220 



DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE AND FOREIGN RELATIONS. 



in firing a pistol into a crowd of people, pre- 

 cipitated the bloody collision between natives 

 and foreigners. 



The ministers of the Western powers, re- 

 siding in China, addressed a joint note to Prince 

 Kung, requesting the prompt punishment of 

 the offenders, and stating that it was indispen- 

 sable, while other countries should hear the 

 tidings of the crime, that they should at the 

 same time be informed that justice was being 

 done. 



Delay occurring in the administration of the 

 proper punishment, and aifairs being still in 

 such threatening condition as to cause the with- 

 drawal of the American missionaries from 

 Tungchow to Chefoo, Mr. Low, on the 13th 

 of September, addressed a note of expostula- 

 tion to Prince Kung. In the note the follow- 

 ing paragraph occurs: 



The traditional policy of the United States in their 

 intercourse with China is peace, which it is the ear- 

 nest desire of the undersigned, as well as his Govern- 

 ment, to maintain, and nothing will cause a depart- 

 ure from this policy, except the flagrant violation of 

 the rights and privileges of their citizens by the people, 

 and the failure of the Imperial Government to apply 

 the proper remedy promptly. In view of these con- 

 siderations, I again most earnestly call your attention 

 to the condition of aifairs at Tungchow, to the end 

 that you will cause such measures to be adopted as 

 will assure citizens of the United States of their safety, 

 and hasten the return of the missionaries to their 

 homes and their posts of duty. 



Though regarding the general tenor of Mr. 

 Low's note as judicious and proper, the Secre- 

 tary of State informed him on the 29th of No- 

 vember that the remarks above quoted con- 

 tained too strong an assurance of forbearance, 

 and it seemed to be proper that Prince Kung 

 should understand that any violation of the 

 rights of our citizens, and any flagrant viola- 

 tion of treaty stipulations of other powers, 

 might cause a change in thejpolicy of the Uni- 

 ted States. 



The correspondence, continued through sev- 

 eral months, depicts at length the causes for 

 further disquietude, and the steps taken by the 

 treaty powers to secure the protection of 

 foreigners. 



FRANCE. The good offices of the United 

 States were requested by the French Republic, 

 to be exercised jointly with those of European, 

 powers in the interest of peace. Answer was 

 made that the established policy of the United 

 States forbade them to interfere in European 

 questions jointly with European powers. It 

 having been ascertained, informally and unoffi- 

 cially, that North Germany was not disposed to 

 listen to such representations from any power, 

 the President declined to take a step which 

 could only result in injury to the true interests 

 of the United States, without advancing the 

 object for which the intervention was invoked. 



Recognition of the Republic. Early in Sep- 

 tember, and after the surrender of the Emperor 

 at Sedan, the dynasty of Napoleon III. was 

 declared at an end, and a provisional govern- 

 ment, with General Trochu at its head, was 



organized. On the afternoon of the 5th of 

 September, amid great excitement, Gambetta 

 proclaimed the republic from a balcony of the 

 Hotel de Ville. 



Mr. Washburne having communicated the 

 facts to this Government, by telegraph, he was 

 instructed, by the same means, to recognize 

 the republic. On the following day, the con- 

 gratulations of the President and of the people 

 of the United States, on the successful estab- 

 lishment of the republic, were telegraphed to 

 Mr. Washburne for communication to its rep- 

 resentatives. Mr. Washburne, on the 7th of 

 September, communicated the intelligence to 

 M. Jules Favre, the new French Minister for 

 Foreign Aifairs, who desired that an expression 

 of his gratitude and profound emotion should 

 be made known to the United States. The 

 correspondence which took place on this occa- 

 sion follows : 



Mr, E. B. Washburne to M. Jules Favre. 

 LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, \ 

 PAEIS, September 7, 1870. f 



SIB : I have the honor to state that your commu- 

 nication of the 5th instant was received at this lega- 

 tion at 11 o'clock last night, in which you inform me 

 that the Government of the national defence has, by 

 a resolution of its members, confided to you the de- 

 partment of foreign affairs. 



It affords me great pleasure to advise you that I 

 have this morning received a telegraphic dispatch 

 from my Government instructing me to recognize the 

 Government of the national defence as the Govern- 

 ment of France. 



I am, therefore, ready to put myself in communi- 

 cation with that Government, and, under your per- 

 mission, to transact all such business as may prop- 

 erly appertain to the functions with which I am 

 charged. 



In making this communication to your Excellency ? 

 I beg to tender to yourself and to the members ot 

 the Government of the national defence the felicita- 

 -tions of the Government and the people of the 

 United States. They will have learned with enthu- 

 siasm of the proclamation of a republic in France ? 

 accomplished without the shedding of one drop ol 

 blood, and they will associate themselves in heart 

 and sympathy with that great movement, confident 

 in the hope of the most beneficial results to the 

 French people and to mankind. 



Enjoying the untold and immeasurable blessings 

 of a republican form of government for nearly a cen- 

 tury, the people of the United States can but regard 

 with profoundest interest the efforts of the French 

 people, to whom they are bound by the ties of a tra- 

 ditional friendship, to obtain such free institutions as 

 will become to them and to their posterity the in- 

 alienable rights of " life, liberty, and the pursuit of 

 happiness.'' 



In conclusion, I desire to say to your excellency, 

 that I congratulate myself that I am to hold relations 

 with the Government of the national defence, through 

 a gentleman so distinguished as your Excellency, and 

 one so well known in my own country for his high 

 character and his long and devoted services in the 

 cause of human liberty and free government. 



I take this occasion to assure your Excellency that 

 I have the honor to be, with great respect, your 

 obedient servant, E. B. WASIIBTJRNE. 



His Excellency JULES FAVBE, Minister of Foreign 

 Affairs. 



M. Jules Favre to Mr. E. JB. WasHurne. 



(Translation.) 



PARIS, September 8, 1870. 



SIB : I look upon it as a happy augury for the 

 French Eepublic that it has received as its first diplo- 



