Benj. P. Avery to To His Imperial Highness Prince Kung, December 26, 1874

Mr. Avery to Prince Kung.

Sir: You are aware of the arrival here of General de Raasloff, His Danish Majesty’s minister to the court of China. I am informed that General Raasloff is instructed to procure protection for the telegraph-cables laid along the coast of China by the Great Northern Telegraph Company of Denmark, and that he will address your highness on this subject at an early day. As this is a matter in which my country, as well as all others with which China has treaty relations, is also much interested, I beg leave now to express the hope, which I am certain is shared by my Government, that the request of the Danish minister may be favorably received, and that such measures may be taken in accordance therewith, as may seem to His Imperial Majesty’s government best calculated to effect the end in view.

These cables are used by people of all nations, including the Chinese, and are very important to the commerce of the empire, as your highness must know. They cannot be broken or interfered with by ignorant or malicious persons without great loss, not alone to the company owning them, but to people engaged in trade, and to the imperial customs department, which derives from that trade a large revenue. These cables also connect China with telegraphs reaching to all parts of the world, and any accident or mischief to them would prevent the speedy communication of intelligence, which is very necessary in these times to successful commerce.

I feel certain that your imperial highness is well informed of these facts already, and I only refer to them because they furnish the reasons that induce me to hope that you will give the Danish minister’s request your favorable attention. The cables are not offensive to the people; they are in nobody’s way, and interfere with nobody’s rights; but without some action on the part of the imperial government for their protection, in conjunction, if you please, with the foreign representatives, they are constantly liable to such injury as I am informed has frequently happened.

Hoping to receive an early and favorable reply, I avail myself of this occasion to renew the assurance of my respect, and am

Your highness’s obedient servant,