MANGUM, United States Consul to Monsieur B. Edan, August 29, 1862

Mr. Mangum to Monsieur Edan

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 18th instant, enclosing a copy of the communication addressed by you to his excellency the Taoutai of Ningpo, demanding a separate French concession in the Kiang Pilo settlement, which I found awaiting my return from the country where I have been absent for several days in consequence of ill health.

I reciprocate heartily the regret you expressed at not being able to meet and talk with you upon the subject in question, involving the interests of so many parties, and frankly confess that a sense of duty compels me to refuse my assent to the step you have taken as being in direct contravention to the understanding among the three treaty powers at the conference held on the 13th of January last, and ratified at the conference held on the 31st of May last, to wit: that this matter should be referred to our representatives at the court of Peking, and we abide by their decision—it not being supposed at the time to be in the power of either of the consuls to make a demand for a separate concession. Again, the portion you have demanded for a separate French concession embraces the oldest settled and most valuable part of the foreign settlement, including the greater part of the property belonging to the American missionaries, who established the first foreign mission on the Kiang Pilo site. This fact, I presume, you may not be aware of, and I trust that you will at once see the injustice of transfering such large and valuable interests beyond the jurisdiction of their representatives at this port.

In fact, sir, when we take into consideration the situation of the property belonging to foreigners here, mixed together in all conceivable ways, I do not see how separate concessions can be made in the Keang Pilo settlement without great injustice to the citizens of at least two of the treaty powers.

Copies of your communication and this reply I will transmit by the earliest opportunity to the United States minister at the imperial court of Peking, where, by consultation with the representatives of France and England, some satisfactory settlement may be arrived at.

With sincere wishes for your health and happiness, I have, &c.,