Edward B. Drew, acting secretary of legation to Li, guardian general of Foo-Ping prefecture, July 2, 1871

Edward B. Drew, acting secretary of legation, to Li, guardian general of Foo-Ping prefecture

I had the honor to receive your note of 20th June, in which you reiterate your refusal to forward a dispatch from his excellency the minister to the court. You also decline to inform His Majesty that his excellency desires to communicate with the government. In reply, I would observe that it is quite beyond my province to enter into a discussion respecting the proprieties of diplomatic correspondence and intercourse; nor does our former correspondence justify the belief that such delicate and responsible powers are confided to you by your government.

With reference to the policy and practices of your government, about which you make positive statements and give voluntary assurances, I have to say that, until better satisfied of your authority, these statements and assurances cannot be accepted by his excellency as a reply to inquiries he might have made had an oppoptunity been afforded for him to explain the business in detail; and until this can be done in a convenient and proper manner it is quite unnecessary for officials, of whatever rank, to assume to know what his business is, or to gratuitously assign reasons for the action of His Majesty in declining to open communication with a foreign envoy, sent by his government to transact business of the highest importance. His excellency instructs me to say that coming, as he did, in obedience to the express orders of his Government, in the interest of humanity, without menace or hostile intent, all of which was announced to His Majesty in advance, he had a right to expect a courteous and civil reception, and that he would be allowed to explain in person, either to His Majesty or to a high minister designated for the purpose, the wishes of the Government of the United States preparatory to discussing, and agreeing, if possible, upon some definite inode of conducting affairs between the two countries in the future.

To remove, as far as practicable, the doubts of the local officials and the people, which the presence of the vessels might have raised, and to give assurances of our friendly disposition, you were, by permission of the minister, informed that we desired peace, and that there was no intention, either on the part of his excellency or the admiral, of interfering with the people, disturbing the government or the local institutions, or seeking control over a single foot of your, territory. Instead of being received in a manner befitting the dignity of the Government he represents, and afforded an opportunity to make known the business which he was instructed to bring to the notice of your government, the civilities and courtesies due to a minister of his rank have been withheld, and all his efforts to open communication with the government have been frustrated. Your refusal to send the dispatches is quite in keeping with what had preceded, and your reasons for declining to perform the service are, I feel bound to say, frivolous and evasive. While waiting at this anchorage to receive such communication as His Majesty might choose to send, and consult with such persons, of suitable rank, as might be designated to meet him, the admiral concluded to render his smaller vessels useful to commerce and humanity by employing them in exploring the difficult and dangerous channels which are so numerous on the coasts of your country. Information was given in advance, of his intention, with the request that the surveying party should not be interfered with. Notwithstanding this timely caution and these assurances of good faith, the vessels were, without notice, wantonly and treacherously assaulted from your forts and masked batteries, and the utmost efforts of the military authorities were used to destroy the vessels and the people on board. Fortunately, the skill and power of the military were not equal to the base and treacherous design of the officers that directed the attach. Instead of making an apology for this outrage, the government remained silent, and the local officials from whom we heard mildly deprecated the necessity but justified the act. After waiting a reasonable time for apology and reparation, the admiral proceeded to seek redress in the only manner possible, according to the rules and practices of civilized nations. That the punishment inflicted was severe you are well aware. At the same time the moderation of the admiral in confining his measures of redress to the forts and places from which the first attack upon his squadron came, must be as apparent to your government as it will be to the world when the circumstances are made known.

I am directed to say, in conclusion, that in the opinion of his excellency all reasonable efforts have been put forth to accomplish what his Government desired without the use of force, or even the display of it, further than it became necessary to redress unprovoked wrongs. These friendly overtures having failed to produce any favorable results, he feels that further correspondence or delay is alike unnecessary. From what he has seen, he is firmly convinced that the government of Corea has from the first determined to repel all advances toward friendly negotiation, and that the course of moderation and conciliation, which his excellency adopted and frankly made known, has had no other effect than to enlarge the pretensions and encourage the hostility of His Majesty and those acting under his authority. That the Government of the United States will be disappointed when it learns all the facts is quite clear. What course it will deem proper to pursue in view of all the circumstances it is not within my province to predict. It can scarcely be expected that the United States, or the governments of Europe, will continue to submit tamely to the haughty dictum of His Majesty, or rest content with his persistent refusal to hold direct communication with the ministers that may be sent on public business. Nor will it furnish just grounds for complaint on the part of His Majesty were foreign governments to use the power necessary to enforce compliance with their reasonable demands. In view of the gravity of the situation, his excellency deems it expedient to report fully the existing condition of affairs to his Government, and take its instructions before proceeding further. In the mean time he will feel at liberty to withdraw temporarily to some other point on the coast of Corea or China. Some of the vessels may be employed on the coast surveying during his absence, and it is to be hoped they will not be interfered with or molested.

I would further observe that if any of my countrymen should be, unfortunately, wrecked upon the coasts or islands, it is expected that the assurances of His Majesty to the board of rites will be made good, and the people be humanely treated and forwarded to their country. Any expenses incurred on this account will be readily paid by the Government of the United States.