皇帝和總統的對話--義和團

前麵的三個皇帝與總統對話，都有點勉強，雖然道光與塔勒確實就美國專使顧盛（Caleb Cushing）交換了信函，還是有點鬆散的感覺。而本博所記的皇帝與總統的對話，是義和團促成的，沒有義和團，就沒有這次皇帝與總統直接對話。1900年，義和團事起，越來越嚴重，光緒皇帝給美國總統發了兩封信，一封是7月，還在北京，一封是10月，朝廷已經出走陝西，在潼關發的電報。以前我隻是聽說有此事，沒見過原信，還有點懷疑，以為跟所謂光緒在北京大學演講那樣，後人偽托。知道了美國檔案館網後，去查也沒有查到，還是在FRUS1900年裏查到了。

因為當時義和團在北京已經包圍了英美領館，所以通訊很困難，這封信走了一個大彎子才到達美國人手裏，隻有翻譯件，兵荒馬亂的，又是通過電報傳送，估計美國人沒有原件，不知中國方麵有沒有留下底稿。伍廷芳1900年7月20日收到上海道台，實際上是蘇鬆太道道員餘聯沅，因為太道衙門設在上海，所以也稱上海道，收到餘聯沅的電報，而餘是收到山東巡撫袁世凱的電報，袁又是從北京的內閣收到的，內容是光緒皇帝給美國總統的信，當時的美國總統是麥金萊（William McKinley）。這裏隻給一個大意簡述，反過來把全文從英文翻譯成中文，很難，可以參考幾幅光緒的國書原件中的文字：
大清朝皇帝問大美國伯理璽天德好。（第一句問候抄其它原件，下麵純為現代語言簡述）大清與美國一直保持友好關係，也深知美國的目的是國際貿易。兩國相互都不猜疑或不信任。近來的人民和教會的仇恨引起外國列強無根據地懷疑大清政府敵視外國人而偏向中國人。結果是大沽炮台被攻占，形勢越來越嚴峻，我們剛收到伍廷芳的電報奏則，欣聞美國政府考慮到兩國長遠的友誼，對局勢深表關切。由於事態發展的不可抗力，中國很不幸地引發了國際間的憤怒。為解決目前的困局，中國依賴於美國，我們衷心坦誠地給閣下致信，望閣下能采取措施，說服列強，恢複秩序和和平。急切盼望回複。光緒二十六年六月二十三日。
麥金萊總統7月23日回信：
美國總統向中國皇帝問好
收到閣下7月19日信，很高興閣下認識到美國政府和人民對中國除了正義和平等之外別無所求。我們派軍隊到中國是為了解救我們的公使館，保護在條約和國際法規定下享受他們的權力的美國人的生命和財產。其它列強也表達了相同的目的。從來信我推斷那些在北京鬧事破壞和平，殺害德國公使，和一名日本使團成員並正在包圍北京的外交人員的暴徒們,沒有得到閣下的任何支持，而實際上是反政府分子，如果我的推斷正確，那麽我懇請閣下的政府公開宣示，外國公使們是否還活著，如果活著，他們的情況如何。並讓列強的外交官立即與其國家進行無障礙的聯絡，同時消除對他們生命安全的威脅。中國政府與八國聯軍建立聯係，雙方合作解救外交使團，保護外國人，恢複秩序。如果這些目標都實現了，本政府相信，聯軍方麵就不會再對解決近期動亂設置任何障礙了。本政府會盡力，為閣下達到此目的效勞，其它列強也持同樣的態度。
麥金萊  1900年7月23日。

1900年10月，光緒再次給美國總統寫信，
（1900年10月17日由公使伍廷芳交給總統）
下麵的電報發來的大清帝國信函，日期是1900年10月14日，由內閣從陝西潼關發出，再由盛宣懷從上海轉發，日期為10月16日，經伍公使接收。
大清皇帝問美國大伯理璽天德好
我等對閣下主動自北京撤軍並同意為友誼而在中國和各列強間調停深表感激，特命全權公使伍廷芳親自將此電信送交閣下表達我們誠摯的謝意。並請求閣下利用你的影響來消弭此次事件給各國帶來的不良印象，盡快談判和平解決。對此我們對閣下不勝感激。
美國總統10月18日回信
（1900年10月18日傳給伍公使發送）
華盛頓 1900年10月18日
中國皇帝光緒閣下好 
我與閣下有同感，列強與中國之間的問題可以和平解決，惡意可以徹底消除。本政府希望盡快解決問題，隻要閣下政府能嚴辦肇事者，他們不僅對外國人，也對中國犯下罪行。
麥金萊

以上是FRUS記錄的皇帝與總統的對話，真正的對話，雖然隔著大洋。美國方麵還注意到，第二封信似乎有點草率，末尾都沒有象往常那樣落款。麥金萊也就隻留了名字。

原文附下：

Translation of a cablegram received by Minister Wu on July 20, 1900, from the taotai of Shanghai, dated July 19, 1900.

