expressed the hope that a minister of suitable rank would be deputed to meet him, upon the arrival of the ships on the coast, to whom full particulars of the business could be made known, and with whom it could be discussed with a view to amicable settlement. Upon his arrival at this point no persons of suitable rank presented themselves, nor were those who came furnished with any evidence of their having been sent by the government. These men were received with politeness by the person next in rank to the envoy. They were informed that the undersigned would remain at this place some days, in order that His Majesty might send a suitable person to meet him; in the mean time some of the smaller vessels of the fleet would be engaged in exploring the channels and islands. They were requested to inform the local magistrates and the people of the admiral's intention, so that no cause of difficulty might arise between the surveying vessels and the people. The views and intentions of the undersigned were frankly explained to the persons who came, in the full expectation that as soon as His Majesty became aware of them no delay would occur in taking steps to comply with the reasonable requests made. After a delay of one day to allow the admiral's intentions to be made known, the surveying vessels started on their errand of humanity, and after proceeding a few miles from the anchorage, they were, without notice, wantonly fired upon by forts and masked batteries, to which the vessels replied. No gun was fired from the vessels, or menace made, until after the batteries on shore commenced the attack. After silencing the batteries the vessels returned and reported the outrageous conduct of the military authorities. Even after all this had occurred, so great was the desire of the admiral and the undersigned for peace that it was concluded to allow ten days to elapse before taking any further action, in the hope that it would be found that the attack was unauthorized, and that His Majesty would cause a suitable apology to be sent, and also a minister, as had been suggested. The local magistrate here and the magistrate at Kang-Hoa were informed of our lenient disposition in order that future hostilities might be avoided. These peaceful overtures being declined, or neglected, left no other course open to the admiral than to seek redress by arms, as is usual among all civilized nations, for the wrongs and insults which our vessels had suffered. This has been fully done. The forts have been destroyed, and the armies defending them routed and scattered. Many hundreds of the soldiers were killed and wounded, and others are prisoners on board our ships. The latter will be treated with humanity and kindness, and, upon a proper engagement being entered into that they shall not again take up arms against us, will be released and sent to their homes. It is the custom of my country to treat all prisoners that fall into our hands with humanity, and the undersigned begs to assure His Majesty that those now held captive on board our ships will suffer neither insult nor injury. The events of the past few days afford convincing proofs of our power whenever we choose to exert it. In the present instance the admiral concluded to go no further than destroying the fortifications that had assaulted his vessels, although wellestablished precedent would sanction the moving of our forces against any and all places of the kingdom. Although possessed of the power, my Government does not seek war or conquest. It does not wish to acquire a single inch of your territory; nor does it seek control over your people. It has no desire to disturb the institutions of the country, or interfere in any matters of local concern. On the contrary, it desires to cultivate friendly relations with His Majesty as the sovereign of an independent nation. My Government wishes to be at peace with all countries, neither giving just grounds for offense, nor allowing unprovoked assaults or insults to its vessels or people to go unredressed. When its citizens offend against the laws and customs of other countries they are duly apprehended and punished. This cannot be done unless some arrangement is made by which they can be arrested and given up for trial and punishment. Arrangements now exist for doing this in China and Japan. Why should not Corea enter into similar engagements? Will not a definite understanding on this point prevent irritation and ill-feeling? To discuss and arrange this question, as well as to provide for the protection and rescue of those who may, by misfortune, be cast upon the shores of your kingdom, are the chief objects which the undersigned had in view in coming here. These objects he is still anxious to accomplish, and is prepared to exercise patience and forbearance in order that further hostilities may be avoided. It remains for His Majesty to decide whether the ends aimed at shall be attained peaceably, in accordance with the earnest desire of the undersigned and his Government, or whether our peaceful overtures will be met in the future, as they have been in the past, by force of arms. The undersigned trusts that His Majesty will, upon a careful review of the whole question, conclude to meet these advances in a just and friendly spirit, and that a person of suitable