Pao-yun to F. Otin , Spanish Chargé d’Affaires to China, October 18, 1873

Foreign Office to Mr. Otin.

[Caveat of the Yamun.]

The Yamun begs to reply to his excellency M. Otin, Spanish chargé d’affaires.

On the 15th instant we received your excellency’s dispatch, in which you informed us that, as ours of the 13th instant was at open variance with the agreement arrived at in the Russian legation, you could no longer transact business with us, and had accordingly handed over the business of the Spanish legation to the dean of the diplomatic body at Peking, and requested us henceforth to consider you as a private individual.

On the same day we also received the dispatch of M. Holleben, the German chargé d’affaires, stating that M. Otin had transferred the affairs of the Spanish legation to him as dean of the diplomatic body, and requested us, therefore, until further notice, to address him on any point connected with Spanish affairs.

In relation to this we beg to observe that, in all our consultations and transactions with the foreign representatives, we have always endeavored to maintain friendly relations; and in cases of difference of opinion and unexpected misunderstanding, we have, in order the better to speedily adjust the difference, always tried to preserve equanimity and calmness of mind. We have not, in consequence of disagreement on a single point, harbored general distrust on all points.

In relation to this coolie question, after obtaining the imperial sanction to the appointment of Chãn Lan-pin to go as our commissioner to inquire into the facts, (an appointment made after consulting with you,) we informed you of our action, and requested you to advise your government and invite its co-operation. And when, on the 9th of this month, you personally handed us a dispatch, we replied to it in the same form, with all convenient speed, according to the real facts.

In all this intercourse we have always treated you as becomes a minister plenipotentiary, and have never failed in due respect toward you; so that it certainly must be some misunderstanding which leads you, in your last dispatch, to request us to consider you as merely a private individual.

If, however, you wish to hand over the affairs of the Spanish legation to another minister, because you intend shortly to return home on account of important business, this is a common occurrence in all legations; but the purport and expressions of your last communication are not altogether in accordance with friendly relations.

We ought properly to reply to it in an official dispatch, but having now had it and the dispatch of the German chargé d’affaires, we have preferred to address you in a private note first, stating our views, and shall be gratified to receive your reply, wishing, you at the same time every happiness.

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