Prince Kung to S. Wells Williams , United States Chargé d’affaires ad interim, July 15, 1868

Prince Kung to Mr. Williams

Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for foreign affairs, herewith makes a communication:

It has been reported here that, in the maritime ports of Shautung, near Chifu, where foreigners and natives have usually traded, they have become very closely connected with each other. Very recently, unscrupulous natives and lawless foreigners out of employment have been planning to go into the country to privately dig for gold ore and melt it for their own use.

It is well known that the prohibitions of this government on digging gold are very severe; therefore such persons as may attempt to work these mines illegally will not only do much injury to the prosperity (fung-shui) of the people, but will also, it is to be feared, easily cause great disorders and strifes, whose consequences will be serious.

Orders have accordingly been sent from the Foreign Office to Tsung, the superintendent of the three northern ports, and to Ting, the governor of Shautung province, to give orders to the local authorities in that region to inquire in what places gold dust has been found usually, and to strictly interdict natives and foreigners from working them.

I have also now to request your excellency to direct the United States consul at Chifu not to allow any Americans to go to these places of their own accord, and to issue orders to this end, as well as to concert measures with the Chinese authorities to disperse these men and stop their proceedings. This will prevent disorder, and show a desire to preserve friendly relations. Furthermore, it will be still more to the purpose if such idle foreigners as are at Shanghai, intending to go ashore, [to the mines,] that the consul stationed there also issue his injunctions to stop their going thither; and that you will take measures in this matter is the object of the present communication.