rank will soon be sent to consult, with a view of arranging the questions which are likely to disturb amicable relations. The undersigned hopes for a speedy and frank reply to this note. The undersigned has the honor to wish His Majesty health and happiness. FREDERICK F. LOW. NOTE. This dispatch was returned by the prefect with a note, saying that he dare not forward it. No. 16. Translation of dispatch from the magistrate of Foo-Ping-Foo, received from Guerrière Island at 10 a. m. on Saturday, June 17. Li, guardian general of Foo-Ping Prefecture, Corea, makes the following communication in reply to Mr. Drew, acting secretary of legation: Your dispatch has been attentively read. Its only purport is to place the blame upon the local, civil, and military authorities. It is now unnecessary to multiply elaborate discussions as to who has been in the right, and who the reverse, in what has taken place; the duty of us, the local authorities, is that we all (according to the commands of His Majesty) should confine ourselves to defending [the districts committed to our care] or to giving battle, and to these things alone. I dare not send up to the court the dispatch now to hand from his excellency, and beg respectfully to return it herewith. As you must have seen that we have not fired on the men of your honorable ships landing for water, but have let them come on shore, you must, I presume, be aware that we, too, do not pride ourselves on our power to kill and injure people. A necessary communication in reply. TUNG-CHIH, 10th year, 4th moon, 30th day, (June 17.) No. 17. Mr. Drew, acting secretary of legation, makes the following communication to Li, guardian general of Fu Ping prefecture. I had the honor to receive, by the hand of a messenger yesterday morning, your note of that day, returning a dispatch from his excellency the minister to His Majesty the King. In your note you say that it is not within your province to forward the dis patch to its destination, and intimate that further correspondence will not be likely to serve any useful purpose. I am instructed by his excellency to say, in reply, that your refusal to forward his dispatch to the government seems extraordinary, and that he is unwilling to believe your course would have the sanction of His Majesty were he aware of the real facts. It is hardly possible that His Majesty would so far disregard the established rules common among all nations as deliberately to obstruct all channels of communication between an ambassador of a friendly nation and the government of Corea; thus closing the door to all attempts at the settlement of differences that now exist, or that may hereafter arise, by amicable negotiation. I am further instructed by his excellency to say that, as he contemplates a prolonged stay in the vicinity of the capital, he has concluded to retain the dispatch until means are found to forward it to its destination; and he indulges the hope that you will, upon reflection, conclude to transmit it, or make known to His Majesty that his excellency desires to send one. This is especially desirable; for if His Majesty frustrates all efforts to open negotiation the situation will be relieved of embarrassment in case the minister and admiral are compelled to seek other means to bring the business with which his excellency is intrusted to the notice of the court. A refusal by order of the government will also show to the nations of Europe, as well as to the United States, that Corea persistently declines to hold communication with an ambassador especially sent on an errand of peace and humanity. If, however, you conclude to adhere to the determination indicated in your note, I deem it my duty distinctly to inform you that for your refusal to perform a service incumbent upon all officials of every nation, the same responsibility will attach to His Majesty as if the act was done by his express order. TUNG CHIH, 10th year, 5th moon, 1st day, (June 18, 1871.) No. 18. Translation of a dispatch from the prefect of Foo Ping to Mr. Drew; received June 20, 1871. Li, guardian general of Foo Ping prefecture, makes a communication in reply. To the reply which I had the honor to send you the other day, I had not expected there would be a rejoinder. But I have now to acknowledge your answer, expressing surprise that I do not dare to forward his excellency's dispatch to the court, and inquiring into the matter. An explanation of my reasons is therefore indispensable. Although the place where your honored ships came to anchor on their arrival here* was amply suitable for intercourse and correspondence, yet you, ascending the tide, entered the narrows, and thus caused those holding the place to open fire upon you. As we had written, expressing regret at the infelicity of that affair, you might have passed it over; but no!