Prince Kung to Wells Williams, October 8, 1873

Prince Kung to Mr. Williams.

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

It appears that, in relation to the appointment of Chan Lan-pin, a law-adviser in the board of punishments, to go to Cuba as commissioner to inquire into the condition of Chinese laborers, his promotion to the full grade he now holds was not clearly made known in my previous dispatch. He is an officer advanced to the fourth grade, and is specially privileged to wear a peacock’s plume.

By Chinese rule the law-advisers in each board rank with the intendants of circuit in the provinces; and as Chãn has now been promoted to the fourth grade, his parity with an intendant and his imperial appointment as envoy to go to Spanish countries will make him of equal rank to the Spanish officers living in Cuba, and to the salaried consuls of the United States residing there.

It is proper that I inform you of this, so there may be entire accord with them in managing the affair.

His Excellency S. Wells Williams, United States Chargé d’Affaires to China.