Protocol., December 20, 1874

Protocol.

The undersigned, ministers from England, Russia, the United States, and Denmark, and chargés d’affaires from Germany and France, whose attention has been repeatedly drawn to the hut too frequent interruptions to which the telegraphic communications between China and the rest of the world have been subject ever since they were established, have believed it to be their duty, in consideration of the great importance of those communications for the interests confided to them, on the proposition of their colleague from Denmark, and in conformity with instructions which they have received from their respective governments, to meet for the purpose of considering the dangers to which those communications are exposed, and the measures which appear commendable for the purpose of preventing such interruptions, or of, at least, rendering them as rare as possible; and we find—

That China depends for her telegraphic communications with the rest of the world entirely and exclusively upon the condition of the cables which have been laid between Hong-kong and Vladivostock, and which touch the land at Amoy and at Shanghai in China, and at Nagasaki in Japan;

That in most cases the interruptions of those important communications are owing to—

Either the crews of merchant or fishing vessels, who, when their anchors catch the cable, disengage the anchor by cutting the cable;

Or, to thieves, who drag for the cable, and, when they have caught hold of it, cut more or less considerable pieces out of it, which they then sell for the material.

But we are at the same time assured that the population have nowhere shown any hostility toward telegraphic enterprises; and that some diminution of the injuries to which the cables have been subject near the coasts of China has ever been observable in certain localities where the local Chinese authorities have exhibited some zeal for their protection.

These facts give us good reason for hoping that interruptions of the above-mentioned telegraphic communications may hereafter become as rare as they are in our seas and on the coasts of our respective countries, if the Chinese government will, in common .accord with the foreign authorities, be willing to give efficient protection to the above-mentioned cables by adopting to that end measures similar to those which have given such good results in other countries.

In consideration of the above facts and appreciations, the undersigned have agreed—

• To approach the Chinese government for the purpose of obtaining from that government efficient measures for the protection of the submarine cables by means of which the ports of Shanghai and Amoy are enabled to maintain telegraphic communication with the rest of the world, and to express the hope that that government will be pleased, to the end alluded to, by the adoption of such measures, and to the extend which may to them appear proper and useful, to make known to its subjects the very great importance of the telegraphic lines above mentioned, and the special respect which is due to submarine cables, wherever they may be met with, either near the coast or in the open sea.
• Themselves to adopt proper measures for the purpose of bringing to the knowledge of their countrymen in China the very great interest which their respective governments take in the preservation and effective protection of the telegraphic communication between China and the rest of the world; and to recommend to their authorities (consular, naval, &c.) to adopt such measures as may seem to them proper, useful, and as lying within the limits of their competency, for the purpose of rendering the protection to which telegraphic lines are entitled everywhere, as efficient as possible.

For the purpose of laying down accurately what the undersigned have agreed upon, the following resolutions have been adopted:

Be It resolved: 1. That the diplomatic representatives here assembled unite in a common action for the purpose of giving protection to the telegraphic cables by means of which China communicates with the rest of the world.

2. That that common action shall consist in—

• A, note, identical in substance, but not in language, to be followed, if necessary, by an identical or collective note to the Chinese government, requesting that government be adopt measures for the protection of the cables above mentioned.
• The adoption by the representatives, themselves, of proper measures for the same purpose.

3. That the diplomatic representatives who are not present at this meeting be invited to join in the common action above mentioned.