Benj. P. Avery to Geo. F. Seward, February 3, 1875

Mr. Avery to Mr. Seward.

Sir: It is well known to you that the Great Northern Telegraph Company of Denmark has for some years maintained a cable along the coast of China. Its continued maintenance intact having become of vital importance to the foreign nationalities here, whose business it facilitates, and to whom, through its Russian, English, and Japanese connections, it affords a means of speedy communication with the rest of the world, the representatives of the leading treaty-powers at this court lately resolved upon a joint request to the Tsungli Yamen for official measures of protection. Uniting with Gen. de Raasloff, His Danish Majesty’s minister, the ministers of England, Russia, and the United States, and the chargés d’affaires of France and Germany, addressed notes to Prince Kung, asking that such measures might be taken for the protection of the cables as seemed most proper to the imperial, government. These notes were transmitted to the foreign office on the 28th of December, and on the 12th of January the representatives named received a reply, in which Prince Kung, after reciting previous efforts to obtain telegraph concessions, and the difficulties in the way of affording such enterprises protection, concludes as follows:

“Taking into consideration, however, the statements given in the various dispatches now received in relation to this thing, and in view of the friendly relations existing between all the parties, I have directed that copies of them be sent to the governors-general and high officers of the maritime provinces, that they may take into consideration what measures for protecting the cable can be devised, and give orders to the local authorities under them to constantly give it such oversight as is, in their judgment, possible.”

The Chinese text of the foregoing is given below. The passage is considered as conveying a favorable answer to our request. It is certainly an advance upon anything the yamen have heretofore said on the subject of telegraphs, for they offer nothing in hostility or by way of objection, but announce that they have given orders, in the usual way, to the local officials to see that the cables are protected. Of course the full value of Prince Kung’s communication to the officers of the maritime provinces will depend upon the efficiency of the practical measures taken by them in consequence. In order to be advised of these at as early a day as possible, and to follow up their own influences in the matter, the representatives before named have agreed to address their respective consuls on the subject, instructing them to learn and report what may be done in accordance with Prince Kung’s letter.

I have therefore, to request that you will advise me of whatever comes to your knowledge, and, further, that you will, if circumstances seem to make it proper and useful, assist the governors-general and high officers of your province by counsel and suggestion. If the governors-general of the seaboard provinces could be induced to issue a proclamation, saying, in effect, that they have been directed by the central government to see that the cable is protected, and notifying the people, and especially boatmen and sailors, that it cannot be molested with impunity, such a measure would be very useful in giving the widest notoriety and as a precedent for the future. It will be well, also, to show to the officials the Chinese text of Prince Kung’s reply, as given in this dispatch.

By recent dispatches from the Department of State, I am instructed to aid the Danish minister in the object of his special mission here; but apart from this fact, the matter is one that vitally concerns all foreign interests in China, is one of the means of bettering the empire, and, therefore, commends itself to American sympathy and care. I am well aware of your intelligent concern and effort in behalf of telegraph enterprise already, which have my hearty appreciation; and I rely, therefore, with the more confidence, upon your co-operation with the efforts of the legation.

I am your obedient servant,