Benj. P. Avery to To His Imperial Highness Prince Kung, January 27, 1875

No. 142. Mr. Avery to Mr. Fish.

Sir: Referring to my No. 15 of December 14, in which I informed the Department of the common action resolved upon by the ministers of Great Britain, Russia, the United States, and Denmark, and the chargés d’affaires of Germany and France, to secure protection for the Danish cables on this coast, I have now the honor to inform you of the results so far.

First allow me to express my gratification at the receipt of instructions (No 193, of October 31, 1874) to lend the Danish minister here my good offices. All the legations joined in this affair are now equally under instructions.

At a meeting held on the 23d of December, pursuant to agreement, copies of the protocol, inclosed in my No. 15, were signed and exchanged, and the notes to be handed in to the Tsungli Yamen, identical in substance but not in language, were read, compared, and found to be in complete harmony. All concurred in representing the importance to Chinese, as well as foreign interests, of maintaining the cables intact, and in requesting the Yamen to order measures for their protection. It was agreed to ask simply for protection, and nothing more, leaving recognition to be inferred thereafter. The notes, or translations thereof, were sent into the Yamen on the 28th of December. A copy of my own is sent herewith, and represents the spirit of the whole. On the 12th of January, Prince Kung returned an identical reply, a translation of which is also given herewith. He relates at some length the history of previous appeals to the Yamen in behalf of telegraph enterprise in China, laying particular stress upon the difficulty of preventing injury to such works, and stating that, with reference to the cables, the imperial government had explicitly declared beforehand that it would not become responsible for any damage which might be done to it. The prince adds that the injuries now said by the ministers to threaten the cables were just what he had predicted, and he repeats the difficulty of preventing them. Nevertheless, he has caused copies of the correspondence on the subject to be sent to the governors-general and high ministers 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 an oversight as is in their judgment possible.”

The conclusion of the prince’s letter is more satisfactory than the preamble, though the real value of the apparent concession will depend upon the practical measures taken by the officers of the seaboard provinces. Not to have received the old reply, “It is impossible,” or “We do not see how this thing can be done,” and there an end, is encouraging. The letter of the prince impliedly recognizes the cable as a thing to be protected, and has no word of objection to telegraphs per se. Evidently his main anxiety is to avoid responsibility for any damage that may occur. If telegraphs can be erected and maintained without troubling the Yamen, he is no longer inclined to say they shall not be permitted; but he wants it understood he is not responsible should they be injured.

This position is some advance on the old attitude of obstinate resistance. It makes a little progress possible under the prudent enterprise of individuals, and prepares the way for more liberal concessions hereafter.

Owing to the death of the Emperor, which has caused some delay in business, no response has been yet made to Prince Kung.

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Meanwhile there is a probability of telegraph discussion on another point. After encouraging the erection, of a land-line from Foo-chow to Amoy, and posting proclamations for its protection, the Chinese officials at Foo-chow threaten to tear down the wires and poles, unless the Danish company stop the work. As thirty-five miles of wire were stretched at last accounts, and the people had shown no fear and no hostility, there is no excuse for this change of attitude on the part of the officials, especially as it is known the Peking authorities have left them quite free to encourage the enterprise as they began. General Raasloff has already addressed the Yamen on the subject, hinting that they would be held responsible for damages should violence be committed. They expressed surprise at what was said to be going on; had not one word of objection to the telegraph; promised to write to Foo-chow in the matter, and altogether seemed to be quite friendly.

Unless the Foo-chow officials shall have proceeded to extremities before they hear from Peking, it is not unlikely the work will yet be allowed to go smoothly on to completion. All the proceedings are watched with keen interest by foreigners in China, as well as by such of the natives as are friendly, in however secret and timid a way, to foreign improvements.

The character of telegraphs as essential adjuncts of commerce is more and more apparent, and the policy of insisting upon official permission for their safe enjoyment is sure to be strongly urged. Should the Foo-chow line be torn down or stopped in its progress, the event would create much feeling, and probably lead to a joint protest on the part of the diplomatic body.

I have, &c.,