本书包括1842—1918年间中美关系史中美国官方原始文件234篇。据我所知,这样较系统、较全面地选译美国官方原始材料,在我国中美外交史研究中,真可视为创举。原稿为40万字,后从中选出30余万字付梓,因而价值益增。本书的出版为中美关系史研究提供了一定数量的翔实的材料。对关心和研究中美关系史的人来说,这确实是件值得庆欣之事。在中美关系史中,1842—1918年正是美国对华政策形成的关键时期。虽然1842年 This book includes 234 official U.S. and U.S. documents from 1842-1918. As far as I know, such a systematic and comprehensive election of the official raw materials of the United States can really be regarded as a pioneering move in the study of China’s diplomatic history between China and the United States. The original manuscript is 400,000 words, after which more than 300,000 words have been chosen for payment, thus increasing the value of the book. The publication of this book has provided a certain amount of informative material for the study of the history of Sino-American relations. For the people who care about and study the history of Sino-American relations, this is really something worth celebrating. In the history of Sino-American relations, 1842-1918 is the crucial period for the formation of U.S. policy toward China. Although 1842