William H. Seward to Edward C. Lord, August 26, 1874

Mr. Seward to Mr. Lord.

Sir: I have had the honor to receive your letter of yesterday.

I now inclose you a copy of a document not yet formally executed, but, as I understand, agreed to by the officials at Foochow, for the establishment of a telegraph line between Foochow and Amoy.

This moment, when the Chinese fear a war and are made painfully conscious of their lack of means of resistance, including the telegraph and railroads, affords an opportunity to press home upon them their opportunities to institute these very desirable ameliorations of the means of communication. I therefore suggest to you, for your consideration, whether you can do anything so calculated to promote general interests as to visit the provincial officers at Hangchow, and submit to them the agreement mentioned, as indicating what they can do in the way of establishing a telegraph between their city and Ningpo. If you fail we are no worse off, and possibly you may succeed.

I am, &c.,