O. B. Bradford to Feng, Taotai, April 12, 1876
Mr. Bradford to Feng, Taotai
Sir: I have received your excellency’s letter of the 4th day of the 3d moon, on the subject of the railroad to Woosung.
As you state therein that this business has been referred by you to the government at Peking, I will send to the United States minister there a copy of your letter and of this my reply thereto.
I shall not undertake to traverse the various statements and arguments advanced by you in your letter. I may remark, however, that the matter does not in my opinion merit the very serious treatment which you seem disposed to accord to it. If foreigners, who have purchased a roadway of only a few miles in length, choose to lay some rails and run cars over it, the whole public, foreign and native, will receive advantage. Why, then, should any objection be made? That this business has been conducted in fraud, I cannot admit. It is a matter of my knowledge that your predecessor in office knew that the road was intended for a railroad, and you will remember that nearly eighteen months ago a conversation was held with your excellency in this office, Mr. Kreyer acting as interpreter, when the purpose of the owners of the road was discussed with you at considerable length by Mr. Seward.
Indeed, the whole population of this port, native and foreign, have perfectly understood the matter from its inception.
This business, moreover, is in the hands of Her Britannic Majesty’s consul. I have no reason to doubt that he fully understands the sovereign rights of your government.
I am not aware that there is any intention in any quarter to violate customs-regulations by the landing of cargo at Woosung.
If, however, steamers should be detained there by a lack of water on the bar, and it becomes convenient to load or discharge cargo there, I see no reason why you should object to such cargo being transported over the road.
The object of all concerned should be to facilitate general interests and to promote harmony. Please send copies of this letter to the higher officials of your government, to whom, you inform me, you have represented the matter; also, please find it appropriate to give directions that those who have been permitted to examine your excellency’s letter to me may see this reply.
I am, &c.,