조불(朝佛) 문제 조회문을 각국 공사관에 발송한 것에 대한 해명
給法國伯洛内信
貴國與高麗交兵一事 中國毫無偏袒 亦無勉强 前因貴大臣照會 遽以無據之言爲據 詳閱通篇詞意 竟謂中國包庇高麗 本衙門不能任受此語 是以恭親王於照覆貴大臣後 竝將往來公文移送各國住京大臣閱覽 以期表明心跡 俾知中國和解兩國美意 貴大臣未達本衙門表明心跡之意 轉於此次來函内稱 公文送與各國大臣閱看 於本大臣毫無妨礙云云 查貴大臣前次照會 以中國包庇高麗 尙稱得自風聞 此次來函 謂想幫高麗 竟直斷以已意 明言爲不枉論 是中國和解兩國美意 始終不明其實 本衙門現在竝未聞各國有疑中國想幫高麗之說 本衙門斷不肯隨意誣指 遽謂各國有疑中國之意 中國是否包庇高麗 及貴大臣之論枉與不枉 所有三次來往公文 業已分送各國大臣閱覽 本衙門亦無須多論 卽此可知本衙門移送各國大臣閱覽之意 不過意欲表明心跡 誠以貴大臣誣指中國各節 若隱忍不言 以致不能公同部白 實於中國國家大有妨礙 殊難計及於貴大臣之有無妨礙 此亦不辨自明 恭親王前次照會 勸貴大臣先向朝鮮查明敎民被害緣由 毋遽動兵 自係排解美意 是否可行 貴大臣久未照覆 經恭親王照會催覆 始據覆稱早已交鋒 不能阻止等因 貴大臣若早將此言聲覆 本衙門亦不至再爲復催 至貴大臣補照條約送到法文照會三件 内十月初四日一件 經貴國繙譯李老爺逐層講解 融會大意 與漢文相符 李老爺深通漢文 於中外辦理交涉事件 實能融洽 當將此件補送法文照會 歸入十月初四日漢文卷内存案 其補送六月初三日法文照會一件 補送九月十六日法文照會一件 亦分歸各漢文卷内存案 此次來往信函 仍係敘述前次分送照會緣由 自應仍前分送各國大臣 俾可詳知端委 至前次將往來照會移送各國大臣閱覽 本衙門以爲貴大臣自無不知之 原無須先向貴大臣告知 再行移送 今貴大臣來文 以爲當先通知其意 所有此次來往信函仍行分送緣由 卽照來意明告貴大臣查照
貴國與高麗交兵一事 中國毫無偏袒 亦無勉强 前因貴大臣照會 遽以無據之言爲據 詳閱通篇詞意 竟謂中國包庇高麗 本衙門不能任受此語 是以恭親王於照覆貴大臣後 竝將往來公文移送各國住京大臣閱覽 以期表明心跡 俾知中國和解兩國美意 貴大臣未達本衙門表明心跡之意 轉於此次來函内稱 公文送與各國大臣閱看 於本大臣毫無妨礙云云 查貴大臣前次照會 以中國包庇高麗 尙稱得自風聞 此次來函 謂想幫高麗 竟直斷以已意 明言爲不枉論 是中國和解兩國美意 始終不明其實 本衙門現在竝未聞各國有疑中國想幫高麗之說 本衙門斷不肯隨意誣指 遽謂各國有疑中國之意 中國是否包庇高麗 及貴大臣之論枉與不枉 所有三次來往公文 業已分送各國大臣閱覽 本衙門亦無須多論 卽此可知本衙門移送各國大臣閱覽之意 不過意欲表明心跡 誠以貴大臣誣指中國各節 若隱忍不言 以致不能公同部白 實於中國國家大有妨礙 殊難計及於貴大臣之有無妨礙 此亦不辨自明 恭親王前次照會 勸貴大臣先向朝鮮查明敎民被害緣由 毋遽動兵 自係排解美意 是否可行 貴大臣久未照覆 經恭親王照會催覆 始據覆稱早已交鋒 不能阻止等因 貴大臣若早將此言聲覆 本衙門亦不至再爲復催 至貴大臣補照條約送到法文照會三件 内十月初四日一件 經貴國繙譯李老爺逐層講解 融會大意 與漢文相符 李老爺深通漢文 於中外辦理交涉事件 實能融洽 當將此件補送法文照會 歸入十月初四日漢文卷内存案 其補送六月初三日法文照會一件 補送九月十六日法文照會一件 亦分歸各漢文卷内存案 此次來往信函 仍係敘述前次分送照會緣由 自應仍前分送各國大臣 俾可詳知端委 至前次將往來照會移送各國大臣閱覽 本衙門以爲貴大臣自無不知之 原無須先向貴大臣告知 再行移送 今貴大臣來文 以爲當先通知其意 所有此次來往信函仍行分送緣由 卽照來意明告貴大臣查照
별지: 英譯文(美國)
Sir :
We have the honor to inform your excellency that Mr. Lemaire, the interpreter of the French legation, brought your note on the 25th of November with the original texts in French of your several despatches of July 14, October 24, and November 10, which you furnished to this office in accordance with Article III of the [French] treaty. We have put them on file.
