Angell to United States consuls in China, December 19, 1880
Mr. Angell to United States consuls in China.
Sir: I am happy to inform you that the prolonged negotiations which have been going on so long between the foreign ministers and the Tsung-li Yamên on the subject of official intercourse have at last yielded an excellent result. A plan has been agreed upon, which it is confidently believed will go far to remove the annoyances and embarrassments to which consular officers have been subjected in the transaction of business with the provincial authorities. I have signified to Prince Kung my approbation of the plan. The substance of its provisions is as follows:
- Whenever consular officers have occasion to hold personal interviews with a governor or a governor-general, they shall not be treated as subordinates, but with the etiquette which a host shows to guests.
- If consular officers have occasion to correspond about ordinary matters of business, they shall, as heretofore, address the intendants, who will in turn memorialize the viceroy or governor. That high officer will, as heretofore, instruct the intendant in response, who will address the proper consular officer. But in important official matters of business the high provincial authorities and the consular officers, without regard to differences of rank, can on both sides use the words “an official communication.”
- The provincial authorities shall in correspondence with a consul prefix the character “kuei” to his title, and shall cease to use the vermillion pencil to bracket or point certain characters, as they do use it in instructing subordinate officials. Prince Kung announces that instructions in accordance with his agreement have been sent to the viceroys and governors of the various provinces for their information and guidance.
It is, therefore, my duty to instruct you to comply with the above regulations in your official interviews and correspondence with the provincial officers.
You have the right to expect that they too will comply with them. Any failure on their part to carry out in good faith the arrangement now entered into by the imperial government is a proper subject for you to report promptly to this legation. I have, &c.,