BY DAVID T. CHAI, PRESIDENT CHINESEAMERICANHEROES.ORG Anson Burlingame [ ] – His Legacy in...

BYDAVID T. CHAI, PRESIDENT

CHINESEAMERICANHEROES.ORG

Anson Burlingame [蒲安臣 ] – His Legacy in US-China

Relations

Anson Burlingame's Legacy

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Outline

Who Is Anson Burlingame?Conditions in China & US Around 1860’sBurlingame’s Contributions While in ChinaBurlingame’s Contributions While in the USBurlingame’s Contributions While in EuropeRevoking Burlingame Treaty to pass Chinese

Exclusion Act of 1882Burlingame’s LegacyHow to Honor His Legacy?

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Who is Anson Burlingame?

Born in New Berlin, NY 11/14/1820Graduated from the U. of Michigan &

Harvard Law SchoolMA State Senator, 1853-54US Congressman from MA, 1855-61US Envoy to China, 1861-67Chinese Envoy to US, 1867-68Chinese Envoy to Europe, 1868-70Died in St. Petersburg, Russia, 2/23/1870Royal Decree from Emperor Tongzhi of China, 4/10/70

Awarded posthumously Civil-Rank #1 [= Prime Minister] Awarded 10,000 liang [= 500 kg] silver to his family

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Royal Decree from Emperor Tongzhi

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The Royal DecreeThe Royal SealThe Text

Civilian Rank 1 10,000 liang silver


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Conditions in China – 1840’s-1860’s

Lost First Opium War to United Kingdom, 1839-42 Nanjing Treaty Opened 5 ports to opium trade & extra territoriality Ceded Hong Kong to United Kingdom Gigantic war indemnity of 21 million silver dollars [~1M kg] Huge humiliation to a proud civilization

Lost Second Opium War to United Kingdom and France, 1856-60 Beijing Treaty Opened additional 11 ports for trade, including opium Burned and looted Summer Palace in Beijing Provided foreign legations in Beijing with extra territoriality Allowed indentured coolies to North America

Caused internal chaos and instability Taiping Rebellion [太平天囯 ,洪秀全 ] , 1850-64

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HumiliatedCarved upAddictedChaos

Conditions in China ---

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Conditions in the US – 1840’s-1860’s

Continued westward expansion with new territories & states

Not to be left behind, signed Wangxia Treaty [中美望廈條約 ] with China, 1844 [under Pres. Tyler] Got the same privileges as United Kingdom thru Most-

Favored-Nation However, chose not to legalize opium trade [on paper]

Slavery became critical issuesElected Lincoln as president, 1860Secession of Southern statesCivil War, 1861-65Reconciliation and reconstruction

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Gold RushSacramento-San

Joaquin leveesLincoln ElectedContinental RRCivil WarLincoln AssassinatedReconstruction

Conditions in the US ---

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AB’s Contributions As US Envoyto China

Developed a “Cooperative Policy” over existing “Concession Doctrine” Advocated China’s sovereignty and territorial

integrity Gave the treaty a fair and Christian construction

Promoted trade with technology transfersEncouraged Chinese students to study in the USDemonstrated “equality of men” thru his own court

Accepted witness testimonies of local Chinese Convicted David Williams, a white American, to be

executed for killing three Chinese men

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AB’s Contributions As Chinese Envoy to the US

Spoke favorably of China as a trade nationNegotiated first “equal” treaty with US, 1868 – the

Burlingame Treaty [aka Burlingame-Seward Treaty] Accept China as an equal Most-Favored-Nation

[MFN] Not interfere with internal affairs of either nation Open two-way unlimited immigration Free to reside, travel & study in either nation First Chinese Education Mission to US in 1872

Met Pres. Johnson with his Chinese envoys – Zhigang [志刚 ]and Sun Jiagu [孙家谷 ]

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AB’s Contributions As Chinese Envoy to the European Nations

Selling his “model” Burlingame Treaty to: United Kingdom – Queen Victoria France – Emperor Napoleon III Prussia – King William Russia – Tsar Alexander II

Introduced Zhigang and Sun Jiagu to European leaders

Died in St. Petersburg while serving as Chinese envoy Continued by Zhigang and Sun Jiagu after AB’s death:

Total of 11 countries over 2 years & 8 months

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The Burlingame Mission

AB MissionPres. JohnsonNapoleon IIINiagara FallsAt dinnerThanksgiving

dinner


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Revoking the Burlingame Treaty

Construction during/after Civil War needed more cheap labor: Welcomed Chinese immigration

Recession after reconstruction needed less labor: Rounded up Chinese & drove them out Tried to stop immigration from China

Pres. Hayes vetoed “Fifteen Passenger” bill in 1879 Would have violated free immigration in Burlingame Treaty Would have nullified a treaty with a friendly nation - MFN

Pres. Hayes sent James Angell to China in 1880, to renegotiate the Burlingame Treaty Suspend, but not prohibit, Chinese immigration Reaffirm MFN privileges for Chinese residents in US Oblige US government to protect all MFN privileges

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Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 --A Dark Period of US-China Relations

Passed by Congress and signed by Pres. Arthur Suspended Chinese immigration for 10 years to 1892 Required identification card for Chinese workers China immediately recalled its Education Mission

Scott Act of 1888 Prevented re-entry of Chinese after visiting China

Geary Act of 1892 Extended Chinese Exclusion Act for 10 years to 1902 Barred Chinese from bearing witness in court Prevented them from receiving bail in trials

In 1902, extended Chinese Exclusion Act indefinitely Finally repealed in 1943 after Pearl Harbor bombing

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Anson Burlingame’s Legacy

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A renaissance man ahead of his times Principled in the “Equality of Men” and the “Equality of

Nations” Advocated anti-slavery at home [in US] Developed “Cooperative Policy” abroad [in China] Practiced “soft power” thru persuasion over “hard power”

thru gunsA world-diplomat

From the youngest nation serving the oldest nationA quote from Mark Twain: For he had outgrown the narrow citizenship of a state and

become a citizen of the world; and his charity was large enough and his great heart warm enough to feel for all its races and to labor for them. He was a good man, and a very, very great man. America lost a son, and all the world a servant, when he died.


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How to Recognize AB’s Legacy?

Let the world know about Anson Burlingame Encourage more publications and talks about his contributions Invest in film/movie documentations Organize conferences to debate on improving US-China relations• Strategic partner Vs. economic competitor• Cooperation Vs. containment• Soft Vs. hard power

Create an Anson Burlingame Award Initially for best American for improving US-China relations Later for best person for improving Asia-Pacific region

Lobby to rename the San Francisco International Airport the Anson Burlingame International Airport

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Let’s Learn from Mr. Santayana

“Those who cannot rememberthe past are condemned to

repeat it.”

George Santayana, 1905

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Thank You

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Additional info:www.Burlingame.wikispaces.co

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BY DAVID T. CHAI, PRESIDENT CHINESEAMERICANHEROES.ORG Anson Burlingame [ ] – His Legacy in...

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