In regard to the quarrel between France and Corea, we may observe again, that China has shown neither a desire to be unjustly partial, nor to constrain either party. From your previous despatches, in which you so hastily quoted certain rumors, and acted upon them as if authentic, we could only infer, after the most careful examination of their contents, that you wished to charge this government with the design of screening and protecting Corea. Being wholly unwilling to rest quietly under this imputation, his imperial highness Prince Kungm after his last reply to you, sent copies of the entire correspondence to all the foreign ministers resident in Peking, in the hope thereby of showing them his real purpose, which is to do all that China can do to preserve the peace between those two countries. It appears as if your excellency did not entirely appreciate our motive in doing so ; for in the note under reply you say, “I certainly have no objection to make to the Chinese communication my despatches to my colleagues ; but such a publication will be regarded in Europe in the light of a last effort in favor of Corea, and consequently it will be thence inferred that I was not wrong in writing what I did.”
In your former despatch you observed that China designed to protect the Coreans, and acknowledged that this assertion was founded on a rumor : and now in the present note you sat that this government is aiding them. This charge is certainly one of your own making, and yet you tell us plainly that you are asserting nothing which is unfounded.
It appears to us that you have altogether misapprehended the laudable desire of this government throughout to preserve the peace between Corea and France. We have, indeed, not yet learned what the other foreign ministers say respecting the charge made against us, that we are aiding the Coreans ; but on our part we certainly are not inclined to admit such an unfounded aspersion. You said that these ministers all have a suspicion that China intends to protect the Coreans ; and it was for the purpose of enabling them to judge for themselves whether your words were well founded or not, that we sent them the whole correspondence. We were desirous of avoiding a long discussion upon the point with you ; and you yourself can but see that our only desire in doing so was to clearly make known to them our real intentions.
In sooth, if the allegations which your excellency has brought against this government had been kept quiet, and we had said nothing publicly in explanation of our views, it would surely have worked a great reproach to his imperial Majesty’s fame. It is a plain point, and need not here be discussed, whether such a step was likely to prove detrimental to you or not.
When his imperial highness urged you to send to Corea and have careful inquiries made first into the reasons why the Christians had been maltreated and not immediately proceed to hostilities, it was done with the sincere desire to see if it was possible to bring about a clear understanding upon the affair ; but as you delayed answering him for a long time, he deemed it only respectful to request a reply ; the more so, as your despatch [announcing the blockade] intimated that hostilities would ere long commence, and that you had not then power to stop them. If you had sooner informed him that such was the case, there would of course have been no need of requesting a reply.
The original texts of your three despatches (including that of November 10), which you have sent to this office, according to the provisions of the treaty, have all been clearly explained by the interpreter, Mr. Lemaire, and shown to be in accordance with their Chinese translations. He is well acquainted with the Chinese language, and fully competent to manage and arrange to mutual satisfaction such things as arise between us. The French text of your despatch of the 10th of November, which he brought, has been placed with its translation ; and so have the texts of those of the 14th of July and 24th of October. It will be proper to communicate your present note and our reply, also, to the other ministers, as they relate to and explain the previous despatches, and each of them can then clearly understand the merits of the case for himself. In sending the copies to them of the first correspondence we did nothing which we were unwilling to have you know ; but we did not consider ourselves required to let you know our intention to do so, and then forward them, [as if by your leave]. As the present note from your excellency is to be understood only by reading the previous despatches, the reason for furnishing others with copies of this reply, and that note, are now fully stated for your information.
