Rochechouart to Prince Kung, March 2, 1875

The representatives of the five powers to Prince Kung.

To His Imperial Highness Prince Kung, &c.:

The English minister having communicated to the undersigned, envoys extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary of Russia, the United States of North America, and Germany, and chargé d’affaires of France, the telegram which he has received from the viceroy of India on the subject of the murder and outrages of which English officers have been the victims in Yunnan, and he having declared to them that the state of his relations with the Chinese government no longer permits him to take part in the conferences relative to the settlement of the Cuba question, the undersigned think it their duty to notify his imperial highness that it is impossible for them to continue the work of mediation which they have undertaken,-or proceed to arbitration, until the English minister can rejoin them.

The undersigned avail themselves of this occasion to renew to his imperial highness the assurance of their high consideration.