Benj. P. Avery to W. Raasloff , Danish, June 9, 1875

Mr. Avery to General Raasloff.

Dear Sir and Colleague: I have had the honor to receive the letter, under date of May 26, which you were good enough to address to my colleagues and myself, upon the subject of the protection of submarine cables in the Chinese seas. While showing what steps to this end have been taken by the Chinese authorities, you call our attention to the necessity for the adoption of further measures by the consular authorities, and you kindly offer to charge yourself with the task of proposing such measures. I shall be happy, my dear colleague, to continue my co-operation with you for the purpose which has been the aim of the accord established between us on the question of the telegraphic cables, and shall therefore receive, with all the attention they merit, the propositions you may think best to make us on this subject. There is, however, one observation which I think it is a duty to make, should the measures that you contemplate he in the nature of a regulation, the violation of which would be followed by certain penalties, and that is that most of the accredited representatives in China do not possess the powers necessary to establish, of their own authority, equal regulations and penalties. It will be, then, only in a manner very general that we can call the attention of our administrés to the protection which is desired for the cables, and it seems to me that it belongs to the telegraph companies, and particularly to the Danish company, as sole owner of the cables in Chinese waters, to indicate the measures which may contribute to the security of those cables. It depends upon the company to take some measures, but in so far as the support and co-operation of foreign consuls shall be necessary, the consuls of the United States will always be ready to accord it within the limits of their power.

I have the honor to be, my dear colleague, with respect and esteem, very truly, yours,