Availing ourselves of this occasion to wish you every happiness, we enclose our cards.
We have the honor to inform your excellency that Mr. Lemaire, the interpreter of the French legation, brought your note on the 25th of November with the original texts in French of your several despatches of July 14, October 24, and November 10, which you furnished to this office in accordance with Article III of the [French] treaty. We have put them on file.
In regard to the quarrel between France and Corea, we may observe again, that China has shown neither a desire to be unjustly partial, nor to constrain either party. From your previous despatches, in which you so hastily quoted certain rumors, and acted upon them as if authentic, we could only infer, after the most careful examination of their contents, that you wished to charge this government with the design of screening and protecting Corea. Being wholly unwilling to rest quietly under this imputation, his imperial highness Prince Kungm after his last reply to you, sent copies of the entire correspondence to all the foreign ministers resident in Peking, in the hope thereby of showing them his real purpose, which is to do all that China can do to preserve the peace between those two countries. It appears as if your excellency did not entirely appreciate our motive in doing so ; for in the note under reply you say, “I certainly have no objection to make to the Chinese communication my despatches to my colleagues ; but such a publication will be regarded in Europe in the light of a last effort in favor of Corea, and consequently it will be thence inferred that I was not wrong in writing what I did.”
In your former despatch you observed that China designed to protect the Coreans, and acknowledged that this assertion was founded on a rumor : and now in the present note you sat that this government is aiding them. This charge is certainly one of your own making, and yet you tell us plainly that you are asserting nothing which is unfounded.
It appears to us that you have altogether misapprehended the laudable desire of this government throughout to preserve the peace between Corea and France. We have, indeed, not yet learned what the other foreign ministers say respecting the charge made against us, that we are aiding the Coreans ; but on our part we certainly are not inclined to admit such an unfounded aspersion. You said that these ministers all have a suspicion that China intends to protect the Coreans ; and it was for the purpose of enabling them to judge for themselves whether your words were well founded or not, that we sent them the whole correspondence. We were desirous of avoiding a long discussion upon the point with you ; and you yourself can but see that our only desire in doing so was to clearly make known to them our real intentions.
In sooth, if the allegations which your excellency has brought against this government had been kept quiet, and we had said nothing publicly in explanation of our views, it would surely have worked a great reproach to his imperial Majesty’s fame. It is a plain point, and need not here be discussed, whether such a step was likely to prove detrimental to you or not.
When his imperial highness urged you to send to Corea and have careful inquiries made first into the reasons why the Christians had been maltreated and not immediately proceed to hostilities, it was done with the sincere desire to see if it was possible to bring about a clear understanding upon the affair ; but as you delayed answering him for a long time, he deemed it only respectful to request a reply ; the more so, as your despatch [announcing the blockade] intimated that hostilities would ere long commence, and that you had not then power to stop them. If you had sooner informed him that such was the case, there would of course have been no need of requesting a reply.
The original texts of your three despatches (including that of November 10), which you have sent to this office, according to the provisions of the treaty, have all been clearly explained by the interpreter, Mr. Lemaire, and shown to be in accordance with their Chinese translations. He is well acquainted with the Chinese language, and fully competent to manage and arrange to mutual satisfaction such things as arise between us. The French text of your despatch of the 10th of November, which he brought, has been placed with its translation ; and so have the texts of those of the 14th of July and 24th of October. It will be proper to communicate your present note and our reply, also, to the other ministers, as they relate to and explain the previous despatches, and each of them can then clearly understand the merits of the case for himself. In sending the copies to them of the first correspondence we did nothing which we were unwilling to have you know ; but we did not consider ourselves required to let you know our intention to do so, and then forward them, [as if by your leave]. As the present note from your excellency is to be understood only by reading the previous despatches, the reason for furnishing others with copies of this reply, and that note, are now fully stated for your information.
Availing ourselves of this occasion to wish you every happiness, we enclose our cards.
WAUSIANG,
His Excellency M. DE BELLONET, &c., &c., &c.
별지: 英譯文(英國)
On the 19th day of the 10th moon (November 25, 1866), M. Lemaire, the French Interpreter, came to the Yamên with a letter from M. de Bellonnet ; and on the same day was forwarded, in accordance with Treaty, the French texts of the Chargé d’Affaires’ three despatches of the 3rd day of the 6th moon (July 14, 1866), the 16th day of the 9th moon (October 24, 1866), and the 4th day of the 10th moon (November 10, 1866). These, which had not been forwarded at the time of writing the despatches, the Yamên has received and placed in its archives.
