Wells Williams to His Imperial Highness Prince Kung, July 26, 1871
Mr. Williams to Mr. Fish
Sir: The translation of the petition from the Chinese laborers in Peru to the American minister in Lima, which gave occasion to the inclosed correspondence, was sent to the Department by Mr. Low, and need not, therefore, be duplicated. When I transmitted the original paper to Prince Kung, I endeavored to point out one mode open to him of at least doing something to relieve the wrongs complained of by his countrymen in Peru, (inclosure A,) and in addition I personally urged it upon the members of the Foreign Office as a desirable step to show that the Emperor did not altogether ignore the complaints of his people in foreign lands.
These officials, expressed their sympathy with their suffering countrymen, regretted that they should have been inveigled into such a miserable, cruel, servitude, and hoped that the evils would soon be mitigated, but they had no vivid sense of their own responsibilities in the matter, and made no inquiries as to the most desirable means of doing anything.
The answer, of Prince Kung is much in this sense, and is a confession of entire inability to relieve the petitioners, (inclosure B,) though I think he is disposed to aid them, if he could see his way clear to the manner, I have sent copies of the two dispatches to the United States legation at Lima, for the information of the Chinese there.
When all the circumstances are considered, I am not surprised at the prince’s reply.
This government has now one representative abroad, and they are watching with great solicitude the reception Chung-how meets in Europe, as well as France in particular, and would not think of sending another envoy until his return. They have no treaty with Peru, and it has not yet entered into their international code to make the first proposals to negotiate with any nation. This seems to them, therefore, to close the way to make even a remonstrance to the Peruvian authorities, or to ask their good offices, on the ground of humanity and self-interest, to protect the defenseless and the ignorant, and uphold the rights of these unhappy and oppressed laborers who have been brought to their shores. In urging this government to make a direct application to our own in this behalf, I suggested a course which they could adopt without risk of any entanglements, and involved only the wanting of a letter to another power to request it to help them to do what they acknowledged was a desirable thing, and which would show the world that they had heard these complaints.
But none of these arguments moved the Peking official, whose secluded position, and prejudices of education and etiquette prevent from learning the true state of the world, and availing themselves of the opportunities offered them.
The approaching majority of their young sovereign, involving, as it must, a number of changes in the administration, may have had its influence in deterring them from entering upon a new path like this, until they were sure how it might be regarded.
At present they content themselves with crying non possumus to every new proposal, and standing on their reserved rights; though I do not regard this present effort as having been altogether in vain.
I have, &c.,