Chester Holcombe to Chester Holcombe, December 12, 1878

No. 105. Mr. Holcombe to Mr. Evarts.

Sir: In my dispatch No. 76, of the 23d ultimo, I reported to you the details of a complaint made to me by our consul at Hankow, that the local authorities in Szchuen had refused to recognize certain transit-passes taken out by Mr. M. A. Jenkins, whose goods were, in consequence, detained in the interior of that province, I also forwarded a a copy of a dispatch in the business which I had addressed to Prince Kung.

Upon the 28th ultimo a response was received from the prince, a translation of which I now have the honor to inclose. As indicated only the usual routine reference of the subject to the provincial authorities of Szchuen, which would involve further and indefinite delay, I addressed the foreign office again, upon the 6th instant, objecting to this procedure as unnecessary, inasmuch as the language used by the Chung King magistrate, in his order warning Mr. Jenkins not to make use of the passes, not only failed to indicate any irregularity in the action of the merchant, but, in itself, condemned the course of the official as a manifest violation of treaty. I objected to the farther delay made necessary by this reference as involving my countryman in additional hardship and loss, and urged Prince Kung to issue peremptory orders that the transit passes should be respected and the produce passed to Hankow. I inclose a copy of this dispatch.

In order to leave no effort untried by which relief for Mr. Jenkins might be obtained, I visited the foreign office upon the 10th instant and spoke personally with the ministers in the case, reiterating the arguments and renewing the request contained in my dispatch. The ministers promised to instruct the magistrate peremptorily that, in case the transit passes, and the produce covered by them were in order,, he should allow Mr. Jenkins to take his goods to Hankow at once. And I am now in receipt of the inclosed dispatch from Prince Kung, informing me that orders have been issued as promised. I have thanked him for his prompt and satisfactory action.

Awaiting your approval of my course in this business,

I have &c.,

Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for foreign affairs, herewith makes a communication in reply.

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch of the 21st instant, stating that you had received a communication from the United States consul at Hankow, informing you that Mr. M. A. Jenkins, an American merchant of that port, had taken out ten transit passes for the purpose of bringing out native produce from the interior of Szchuen. The Chung King magistrate refused to recognize these passes and warned Mr. Jenkins that if he brought his goods to the tax station at Kweichow dues would be levied upon them the same as though unprotected by transit passes, &c.

You refer to an arrangement made in the early part of this year by which transit passes for Szchuen produce may be taken out at Hankow, and the dues paid there. You inclose a copy of the order issued by the magistrate named and request me to issue such instructions as will secure compliance with the arrangement mentioned above, &c.

I have requested the southern superintendent of trade, and the viceroys of Szchuen and Hukwang to instruct the intendants concerned to examine into and report upon, this business at once. Upon receipt of their replies I shall again address you.

Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for foreign affairs, herewith makes a communication in reply.

Upon the 6th instant I had the honor to receive a dispatch from you in the matter of the transit passes taken out by Mr. M. A. Jenkins, to cover native produce brought from the interior of Szchuen, in which you remarked that if the export of the produce must further be delayed until the receipt by me of reports from the several parties to whom I had sent instructions, a farther detention of six or seven months must arise before the merchandise could be moved, and you requested me to issue imperative orders to the local authorities concerned to respect the transit passes, and to allow Mr. Jenkins to transport his merchandise to Hankow at once, &c.

Upon the 10th instant you called at the foreign office and again requested that orders be sent to the viceroy of Szchuen to give this case immediate attention, &c.

Upon receipt of your earlier dispatch in this business, I instructed the viceroy of Szchuen without delay to direct his subordinates to examine into and effect a satisfactory disposition in the premises at once.

Being now in receipt of your later favor, as above recited, he viceroy of Szchuen has bet again instructed by this office to see to it that the local officers concerned make at once the usual examination of the merchandise referred to, and if no irregularities are discovered to allow it to proceed, and to report the fact to me directly, in order 1 hat I may inform you, and so the case be speedily disposed of.

Chkster Holcombe, Esq., &c., &c., &c.