James Burrill Angell to Prince Kung, August 10, 1881

Mr. Angell to Prince Kung.

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your imperial highness’s communication of the 7th instant, concerning the telgraph question. If I venture to trouble you again on the subject, I beg you will believe that it is only because of the great importance to the United States of a proper settlement of the question.

Permit me then, to make a few further inquiries, as briefly as possible.

• Since in the viceroy’s reply to me, embodied in your communication, it is stated that my copy of the second article of the agreement is incorrect, may I ask if you can properly furnish me with a correct copy of the agreement?
• May I ask whether the agreement has yet received imperial sanction, and so is definitely settled.
• Am I to understand that an American company, notwithstanding the arrangement of the Chinese Government with the Northern Telegraph Company, is at liberty to lay a line when it chooses, directly from America, or from the Sandwich Islands to China. I understood the ministers of the Tsung-li Yamên, to say so in my last interview with them.
• I do not understand clearly, what is meant by your statement: “When a cable from Japan to China is contemplated, it will be well to communicate in advance with this office, that we may write to the viceroy Li, who will order the Great Northern Telegraph Company, to consult thereon and make a compromise.”

Am I to understand this as an assurance that some arrangement will certainly be made, by which the American company can continue its line from Japan to China? If so, may I ask what is the nature of the arrangement? And if unhappily the viceroy Li should die, is his successor held to the same promise, provided this is a promise.

With sentiments of the most distinguished consideration,

I am, &c.,