Brenan to the Yamên, December 18, 1879

Memorandum of Mr. Brenan’s visit to the Yamên.

Mr. Brenan went to the Yamên and was received by the ministers Tung-Wang, Ching-lien, and Chung-li.

A copy of the inclosed memorandum was laid before the ministers, who were requested to state what reply Mr. Brenan should take back.

Their excellencies stated that they also were of opinion that regulations made in the provinces should receive the sanction of the higher authorities in Peking. No report had been received by the Yamên with regard to the regulations referred to in the memorandum. The transit-certificate privilege was secured to foreigners under treaty, and any rules which the local authorities at the respective ports might make were only calculated to guard against abuses. The nature of these rules would depend upon the circumstances of each port, and it might be possible that, these circumstances differing, the rules could not in every respect be uniform. The Yamên would now call for a report from each port, and when a reply had been received the ministers would be prepared to confer with the foreign representatives.