Benj. P. Avery to Benj. P. Avery , United States, March 19, 1875

No. 148. Mr. Avery to Mr. Fish.

Sir: I have the honor to send herewith copies of dispatches and inclosures sent to this legation by M. M. De Lano, esq., our consul at Foo-chow, giving a complete history, with documentary evidence, of the Foo-chow-Amoy telegraph project. His first dispatch, No. 42, with eight inclosures, bearing date January 25, 1875, is a curious exhibition of duplicity and tergiversation on the part of the local officials. In spite of all their double-dealing and bad faith, however, one gratifying fact is evident: they really want the telegraph, but not in foreign hands. Probably the line would have been allowed to go on to completion by the Danish company, but for a letter from the Tsung li Yamen, (marked H in the inclosure,) directing the provincial authorities to buy it for the government. This letter was sent to Foo-chow late last tall, and the local officials have ever since been playing a game of obstruction, instead of at once making a frank tender of purchase possibly with a view to getting a cheaper bargain.

The Yamen would seem to have been prompted to effect a purchase of the line by a desire to evade the fulfillment of an old promise to the Russian minister, that when China permitted another country to put up a telegraph she would also allow Russia to do so. Hearing of the Foo-chow-Amoy project, and believing a perfect concession had been obtained for it, which was not the fact, Mr. de Bützow, the present Russian minister; reminded the Yamen of their promise, and hence, doubtless, the sudden withdrawal of favor from the Danish line. Owing to the peculiar territorial relations of the two countries, China regards with apprehension any attempt on the part of Russia to facilitate communication along her borders, and the Yamen has doubtless been encouraged by certain foreign interests here to frown upon the Russian project for a telegraph from Peking to Kiachta as something dangerous.

However this may be, the Foo-chow-Amoy line is to be bought for the government. Since the decision to this effect was formally communicated to the Danish minister, who has now gone to Shanghai to arrange for the sale, Mr. De Lano writes me of another attack upon the line, by the local officials, who caused twenty miles of it to be destroyed. This rash proceeding will have no other effect than to increase the indemnity to be paid the Danish company, and necessitate an extra outlay for the completion of the line should the government desire to maintain and use it, as supposed. In reference to this subject, I wrote to Mr. De Lano, under date of March 6, as follows:

“It is evident that continued unity of action in favor of foreign telegraph enterprise cannot be expected from the diplomatic and consular bodies, and, lacking that, the Peking government will do nothing to promote such enterprise on a large scale. Rid of foreign rivalries and importunities, however, and managing telegraphs for itself, this government may sooner learn their value and extend their use. To such a result, if it comes about, I think we may justly claim that American influence has largely contributed by the disinterested support it has given to initial telegraph effort, no matter by what nationality made, in the interest, solely, of commerce, civilization, and progress. I congratulate you that your own name will be honorably connected with so good a cause.”

I have, &c.,

Proclamation of Ching, of the district of Min.

Ching, acting magistrate of the district of Min, in Foo-chow prefecture, hereby issues a plain proclamation for general observance.

On the 9th of August, 1874, I was honored by the following orders through the committee of trade:

We have received a communication from Mr. De Lano, United States consul, in relation to the request from the Great Northern Telegraph Company to erect a line from Amoy to Foo-chow, in order to facilitate the operations of government and trade. As the British, French, and American consuls have already asked for permission to erect a line from the city to the anchorage, which has been begun; and a continuation thence of a submarine cable over to Formosa has been decided upon by the high provincial officers, this request of a line to Amoy has been agreed to. A deputy, Yu Tsi-tsing, has been associated with the telegraph company’s agent to go over the whole road, in order to see where the line can best go without interfering with the grounds, houses, or graves of the people, placing the posts and arranging everything in mutual accord. But as this matter is very important in its connection with the military operations of the government, and there is fear lest the people, in their ignorance, may wantonly break or injure the line, it is proper that special cautions be given to the local authorities respecting its careful protection. You will therefore instruct the deputy set apart for this duty, and immediately take measures to issue public notice in your jurisdiction to this end, ordering the people to be careful and not wantonly hurt the line, which is of the highest importance. You will also confer with Yu as to his survey of the road and the disposal of policemen for carrying out the orders. When all has been arranged, you will make a detailed report of what has been settled upon.

In compliance with the above orders, I hereby make known, in this proclamation, to all soldiers and people, these things for their information and obedience. When-ever the agents of the foreign company come to a place with Yu, for the purpose of erecting posts and running the wire, it is of the highest importance that they be protected; let no one, on any pretense, injure or molest them, lest he subject himself to examination. An important special notification.

The high commissioner Shan writes:

The telegraph-line erected between Amoy and Foo-chow is put up chiefly for the use it will be in carrying on military operations; but I wish you would think over this idea of mine. Everything in this world which is of great use carries within itself some feature or some result which is very disadvantageous. In any proposal coming from foreigners, it is very important that the advantages and profit be not left in their hands; we must not yield the management (of this) to others. In order to secure this, we must defray its cost. If a line be allowed to be erected, the merchants will wish to send messages over it, and the outlay can be recouped by the charges on them.

The foreign employés on the line can be taken at a salary; they then would have no ground for complaints, and all after-trouble would be avoided.

Letter from the Tsung li Yamen about the purchase of the line to the Pagoda, anchorage.

We have recently seen in the newspapers this notice: “A telegraph line has been erected overland from Foo-chow more than 20 li long; it is entirely under the direction £ of the Great Northern Telegraph Company, and the Chinese authorities have nothing to do with it.”

We have no certain knowledge of the truth of this statement; but if it be so, and the facts are rightly stated, then let the local officers be directed to buy in the line and manage it themselves. It is probable that the Yamen will have more definite and reliable information. We have already fully discussed this matter of telegraph-lines with the foreign ministers, and our permission only extended to laying a submarine line. We have recently memorialized that the Danes be permitted to lay a line, in order to expedite intercourse; but it is important that we ourselves put up both the land and sea lines. Formerly the Russian minister, Meu-ting Kashgar, erected a line in Peking, and the Yamen then replied that when China permitted another country to put up a telegraph, she would first allow the Russians to do so. The Russians have now written to us, claiming the permission, but as we cannot say expressly in respect to this Foo-chow line, and the correctness of the newspaper report, we write to inquire about it. It is of the very highest urgency that this line should be bought in, so that we can have somewhat to go upon as proof in making them a reply.