Chester Holcombe to Prince Kung, December 8, 1881

Mr. Holcombe to Prince Kung

Your Imperial Highness: In reference to the correspondence which has passed between the foreign office and Mr. Angell, late United States minister, upon the agreement entered into between His Excellency Li and the Great Northern Telegraph Company, under the terms of which the Government of China agrees that, “within a period of twenty years from date not to allow any other person to land telegraph cables in the entire empire, including all foreign settlements and Formosa,” it becomes my duty to inform Your Imperial Highness that Mr. Angell forwarded copies of this correspondence to our government, and that I am now in receipt of instructions in response. The Government of the United States has approved the entire course of the late minister in this business. It has further authorized me to say that such a monopoly would be not only prejudicial to its interests, but also contrary to its idea of the true interests of China, as the granting of monopolies of any kind is not conducive to public good.

I shall be glad to be informed, officially, whether His Imperial Majesty has or has not approved and confirmed the agreement referred to.

I have, &c.,