C. Delano to Dreyer, August 22, 1874

Mr. De Lano to Mr. Dreyer.

My Dear Sir: I have in a former letter informed you that on the 1st day of the present month I received the assent of the provincial authorities here to the erection of a telegraph-line from this port to Amoy, overland, by the company which you represent. On the 4th and 5th of the month one of the members of the “Tung Lan Chu” (foreign trade committee) came to my office to introduce a wan-yuan, or deputy, who had in the mean time been appointed to go over the route to Amoy in company with a representative of your company, to make the preliminary survey and sketch of the route on which the proposed telegraph-line should be erected. I introduced the said deputy to your agent, Mr. Henningsen, and it was agreed by and between them that on the arrival of the company’s engineer from Shanghai, arrangements should be at once concluded for the immediate survey of the proposed route. Two or three days later your engineer arrived here, when I arranged for him an interview with the Taotai and other officials, on which occasion I myself accompanied Mr. Hoffmeyer and Mr. Henningsen, taking my own interpreter with me. At this interview all the details of an agreement were arranged substantially as contained in a copy herewith inclosed, which agreement was to be signed by Mr. Henningsen on behalf of the company and by the foreign trade committee as the proper representatives of the provincial officials.

It was not thought essential that this agreement should be executed before the survey should be commenced. Accordingly a second deputy was appointed, and oh the 19th instant they started in company with Mr. Hoffmeyer and a large escort of attendants and coolies to make the preliminary survey, all in strict accordance with the terms agreed upon and contained in the inclosed copy of agreement.

On yesterday I sent the written agreement to the yamên for examination and approval by the Tung Lan Chü, preparatory to its execution and signature, when I was informed that the imperial commissioner, Shen Pau Cheu, had written to the provincial official (the viceroy) to say that the Foochow and Amoy telegraph line would be built by the Chinese government in accordance with the advice of Mr. Giguel, already submitted to the central government.

I was further informed that the viceroy had replied to Shen that he had closed with the Great Northern Company to erect the line, and that by the terms of his agreement the authorities would get the use of his line for government purposes free of charge with the option of buying it at pleasure, and he advised that the agreement be carried out. However, the committee declined to sign the agreement pending further instructions; but in the mean time the party are proceeding with the survey. I submit the foregoing statement to you, leaving it to yourself to determine what shall be done in the matter, but I shall continue my efforts in the company’s behalf, trusting that the provincial officials will be able to override the propositions of Mr. Giguel and assert their right to manage the affairs of their province independently of Shen.

I am sure the officers with whom I have negotiated in the matter are much annoyed at the turn things have taken, and charge the whole blame on Giguel.

They believe that if the facts were reported in the interest of your company to the central government, Shen might be instructed to step aside and the viceroy instructed to carry out the arrangement made with the company. They say also that Shen may withdraw from his project on the receipt of the viceroy’s letter. I give you also a Chinese version of the agreement, so that you may have it at hand in case you decide upon any action at Peking.

Trusting the project will yet turn out favorable to your company,

I am, sir, &c.,