De LANO, United States Consul to Benj. P. Avery , United States, August 3, 1875

Mr. De Lano to Mr. Avery.

Sir: I nave the honor to hand you herewith a copy (without translation) of a proclamation lately issued at my request by the committee of foreign affairs at this port, touching the rights ,of foreign missionaries and native Christians in China.

Attacks upon chapels in the interior, discourteous treatment of foreigners, especially missionaries, and persecutions of native Christians, have been greatly on the increase in this province of late. I have with great difficulty procured the publication and the promise of a general distribution of this proclamation, but I find the authorities unwilling to attempt the arrest and punishment of offenders, even when I am able to identify and point them out.

I am almost always able to trace the persecution of native Christians to the instigation of local mandarins, but no matter how clear and undeniable the proof may be against them, the high authorities will not even rebuke them.

I have at this time a case in hand, in which a native convert was murdered by a mob, and most unmistakably at the instigation of the local magistrate, but it is treated as a matter of little consequence.

My faith in the efficacy of the proclamation is by no means strong, but it is a means of getting one article of our treaty before the people, thousands of whom, I dare say, do not know of the existence of treaties.

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I am, sir, your obedient servant,