William H. Seward to Evarts, March 4, 1878

No. 83. Mr. Seward to Mr. Evarts.

Sir: Recurring to the representation made by the Chamber of Commerce at Shanghai, in August of last year, to the foreign ministers resident at this capital in regard to the dangers which are threatening the port of Shanghai in consequence of changes which are taking place in the approaches to the port, and at the port, and to my dispatches, numbered 364, 371, 402, and 411, I have now to hand you a copy of a dispatch which I am addressing to the consulate-general. Upon perusal of this letter, you will observe that it gives to Mr. Stahel the result reached by the diplomatic body in our discussion of the memorandum dated February 23, which I transmitted to you in my last-mentioned dispatch. This was an agreement in effect to request the consuls at Shanghai to report further on the matter of the condition of the approaches to Shanghai, after consultation with the harbor-master, and to send to the respective governments data in regard to the same matter, with a request that these be submitted to competent engineers for their opinions on the question whether the apprehensions felt at Shanghai have a real basis.

I have instructed Mr. Stahel in the sense of this agreement, asking him at the same time to transmit to you the report made by certain Dutch engineers to the consular body about two years ago. This report, with charts and other papers available to the Navy Department, or such other department as the matter may be referred to, will enable the officers chosen for the duty to give an intelligent opinion upon the question submitted.

I trust that you will be disposed to make the necessary reference of the matter. The subject is one of great importance to commercial interests in this part of the world, and I imagine that the engineers consulted will find no difficulty in declaring that the situation calls for the prompt attention of this government.

I trust also that in such case you will instruct me to proceed with my colleagues to place the matter in its proper light before this government.

I have, &c.,