-on the contrary, you went up a second time and fought a battle, in which many of our people were killed or wounded. Our court is terribly incensed at this, and no longer believes in the [alleged] peaceful nature of your visit. Under these circumstances, although his excellency wishes a dispatch to be forwarded, yet, in view of the utter irreconcilability of a foreign minister's writing our sovereign direct on terms of equality with what is due to rank, dignity, and ceremonial propriety, how could I, an humble official, venture to transmit it? Our court would certainly severely censure and disgrace me for such an act; and how could I escape this punishment ? And is this a matter of no concern to his excellency? It is, after repeatedly and unremittingly revolving the matter in my mind, that, dreading the law and holding to the canons of usage, dare not recklessly forward the dispatch. The business which his excellency has encountered the hardships of a long voyage to consut about and arrange can, in all probability, I presume, be nothing else than that he does not fully know why, of two vessels [which came to our shores] one was rescued and the other destroyed; and because he is solicitous for the future, lest in the course of their voyages vessels may perhaps again meet with unforeseen disasters, he therefore desires to make a compact of peace, [treaty,] forever preventing the infliction of injury, and this is the way matters stand. But can this be pronounced other than a manifestation of extreme over-anxiety and the taking of unnecessary trouble? As to the case of the vessel which was involved in misfortune by those on board her, who brought the catastrophe upon themselves, this affair was verily of a kind totally unexpected to us. As to vessels losing their course in fogs at sea, or being driven in by stress of weather, these, and all similar dangers and disasters, concern human life; that this country will with fidelity rescue mariners and send them forward by land, as they desire, is recorded as our established law, enduring as the elements. In this we imitate Heaven's fostering care of mankind, and Either Isle Boisée or Rose's Roads. make no discrimination between those nations which are remote and those which are near. Therefore it is that the local officials along the coast are, without exception, in a state of anxious concern day and night; and among these officials I am an unworthy With the spirits of heaven and earth watching above and about me, how dare I use empty or deceitful expressions? I only hope that his excellency will no longer be over-solicitous and needlessly trouble himself about these matters. one. Although you have not consulted about and settled any business, yet granted that you had done so, the results would have been to the above effect and nothing more. There is no need for a compact of peace, and friendly feeling will be naturally found in what I have above stated.* Of what the unworthy officer writing has heard of as the discussions of the crowded halls of our court he has now made frank disclosure; yet, his own proper duties are limited to holding his jurisdiction or doing battle, and to these things only. A necessary reply. To the American Chief Secretary. TUNG CHIH, 10th year, 5th moon, 2d day, (20th June, 1871.) No. 75.] No. 36. Mr. Low to Mr. Fish. ON BOARD UNITED STATES FLAG-SHIP COLORADO, Harbor of Chefoo, China, July 6, 1871. (Received August 21.) SIR: I have the honor to report my arrival at this port on the 5th instant, having left the anchorage near Boisée Island on the 3d. In my former dispatches I endeavored to furnish you with a succinct narrative of events as they occurred after my arrival and during my stay on the coast of Corea; the efforts that were made to carry out your instructions and provide some adequate measures for the safety and rescue of shipwrecked mariners; the reasons for the hostile action of the fleet against the Corean government, and the considerations which induced the admiral and myself to confine the operations of the Navy within the narrowest limits compatible with the honor of the Government of the United States; the safety of our people navigating these seas, and those residing upon Chinese soil. I now have to inform you that all my efforts failed to induce the government of Corea to enter into negotiations with a view to concluding a treaty, such as my instructions contemplated, or to discuss with me that or any other question. In concluding the history of these proceedings, I deem it not inappropriate to review the whole question of intercourse with Corea, in which the safety, welfare, and interests of the citizens and subjects of civilized and Christian governments are so largely involved; the attitude of the Corean government in the past, and the small probability of any voluntary change in the future. I also deem it proper to offer some observations, which may be of service to the Government of the United States in determining the proper course to be pursued to prevent the lives and property of our citizens from being sacrificed. Corea is now the only nation on the earth claiming to be civilized; that absolutely refuses to hold intercourse of any sort with the Christian countries of Europe and America. Up to within a few years Corea has attracted little notice; and it may be presumed that her isolated position and the reputed poverty of her people would continue to afford immunity, notwithstanding her exceptional attitude toward foreign nations, did not considerations of humanity dictate a different course. The opening and rapid increase of trade with Japan, China, and Russian Manchuria, which required vessels to skirt the coasts of Corea in their voyages, brought prominently *The promise to rescue distressed mariners. |