The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-08-30
>UnWritten History.
Deputy commissioner of costums Clay

son, OF Canton, China, was at the Pal
mer home. In the course of converse.
ton with reporter for the Times about
Chinese commercial and political rela
tions, among other things, Mr.. Clayson
let ont bit of inner workings of GER
tain diplomatic negotiations to which
the American government was party.
1t appears that Commodore Shufeld.,
to bring about treaty with Corea, was
so imprudent during negotiations as to
write letter to Senator Sergeant, of
California, wherein among other things,
concerning the Chinese people, this now
retired officer of the navy described the
empress of China as being ga most on
toriously licentious woman" The letter
got into print in California, but before
the publication reached China the head
officials there, according to Mr.. Clayson.
received notice of this accusation
against the name of their distinguished
ruler, and it was quietly decided to sit
down on the American Commodore and
send him back to his native land treaty
less and covered with royal rebukes.
Mr.. Clayscn says the remark was made
in Chinese official circles, and made in q
spirit of Indignation: "What can this
American know about our Empress when
we, her noble subjects, are not able to
learn anything about her in her life of
calm seclusion. The idea that this new
conner has had opportunities of learning
anything about our Empress-perish the
thought." Tho Commodore was called
up to the vice-royars spalace, and that
dignitary propounded to him, with all
the solemnity and sternness that become
monarch, the escutcheon of whose
house had been furnished by one not
even to the manor born, this interroga-
tory: "Did you write letter to friend
In America declaring that the Empress
of China was VIGOROUSLY licentious?"
"Emphatically, 1 did not, sir; most
decidedly, did not" was the reply of
the blunt old tar who had "sailed the
high seas over"
This was enough. said Mr.. Clsyson.
The little unpleasantness was kept a
secret. 1t appears that the American
commodore grew restless. however. All
OF sudden he insisted that the Corean
treaty must be Signed right away, or he
would at once steam off for Yankeeland,
treaty or no treaty. In short, it must be
signed that day. Therefore it was that
Ma. Chen Chung. Taoti, superintendent
OF circuit, the vice-royal, and Mr.. Clay
son arranged the matter with the Coreans,
and after the representatives of the con-
tracing parties had completed their
duties Commodore Shufeldt remarked
''This will probrb]y be the last official
act OF my life with foreign powers, unless
/ come back to get the treaty ratified"
Mr.. Clayson said that the very next day
the printed copy of the commodore's let
ter, containing the offensive allusion to
the empress, was placed in possession Of
the Chinese government. What was its
horror to find that the treaty had been
negotiated with foreigner who had
slandered the empress. Such a thing.
said Mr.. Clayson, would have been an
impossibility if the signing of that treaty
had been delayed twenty four hours. 1t
has never, until now, been divulged that
the American government only escaped
by q hairs. breadth from having no treaty
with Coren.
Mr.. Clayson is an Englishman. but has
been fourteen years in the Chinese ser.
vice, and although he would be entitled
to two Y aars' leave of absence after serv-
ing seven years. be has not availed
himself of the privilege until now.
Being an Englishman, and intelligent
withal, he discusses the problems that at
present vex the Chinese nation in an en-
lightened manner. Speaking of the Ton
quin affair. growing ont Of the effort of
France to extend the line of its CONNER
cial and political influence in Tonquin,
he declares that France is only keeping
up these threatened descriptions with for
eign pc wers for the purpose of diverting
attention from its own internal disssn.
sions and communistic agitations.
France, he believes, does not expect to
secure any permanent lodgment at Ton
auin beyond what it now has. The
French, he thinks, would not be apt 10
secure much of victory if they engaged
in warlike demonstrations, and disaster
TO their people in an engagement would
be o great one. Both nations, he be-
lieves, will settle the question entirely
by the aid Of diplomacy. Since the
American law restricting Chinese immi-
grafton went into effect the people there,
be says. are satisfied. but are demanding
that tie American government keep
Americans out Of China, and
they will keep the Chinese at home.
Mr.. Clayson left last evening for Niagara