In the matter of the hostilities between France and Corea, the Chinese Government had, as a matter of course, not the slightest leaning towards of favour for Corea, and when the Chargé d’Affaires, taking as evidence statements without proof, manifestly both from the tone and letter of his despatches, charged China with taking the part of and defending Corea, this office could not rest under such an imputation, and the Prince of Kung, therefore, after replying to M. de Bellonnet, forwarded the correspondence to all the foreign Minister for their perusal, with a view to make manifest the motives of the Imperial Government and enable (the Ministers) to know that China had none but the best intentions, namely, to repair the breach between the two countries. This desire to make manifest its motives M. de Bellonnet has not comprehended, but goes so far as to state in the letter under acknowledgment that the steps taken by the Yamên in forwarding the correspondence to the foreign Representatives is Peking, while it does not affect himself in the slightest, will only be looked upon by Europe as a desperate expedient resorted to by the Chinese Government in its desire to assist Corea, and as proving more clearly that the Chargé d’Affaires was not wronging China in what he said in his despatches.
M. de Bellonnet in his previous despatches charged China with taking the part of Corea, stating that his proofs for this charge were derived from common rumour. In his present letter he still adheres to this his own opinion, which he considers decisive of the question, and says that China has a desire to aid Corea. He also asserts distinctly that he was not wronging the Imperial Government in his (previous) statements. He has thus from first to last misapprehended the good intentions of the Chinese Government which were to heal the breach between the two countries.
The Yamên has not heard that the other Powers suspect China of a desire to assist Corea, and this office would not deliberately taken upon itself to impute such suspicious to them.
The questions as to whether China is or is not taking the part of Corea, and whether M. de Bellonnet has or not maligned the Imperial Government in the statements he has made, need not be dwelt upon at length by the Yamên, as it has already submitted to the foreign Representatives the three (paris of) despatches interchanged on the subject. It will be understood from them that the Yamên, in submitting the correspondence to the foreign Minister, could have had no other desire save to make its motives manifest to all ; for it requires no arguments to show that had the Chinese Government kept dark the imputations cast upon it by M. de Bellonnet, and thus prevented the questions being cleared up and understood by all, the consequences to the Government of His Chinese Majesty would have been very injurious. As to whether (the submitting of the correspondence to the Minister) would or would not injuriously affect M. de Bellonnet, was a point very difficult for the Yamên to estimate.
The Prince in his pervious communication recommended M. de Bellonnet to ascertain first from Corea the circumstances of the murder of the Christians, and not rashly to have recourse to arms. In doing so his motive was to arrange the difficulty ; but M. de Bellonnet for a long time made no reply as to whether such an inquiry would first be made or not. It was only when the Prince wrote again pressing for an answer that he learned form M. de Bellonnet’s answer that hostilities had been commenced for some time and could not be put a stop to. Had the Chargé d’Affaires replied in these terms earlier the Yamên would not have been led to write again pressing for an answer.
As to the French texts of the three despatches forwarded by M. de Bellonnet, according to Treaty (which had not been sent with the Chinese translations), M. Lemaire, the interpreter, has explained (to the Ministers) paragraph by paragraph the French text of the despatch of the 4th day of the 10th moon (November 10, 1866), and its general purport, taken as a whole, seem to agree closely with the Chinese version. M. Lemair understands the Chinese official language extremely well, and in the conduct of international questions is both highly intelligent and successful. The French text of the third despatch has been placed amongst the records with its Chinese version, as have also been those of the previous two.
As this letter and the one to which it is a reply, repeat or refer to the reasons for sending the previous despatches to the foreign Representatives, it is the duty of the Yamên to forward copies of them also to the foreign Ministers that their Excellencies may inform themselves fully of the particulars of the affair from first to last.
When (the Prince) submitted the previous correspondence to the foreign Ministers, the Yamên considered that M. de Bellonnet would as a matter of course know that his Highness was doing so, and therefore did not think it necessary to inform him of their intention beforehand. As M. de Bellonnet, however, in the letter under acknowledgment, considers that he ought to have been previously told, the Ministers of the Yamên now beg to inform him, in accordance with his wish, that they are about to forward copies of this letter and of the one to which it is a reply (to the foreign Ministers), as they did with the previous correspondence.
