Prince Kung to James Burrill Angell, August 7, 1881

Prince Kung to Mr. Angell.

Referring to the proposed telegraph arrangement between the northern superintendent of trade and the Great Northern Telegraph Company, your excellency has had several consultations with us on the subject, and lately you sent us a communication setting forth three points wherein the arrangement was of doubtful expediency for China herself. We sent a copy of your dispatch for Li Chung T’ang’s consideration and have received a reply from him in which he says with regard to the three points (of doubtful expediency):

• “‘1st. * * * In case of war between some western nation and Denmark or China the northern company’s lines might be destroyed, and China would lose telegraphic connection with the world.’ * * * ‘In case of war with any foreign power, the ports of China would be blockaded, and if the cable is cut at sea it will be no great damage to China.’
• “‘2d. China cuts herself off from constructing land lines to Foochow, Canton, and other points in the south.’ * * * ‘There is no such language in the second article of the general rules; I fear it must be an error of translation.’
• “3d. The agreements made between the Great Northern Telegraph Company and France and Russia, and the general rules to which sanction has been given in this case are in the main very much alike in this case. Moreover the said company have only begged that their request be granted, but no agreement has been made which can be likened” (to a contract), &c.

The viceroy having thus clearly stated his views on the foregoing three points, it would seem that no disadvantage is likely to result to China.

The request made by the Great Northern Telegraph Company has special reference to their cable already landed in China. If your country (i. e. any American company) proposes to lay a cable across the Pacific Ocean to China, it will of course not come under these rules. Your dispatch also says the Danish company has never proposed to lay a line between America and China. This is true. A line from America to China would be a different route. The northern and southern cables of the Great Northern Telegraph Company are lines from China to Europe and are different from an American line. If hereafter an American company lays a cable from San Francisco via the the Sandwich Islands to Japan it can, in no way, concern the Great Northern Telegraph Company; but 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. It never was intended, as your dispatch intimates, to make a compromise, by treating the Danish company generously to the exclusion of an American company.

Peking, August 7, 1881.