Benj. P. Avery to Geo. F. Seward, February 7, 1875
No. 143. Mr. Avery to Mr. Fish.
No. 27.]
Sir: In continuation of my No. 25, referring to the joint action had here in behalf of telegraph enterprise, I have now the honor to give you the following additional facts.
On the 27th of January the signatories of the protocol of December 20 met, to consider how they should treat the reply of Prince Kung to their request for protection to the cables.
* * * * * * *
As the reply of Prince Kung to our several notes was identical to all, it was resolved to make our response also identical. The form adopted is included in the protocol, of which I send a translation.
To insure uniformity in the Chinese text, the translation for all was made by one hand. This document was sent in to the Yamen within two or three days, and since then the consular dispatches have been forwarded as agreed. On my part, I sent copies of the form given in inclosure 3 to Consul-General Seward, at Shanghai; to Jos. J. Henderson, at Amoy j Edward C. Lord, at Ning-po; Eobert M. Tindall, at Canton; M. M. De Lano, at Foo-chow; and James C. A. Wingate, at Swatow. I have also requested Mr. Sheppard, our consul at Tien-tsin, to communicate with Li Hung-Chang for me—inform him of the proceedings here, and suggest the issuance of a proclamation by him. His friendly action would have a great influence in other provinces.
Nothing remains now but to await the effect of the Yamen’s communication to the seaboard officials; and there is nothing to add to this dispatch which is not contained in the inclosures.
I have, &c.,