INQUIETUDES DE SIR JOHN BOWRING

Sir John Bowring semble à ce moment s'être aperçu qu'il s'est engagé dans une aventure qui tourne mal et il fait (i5 novembre) des ouvertures aux ministres de France et d'Amérique ; il essaie de les entraîner dans sa politique en les mêlant à sa demande d'entrée dans la ville de Canton, mais ils ont vu le piège et l'évitent.

Le D' Peter Parker répondit catégoriquement à la dépêche de sir John Bowring le 17 novembre i856 :

78 l'affaire de L* « ARROW »

I beg to assure Y. E. of the fuUest and mosi sincère reciprocation of the earnest désire to pursue that harmony of purpose and unity of action on the part of the Treaty Powers in ail matters of common right and interest under the treaties, — but in ail questions specifically aiîecting one of thèse Powers in relation to China, the others I conceive cannot participate. Such. was the original occasion of the measures which hâve evolved the présent state of political and commercial affairs at Canton, w^hich Y. E. observes, now afiect the whole of our diplomatie relations witb China, but it is important to record this has been in a manner in which the Government of the United States has been passive and neutral.

There is one particular în which the whole of our diplomatie relations with China are affected, to which in the kindest spiiît I wish to call Y. E. *s attention. If I am correctly informed, one of the demands of H. B. M. *s Government made of that of China is the « entrée » of ail foreign officiais to the city of Canton» If such be the case it has been without the knowledge of the représentative of the U. S. and without previous délibération or assent on his part, and whilst appreciating the générons motive that prompted H. E. Sir M. Seymour to the act, Imust disclaim in behalf of the Government of the United States the right to perform it, and I shall be happy to learn from Y. E. tkat I am misinformed in relation to this point.

Le comte de Courcy qui s'était plus avancé que le D"" Parker fut moins net, moins explicite et plus courtois dans sa réponse à Sir J. Bovs^ring que ne l'avait été le ministre américain.