THE CHINESE HAVE NOT REFUSED TO RECEIVE IT.
But it cannot be disguised, that, when the two Secretaries of State concurred in the idea of appropriating this fund to the erection of buildings, also when Mr. Burlingame made his earnest effort for its appropriation to a college at Peking, and when two successive Presidents invited Congress to consider what should be done with it, there was an impression not only that the Chinese would not allow the surplus to be returned, but that they had peremptorily declined to entertain the proposition. Such was the impression when the attention of the Committee was first called to this fund, now many years ago. And it cannot be doubted that this impression has exercised an influence in preventing frank and explicit action on the question, according to the obvious requirement of justice.
The Committee have endeavored to ascertain the ground for the statement that the Chinese had refused to receive the surplus. It seems, on inquiry, to be a report or rumor started nobody knows precisely how or when. Thus we find Mr. Seward saying, in his Report of February 18, 1868:—
“It appears, that, when it was ascertained that this surplus would remain, the return of it to the Chinese Government was proposed, but that they declined to accept it.”[132]
And Mr. Fish, in a similar Report, under date of March 10, 1870, says likewise:—
“The Secretary of State is informed, that, after the awards were completed, and it was definitely known that there would be a surplus, Mr. Burlingame informally proposed to return whatever should be left. The Chinese, however, did not seem disposed to accept it.”[133]
But these distinguished Secretaries do not adduce any authority for their assertion; nor does careful search at the State Department disclose any dispatch or record sustaining or justifying it. On this point the Committee are confident. No instruction was ever given to any Minister authorizing him to tender a return of the surplus, or even to sound the Chinese Government on the question of receiving it, if tendered. In fact, no power exists in the State Department to authorize such a tender. Such an act could proceed only from Congress, which has never acted on the subject.
The Committee, therefore, dismiss the assumption that there has been any tender to the Chinese, or any refusal on their part, whether formal or informal, and they approach the question simply on its merits.