Wells Williams to His Imperial Highness Prince Kung, September 18, 1873

Mr. Williams to Prince Kung.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Imperial Highnesses dispatch of the 6th of July, addressed to Mr. Low, in which you remark, (alluding to the proposal to send an officer to treat with the Peruvian minister,) “that during the ten and more years which have passed since China has made treaties with other countries, mutual good-will has been shown by all parties; and that now Peru has come for that purpose, it is requisite that she be plainly informed that until she returns all the coolies to their own country, and agrees not to hire any more, no treaty can be made with her.”

As soon as this reply was received Mr. Low immediately sent a translation of it to the Peruvian minister at Japan, for his information. I have now received his reply, in which he thus remarks upon the dispatch:

“I have read His Imperial Highnesses reply with great attention, and have come to the conclusion that the high officers of China have not yet learned that Peru has adopted a more liberal policy, and that new regulations were passed last year respecting the treatment of the Chinese laborers in that land. By these laws the coolies are placed on a better footing, and have the same rights as others in the courts. These changes in our policy have led to the appointment of a special envoy to the government of China, with whose officers he can personally discuss every point relating to the treatment and position of the coolies, so that hereafter they will have no occasion to complain of the unjust and cruel treatment of their employers in Peru.

“In the Prince’s dispatch he states, indeed, that his government has no desire to make a treaty with Peru, and puts it on the ground of the treatment received by Chinese laborers there; but when the minister from Peru meets the one designated by China, then the latter can become thoroughly acquainted with every point connected with this whole matter. It is on this account that I again write to the United States minister at Peking requesting him to communicate these particulars to Prince Kung, and ascertain whether the imperial government will appoint an envoy, a high officer, to meet me at Tein-tsin, there to discuss these things and make a treaty mutually advantageous to both nations.”

It is only what is required by common courtesy to make known to your Imperial Highness the purport of the letter which I have received from the Peruvian minister. The government of China has hitherto exhibited the most friendly feelings toward all western nations, and treated them with the respect due to herself and them; and it cannot be supposed that she will repel any one in a rude and abrupt manner.

I take this opportunity, therefore, to inquire whether His Imperial Majesty’s government will designate a special officer to proceed to Tien-tsin, there to confer with the Peruvian minister, and on receiving your reply I shall be able to inform him.

I avail myself of this occasion to renew the expression of my high regard.