Otin to (In Chinese, Mao Chang-hi, Ching-lin and Chieng-how.), November 21, 1873

Copy of protocol.

In the matter of Chinese emigration to Cuba, the two powers (China and Japan) have agreed on the following points:

• China may send a commission to Cuba to ascertain the condition of Chinese coolies. The officers thus deputed by China will prosecute their inquiries in Cuba independently and by themselves, but may ask the advice of foreign consuls and the good offices and support of the Spanish authorities.
• The two powers (Spain and China) will in advance request the representatives at Peking of England, Russia, France, the United States, and Germany to take the whole question into consideration, and, when the time arrives, arbitrate thereon.
• When the report of the Chinese officers shall have been received, the Chinese foreign board will communicate a copy of it to each of the arbitrators and to the Spanish representative; the original document will be lodged with the arbitrators at the time of arbitration. Consular reports concerning the condition of coolies, if intended to be used in evidence, are to be communicated to the Chinese foreign board and to the Spanish representative; if not thus communicated they are not to be used as evidence.
• Tae correspondence between the Spanish representative and the Chinese foreign board on the question of Cuba, coolies is to be handed to the arbitrating ministers, in order that all the points therein discussed may be together placed before the arbitrators for common and definitive settlement.