Mr. Mickles to Mr. Seward
Sir: The directors of the East India Telegraph Company desire to present for your consideration the following points :
The East India Telegraph Company is organized under a special charter from the legislature of the State of New York, and is in its control and directions an American company.
[Page 472]After a contest of over four years in Peking, with rival English and French interests, supported by the diplomatic representatives of England and France, our opponents have abandoned the field to the East India Telegraph Company, which now receives the support of the English, French and Russian ambassadors, with that of our own minister, it being agreed that the enterprise shall be international in character, and its stock owned by the citizens of all the commercial powers, as the use of the line will be of importance to all governments having diplomatic representatives or fleets in China, or whose citizens have extensive commercisi relations there.
The other great lines of the European and Asiatic telegraphic systems are for the most part built, subsidized or promoted, by government; but, while this line is the essential connecting link between the others, completing the span of the globe, it has not received, and does not now ask, any such aid.
The company proposes to lay submerged cables along the Chinese coast from Canton to Shanghai, connecting all the great Chinese ports, and has already obtained all that, under the circumstances, is obtainable from the Chinese government. The superstitious prejudices of the people render it, at present, inexpedient to attempt the construction of a land line.
The amount of trade between China and this country, already vast, is yearly increasing at a rate which entitles an enterprise like this, conceived in the interest of that commerce, to the favorable consideration of our home government. The additional facilities of local intercommunication will also be directly to the advantage of at least our diplomatic and naval services.
We therefore request an assurance from the government of the United States, that as American citizens, and in the interest of commerce and civilization, we shall receive from our government whatever countenence, aid and protection can be properly extended to us under existing treaties, and in accordance with our established policy as a nation.
The aid and protection in question might be fully secured to us through instructions to our diplomatic representatives in China, to present the matter in suitable form to the government of the Chinese Empire; through communication with other powers having treaty relations with China, calling attention at once to the national and international character of the enterprise, and through instructions to the officers of our squadrons on that coast.
Having already obtained, as it seems to us, all other requisites of success, it is our belief that the hearty indorsement of our own government will be amply sufficient, not only to secure the speedy completion of the important work which we have in hand, but its protection, its rapid extension, and its complete commercial success.
Respectfully requesting a reply to this communication, I remain, on behalf of the East India Telegraph Company,
Your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.