Have received a telegram from Governor Yuan (of Shantung), dated 23d day of this moon (July 19), who, having received from the privy council (at Pekin) a dispatch embodying an Imperial letter to the President of the United States, has instructed me to transmit it to your excellency. The Imperial message is respectfully transmitted, as follows:

The Emperor of China to His Excellency the President of the United States, greeting:

China has long maintained friendly relations with the United States and is deeply conscious that the object of the United States is international commerce. Neither country entertains the least suspicion or distrust toward the other. Recent outbreaks of mutual antipathy between the people and Christian missions caused the foreign powers to view with unwarranted suspicion the position of the Imperial Government as favorable to the people and predjudicial to the missions, with the result that the Taku forts were attacked and captured. Consequently there has been clashing of forces with calamitous consequences. The situation has become more and more serious and critical. We have just received a telegraphic memorial from our envoy, Wu Tingfang, and it is highly gratifying to us to learn that the United States Government, having in view the friendly relations between the two countries, has taken a deep interest in the present situation. Now China, driven by the irresistible course of events, has unfortunately incurred well-nigh universal indignation. For settling the present difficulty, China places special reliance in the United States. We address this message to your excellency in all sincerity and candidness, with the hope that your excellency will devise measures and take the initiative in bringing about a concert of the powers for the restoration of order and peace. The favor of a kind reply is earnestly requested and awaited with the greatest anxiety.

KWANG-HSU, twenty-sixth year, sixth moon, 23d day (July 19, 1900),

It is, therefore, my duty to transmit the above with the request that your excellency, in respectful obedience of Imperial wishes, will deliver the same to its high destination and favor me with a reply.

Yu Lien-yuen，Taotai at Shangahi.

KWANG-HSU, twenty-sixth year,sixth moon, 23d day (July 19, 1900).  

The President to the Emperor of China.

The President of the United States to the Emperor of China, greeting:

I have received Your Majesty's message of the 19th of July, and am glad to know that Your Majesty recognizes the fact that the Government and people of the United States desire of China nothing but what is just and equitable. The purpose for which we landed troops in China was the rescue of our legation from grave danger and the protection of the lives and property of Americans who were sojourning in China in the enjoyment of rights guaranteed them by treaty and by international law. The same purposes are publicly declared by all the powers which have landed military forces in Your Majesty's Empire.

I am to infer from Your Majesty's letter that the malefactors who have disturbed the peace of China, who have murdered the minister of Germany and a member of the Japanese legation, and who now hold besieged in Pekin those foreign diplomatists who still survive, have not only not received any favor or encouragement from Your Majesty, but are actually in rebellion against the Imperial authority. If this be the case, I most solemnly urge upon Your Majesty's Government to give public assurance whether the foreign ministers are alive, and if so, in what condition,

2. To put the diplomatic representatives of the powers in immediate and free communication with their respective Governments and to remove all danger to their lives and liberty.

3. To place the Imperial authorities of China in communication with the relief expedition, so that cooperation may be secured between them for the liberation of the legations, the protection of foreigners, and the restoration of order.

If these objects are accomplished it is the belief of this Government that no obstacles will be found to exist on the part of the powers to an amicable settlement of all the questions arising out of the recent troubles, and the friendly good offices of this Government will, with the assent of the other powers, be cheerfully placed at Your Majesty's disposition for that purpose.

WILLIAM McKINLEY.

JULY 23, 1900.

By the President:

John Hay, Secretary of State.

 

(Handed to the President by Minister Wu, October 17, 1900.)

The following telegraphic Imperial letter, dated October 14, 1900, forwarded by the privy council from Tung-Kuan (in Shensi) and retransmitted from Shanghai by Director-General Sheng under date of October 16, has been received by Minister Wu:

The Emperor of the Ta Tsing Empire to His Excellency the President of the United States, greeting:

We are extremely grateful to Your Excellency for taking the initiative in the withdrawal of troops (from Pekin) and for consenting, in the interest of friendly relations, to use your kindly offices between China and the friendly powers who have been offended on account of the recent unexpected uprising in China.

We therefore especially delegate our envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, Wu Ting-fang, to personally deliver this telegraphic letter to Your Excellency conveying our sincere expression of thanks.

We beg that Your Excellency, in the interest of peace and international good relations, will exert your friendly influence with other powers toward the complete effacement of all ill feeling and the speedy determination on their part to negotiate for a peaceful settlement. For this we shall feel unbounded gratitude toward Your Excellency, whose good offices we are now earnestly beseeching.

---------------------------------

[Communicated to Minister Wu for transmission, October 18, 1900.]

WASHINGTON, October 18, 1900.

His Majesty Kwang Ilsu, Emperor of China, greeting:

It has afforded me much pleasure to receive Your Imperial Majesty's telegraphic letter of October 14, which has been delivered by Your Majesty's minister in Washington.

I cordially share Your Majesty's wish that there may be a peaceful settlement of all questions between China and the powers whose interests and nationals have so grievously suffered wrong in Your Majesty's dominions, and that the outcome may be the complete effacement of ill feeling between them. The desire of this Government that such a settlement may be brought about speedily has been made known to all the powers, and I trust that negotiations may begin so soon as we and the other offended governments shall be effectively satisfied of Your Majesty's ability and power to treat with just sternness the principal offenders, who are doubly culpable, not alone toward the foreigners, but toward Your Majesty, under whose rule the purpose of China to dwell in concord with the world has hitherto found expression in the welcome and protection assured to strangers.

WILLIAM McKINLEY.