Anson Burlingame to Kung , Chief Secretary for Foreign Affairs, April 16, 1863

Mr. Burlingame to Prince Kung

I have the honor to inform your Imperial Highness that that portion of the Yangtsze-Kiang regulations which requires native produce to be re-exported within three months, if the merchant would recover the coast trade duty charged at the river port, has been found to work a great hardship both to Chinese and foreigners, and I most respectfully request that the time may be extended to twelve months.

If it is not done, the merchants in Shanghai will be compelled to open large establishments in the interior, thus overthrowing the business arrangements of the Chinese, and creating fresh sources of trouble. Now the Chinese hesitate about sending goods to Shanghai for sale, because, if by any chance cause sales are delayed for three months, they will lose the coast trade duty. Indeed, it has been found impossible to sell goods within the three months allowed. Thus this rule is a positive hindrance to commerce, and deprives the imperial government of those revenues it would otherwise receive from a larger sale of produce. The change I ask would not hurt anybody, but would help everybody.

I therefore feel confident that your Imperial Highness will hasten to relieve commerce from the burdens put upon it by that rule.

I have, &c.,