William H. Seward to George F. Seward , United States, June 28, 1876
No. 41. Mr. Seward to Mr. Fish.
No. 93.]
Sir: I have the honor to hand to you herewith a copy of a letter, No. 164, which I have received from Mr. De Lano, inclosing a copy of the agreement between the Great Northern Telegraph Company and the provincial authorities to cancel the contract under which the company was to build a line of telegraph between Foochow and Amoy.
The original proposal to build this line was made when Japan was occupying a part of Formosa, and was accepted, so to speak, as a war measure. Ever since, it has been the desire of the Chinese to escape from the matter.
They have finally succeeded, and while there is promise for the future in the school of telegraphy which has been established according to Article VII of the agreement, I do not look for an early prosecution of the enterprise. Mr. De Lano’s opinion may be right, however. He has the advantage of his acquaintance with the people immediately concerned to guide him.
Articles V and VI are not so liberal as we might have expected, remembering the generous support given to the company by the representatives of other governments.
I have, &c.,
The committee of foreign trade have the honor to inform you that the provincial government of Fuhkien has concluded an arrangement with the Great Northern Telegraph Company in regard to the proposed Foochow and Amoy telegraph line, by which the late contract for the erection of said line has been canceled, and separate agreements concluded.
Under this arrangement, which was concluded and the articles signed on the 20th March instant, we have made a payment of $50,000 on account of the sum which was originally to be paid for the erection of the line, and are to pay the balance in two separate installments, as is agreed upon and set forth in the new contract, a copy of which we subjoin for your information.
As you have lately been absent from the port it is our duty to report the case to you, we having first duly communicated it to the high authorities of the province.
Begging you will give us a reply, we have, &c.,