Prince Kung to Angell, September 18, 1880

Prince Kung to Mr. Angell.

Prince Rang, chief secretary of State for foreign affairs, herewith makes a communication:

Upon the 23d ultimo, I had the honor to receive a dispatch from your excellency, stating that the President of the United States had appointed your excellency, the Hon. John F. Swift, and the Hon. William H. Trescot, commissioners plenipotentiary to China, and empowered them to confer with commissioners appointed with full powers by the Emperor of China, and has also empowered them to negotiate and sign treaties or conventions to the end of effecting a settlement of questions of interest now pending between the two governments. Your excellency also requested me to memorialize the throne with a view to the appointment of commissioners upon the part of China.

I at once addressed the throne upon this subject, and upon the 5th instant His Imperial Majesty issued his mandate in the following terms:

“Let Pao Chün and Li Hung Tsao, be appointed commissioners plenipotentiary for conference upon matters of the treaty and subjects of interest. Respect this.”

It becomes my duty to forward a copy of this decree, as above, for your consideration.