Angell to Edward C. Lord, August 20, 1880

Mr. Angell to Mr. Lord.

Sir: Your dispatch No. 127 to my predecessor in office, Mr. Seward, calling attention to the desirableness of action of the diplomatic body at Peking in order to facilitate the adoption of the rule of addressing the Chinese authorities in our own language is before me.

I take pleasure in saying that I am in hearty accord with your views. Those views are, indeed, recognized formally in the instructions of the Department to the diplomatic representatives of the United States.

I shall be glad to improve any proper opportunity to hasten the result you desire, but progress in that direction must, of course, be somewhat slow, and there are, doubtless, some incidental advantages, which your long experience in China enables you to appreciate, in using their language as a medium of communication with the Chinese.

I am, &c.,