Prince Kung to Anson Burlingame , United States, October 12, 1862

Prince Kung to Mr. Burlingame

Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for foreign affairs, herewith sends a communication.

The governor of Kiangsie having reported to me that he had heard it rumored that the (Taiping) rebels had employed crafty traders to go privately to the United States to buy vessels and cannon, for which purpose they had deposited the sum of 500,000 taels, I immediately made it known to your excellency, to the end that you might write to your country and have the matter inquired into in time. The purport of that despatch was limited to informing you of the conduct of the rebels in sending, in this underhand way, to the United States to buy articles.

More recent information, from ports along the sea-coast and rivers, confirms the previous accounts that traders, belonging to the United States, have been carrying arms and cannon through the country to sell to the rebels, and rendering them assistance, all with the object of getting gain; and thus it has come to pass that General Ward, who recently lost his life in the engagement near Ningpo, was, as it is rumored, wounded by a shot from a foreign gun. It can but be inferred that if there were no merchants to surreptitiously sell these weapons, how could the rebels otherwise obtain them, and kill our men? Furthermore, I am told that foreigners, armed with similar ones, aid them in destroying and resisting our officers.

The United States has long been at peace with China, and friendly relations are daily becoming more sincere; but when one learns that General Ward, an American, sacrificed his life in defending the cause of China, while men of the same race readily aid the rebel, and do all they can to prevent the continuance of peaceful relations, it is difficult to understand the reasons. Though it is impossible to tell certainly of what nation these men are, still, such a state of things must implicate the reputation of your country, and I, accordingly, inform your excellency, in the hope that you will presently despatch orders to the (American) consuls at the ports, requiring them to take strict measures to prevent their countrymen from secretly selling arms to the rebels, or aiding them in any manner. The conduct of these contrabandista, in the first-mentioned instance, was sufficiently important for our taking instant measures to stop their proceedings; but their criminality in this case is still more heinous, and no trifling with the matter should be allowed, (by the consuls,) lest the position of the United States be compromised, and the integrity of China be destroyed. If, however, my suggestions be followed, both our interests will be preserved.

I have already issued the most positive orders to all the local authorities along the coasts, and in those regions, urging them to increase their vigilance, and requiring them to seize any one, whether foreigner or native, who may be found smuggling arms, and punish them to the full extent of the laws without the least delay. I trust that you will also be so good as to look into this matter, and favor me with a reply; for the purpose of this communication is to inform you of all these particulars, and that such orders have been forwarded to the provinces.