Wells Williams to His Imperial Highness Prince Kung, June 8, 1871

S. Wells Williams to Prince Kung

Sir: In the month of June, 1869, the United States minister, J. Ross Browne, sent to your imperial highness a complaint which the Chinese living in Peru had presented to the United States envoy residing at Lima, stating that they were very harshly treated by their masters; to which your highness’s reply was received. Mr. Henry M. Brent, the United States chargé d’affaires at Lima, has now forwarded another complaint presented to him by the Chinese laborers in Peru, setting forth their grievances and harsh treatment, worse than before, and asking that he would make their condition known to the Emperor, and see if an envoy could be sent to live in Peru, or whether the American minister could act as such and help them. It seems from the perusal of this petition, as well as the last, that the condition of these laborers is very lamentable. Far off in a distant land, they have met this suffering and misery; they are like a bird in a cage, out of which there is no escape.

The petition which they have sent I now submit for your highness perusal, that you may devise measures for their deliverance and succor. If you decide to agree to their request, and make the United States minister at Lima the protector of the Chinese living in that land, it will be necessary to make the proposal direct to the President; and if he is willing to allow and instruct the American minister there to act in this capacity for awhile, (if the Peruvian government is also willing to have him do so.) then the arrangement can be effected. Hereafter, if China and Peru should enter into negotiations, the stipulations of the treaty could secure the welfare of the Chinese in that country. Just now it would be advisable to instruct the high officers at Canton to proclaim through all the districts and towns in Kwang-Chan prefecture, warning the people not to engage themselves to go to Peru as laborers, so that they may not fall into similar distress. I now inclose the original copy of the complaint made by the Chinese laborers of their distressed condition for your highness’s perusal.

I have the honor to be, sir, your highness’s obedient servant,