Aurelio Go Y Garcia to F. F. Low, June 15, 1873
Señor Garcia to Mr. Low.
Sir: I have the honor to address your excellency the present communication in reference to the mission which my government has intrusted to me in the empire of China, and in anticipation of my approaching journey to that capital.
Your excellency will remember that in the year 1870 the Peruvian government, being desirous to enter into treaty relations with China and Japan, and not finding it convenient to immediately send out a legation, invoked the friendly relations of the United States, and begged the American Government to instruct their ministers at Peking and Yeddo to represent Peru until such a time as the republic could dispatch a mission. On the 10th of May of the same year General Hovey transmitted to the minister of foreign affairs, at Lima, the answer of the Secretary of State, acceding to our request, and advising him that your excellency and Mr. DeLong had been so instructed.
Two years afterward, in August, 1872, his excellency Señor Don Manuel Pardo, having inaugurated his liberal administration, one of his first cares was to attend to the very important interests of Peru in China, with which country he had constant intercourse for upwards of thirty years. President Pardo, in consequence, appointed the undersigned his envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary in China, with the objects of concluding treaties of amity, commerce, and navigation, and regulating, on bases mutually convenient, protective of persons, and similar to those adopted by other nations, the emigration of Asiatics to Peru.
When this legation was to be appointed the Peruvian government advised the Government of the United States of it, and of the purposes of the mission, and also requesting that the American representatives in Peking and Yeddo might extend their good offices to it upon its arrival, in commencing it, and lending such other friendly assistance as the occasion might require. To this request the American Government also assented most gladly, and the honorable Mr. Fish advised Colonel Freyre that instructions had been given to that effect.
Your excellency may already have heard of my arrival in Japan, and of the very flattering reception with which the Peruvian mission was honored by His Majesty the Tenno. I am happy to be able to state to your excellency that the opportune and friendly action of his excellency C. E. DeLong, minister of the United States at this court, has contributed in a most efficient manner to bring about that result and to facilitate my work with this government.
In addressing your excellency this dispatch, I am convinced that the representative of the American Union at Peking is animated by the same friendly sentiments toward Peru which have on all occasions been shown to her by the great republic; and, although I cannot yet fix the day of my departure for China, as it is not remote from this date I beg to express the hope that your excellency will please announce my approaching arrival to the Chinese government, and will endeavor to incline that government favorably to my legation, conveying to their mind the very friendly spirit in which it comes, the importance of its objects, and bringing to their knowledge the fact that the government of Peru has just enacted a new code of regulations for the protection of Chinese emigrants, making it impossible that they should be subjected to any abuses, which my government has always condemned and endeavored to punish; and at the same time assuring them all the rights which the constitution and liberal laws of the country guarantee to all foreigners in their persons and property.
For these good offices allow me to give your excellency my government’s and my own anticipated thanks, which it is my earnest hope to be able soon to express personally to your excellency.
Begging you to please send your answer to the American consulate at Shanghai, with instructions that it be kept for me there, I have the honor to assure your excellency of my highest regard and most distinguished consideration.