With the usual compliments.
(No date)
In the matter of the hostilities between France and Corea, the Chinese Government had, as a matter of course, not the slightest leaning towards of favour for Corea, and when the Chargé d’Affaires, taking as evidence statements without proof, manifestly both from the tone and letter of his despatches, charged China with taking the part of and defending Corea, this office could not rest under such an imputation, and the Prince of Kung, therefore, after replying to M. de Bellonnet, forwarded the correspondence to all the foreign Minister for their perusal, with a view to make manifest the motives of the Imperial Government and enable (the Ministers) to know that China had none but the best intentions, namely, to repair the breach between the two countries. This desire to make manifest its motives M. de Bellonnet has not comprehended, but goes so far as to state in the letter under acknowledgment that the steps taken by the Yamên in forwarding the correspondence to the foreign Representatives is Peking, while it does not affect himself in the slightest, will only be looked upon by Europe as a desperate expedient resorted to by the Chinese Government in its desire to assist Corea, and as proving more clearly that the Chargé d’Affaires was not wronging China in what he said in his despatches.
M. de Bellonnet in his previous despatches charged China with taking the part of Corea, stating that his proofs for this charge were derived from common rumour. In his present letter he still adheres to this his own opinion, which he considers decisive of the question, and says that China has a desire to aid Corea. He also asserts distinctly that he was not wronging the Imperial Government in his (previous) statements. He has thus from first to last misapprehended the good intentions of the Chinese Government which were to heal the breach between the two countries.
The Yamên has not heard that the other Powers suspect China of a desire to assist Corea, and this office would not deliberately taken upon itself to impute such suspicious to them.
The questions as to whether China is or is not taking the part of Corea, and whether M. de Bellonnet has or not maligned the Imperial Government in the statements he has made, need not be dwelt upon at length by the Yamên, as it has already submitted to the foreign Representatives the three (paris of) despatches interchanged on the subject. It will be understood from them that the Yamên, in submitting the correspondence to the foreign Minister, could have had no other desire save to make its motives manifest to all ; for it requires no arguments to show that had the Chinese Government kept dark the imputations cast upon it by M. de Bellonnet, and thus prevented the questions being cleared up and understood by all, the consequences to the Government of His Chinese Majesty would have been very injurious. As to whether (the submitting of the correspondence to the Minister) would or would not injuriously affect M. de Bellonnet, was a point very difficult for the Yamên to estimate.
The Prince in his pervious communication recommended M. de Bellonnet to ascertain first from Corea the circumstances of the murder of the Christians, and not rashly to have recourse to arms. In doing so his motive was to arrange the difficulty ; but M. de Bellonnet for a long time made no reply as to whether such an inquiry would first be made or not. It was only when the Prince wrote again pressing for an answer that he learned form M. de Bellonnet’s answer that hostilities had been commenced for some time and could not be put a stop to. Had the Chargé d’Affaires replied in these terms earlier the Yamên would not have been led to write again pressing for an answer.
As to the French texts of the three despatches forwarded by M. de Bellonnet, according to Treaty (which had not been sent with the Chinese translations), M. Lemaire, the interpreter, has explained (to the Ministers) paragraph by paragraph the French text of the despatch of the 4th day of the 10th moon (November 10, 1866), and its general purport, taken as a whole, seem to agree closely with the Chinese version. M. Lemair understands the Chinese official language extremely well, and in the conduct of international questions is both highly intelligent and successful. The French text of the third despatch has been placed amongst the records with its Chinese version, as have also been those of the previous two.
As this letter and the one to which it is a reply, repeat or refer to the reasons for sending the previous despatches to the foreign Representatives, it is the duty of the Yamên to forward copies of them also to the foreign Ministers that their Excellencies may inform themselves fully of the particulars of the affair from first to last.
When (the Prince) submitted the previous correspondence to the foreign Ministers, the Yamên considered that M. de Bellonnet would as a matter of course know that his Highness was doing so, and therefore did not think it necessary to inform him of their intention beforehand. As M. de Bellonnet, however, in the letter under acknowledgment, considers that he ought to have been previously told, the Ministers of the Yamên now beg to inform him, in accordance with his wish, that they are about to forward copies of this letter and of the one to which it is a reply (to the foreign Ministers), as they did with the previous correspondence.
With the usual compliments.
(No date)
