Sewaed to Wm. M. Evarts, December 10, 1879

No. 138. Mr. Seward to Mr. Evarts.

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I have recently received from Mr. Cheshire, vice-consul at Canton, a copy of rules for the issue of transit passes, framed some months since by the local Chinese authorities, and promulgated without reference to the consulates or the legation.

I shall have occasion to refer to these rules again, and to lay a copy of them before you. They are very long, and for the moment we are not able to make a copy.

The rules seemed to me so objectionable that I at once placed them before my colleagues, and we agreed together that it is desirable to instruct our respective consuls at the several ports to declare to the authorities that they have no power to assent to any rules whatever without having received first the approval of the legation.

To my own circular letter, prepared in accordance with this understanding, I have added a request that our officers should exercise care when sending up statements of the grievances under which trade is suffering, to transmit also documentary evidence of facts alleged.

I have, &c.,