Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 3, 1877
No. 72.
Mr. Seward
to Mr. Evarts.
Peking, May 12, 1877. (Received June 29.)
Sir: I have the honor to hand to you herewith a copy of a letter, number 48,fron the consul at Chin Kiang, reporting his visit to Wuhu, to open it to American trade, and a copy of my response.
As the port mentioned is within easy reach of Chin Kiang, as I have not yet heard that any foreigners have settled there, and as a consular agency ought not to be established inconsiderately, I have requested Mr. Colby to report to me further before nominating an agent to you.
I have, &c.,
Mr. Colby to Mr. Seward.
Chin Kiang, April 26, 1877.
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part I have taken in connection with the opening of the new port of Wuhu, to foreign commerce. By previous arrangement with Captain Fyffe, commanding the United States steamship Monocacy, [Page 103] it was agreed that he should meet me at Wuhu on his way down the river from Ichang on or about the 23d instant, and remain with me there until I might consummate the necessary arrangements with the Chinese officials of that port for the placing of a United States consular agent there and for the adoption of such measures as I might deem necessary and proper for the protection of American interests at that port.
I accordingly set out from here on the 20th instant, accompanied by my Chinese writer and Mr. W. F. Walker as interpreter. I arrived at Wuhu on the evening of the 22d, where I foitnd Captain Fyffe with the Monoeacy already in waiting. On Monday morning I opened a correspondence with the Tao-t’ai, Stating my business and requesting an interview, which was cheerfully accorded me at 2 o’clock p.m., of that day, at which time, accompanied by Captain Fyffe and three other officers of the Monoeacy, J proceeded to the Tao-t’ai’s Yamên, where we were received by that official in a manner befitting our respective stations.
At this interview I informed the Tao-t’ai that it might soon become desirable on the part of the United States to place a consular agent there, in which event it would be expected that he would receive such respectful consideration as a representative of the United States would be entitled to. Further, that I should expect that all American citizens who might see proper to locate at Wuhu, would receive immunity from violence or insult, and that they would be accorded every facility for trade and commerce to which under treaty they were entitled. To all this he assured me that our agent should be cordially welcomed and respectfully treated; also that American citizens should be free from molestation, and merchants encouraged to engage in commerce; in fact, he said that they were anxious to have foreigners come and engage in business. I declined to locate an American settlement, thinking it preferable to await future developments and wants. The interview ended satisfactorily and impressed me with a feeling of strong friendliness upon the part of the natives toward foreigners.
In the evening the Tao-t’ai addressed me a note saying he wished to call upon me at 10 o’clock a.m. the next day. I expressed in reply a willingness to receive him, and designated “on board the Monoeacy” as the place. At the appointed hour he arrived and was received in the captain’s cabin. Here we had a further talk upon various business matters, and the Tao-t’ai furnished me, at my request, a list of the imports and exports at Wuhu, which I will give further on. After an hour or more the Tao-t’ai, having first inspected the ship, &c, retired. All matters being concluded between the Tao-t’ai and myself, the Monoeacy was soon got under way and we left Wuhu with very favorable impressions of her officials, people, and prospects.
Wuhu is in the province of Anhui, and is laid down in the charts as being upon the south bank of the Yangtze, one hundred and one miles from Chin-Kiang, and consequently about two hundred and sixty miles from Shanghai. It has a population of over 100,000 souls, (as stated to me by the Tao-t’ai,) is in the midst of a very fertile district, and will unquestionably become a prosperous and extensive port of commerce.
It is claimed that the opening of Wuhu to foreign commerce will very sensibly affect the tea trade of Ningpo and Ku-Kiang, and the sugar, piece-goods, and opium trade of Chin-Kiang. The tea-districts of Anhui province are said to be among some of the very best of China.
The following is the list of imports furnished me by the Tao-t’ai. It will be observed that in this enumeration he includes native as well as foreign products, which indicates the real consumption of the districts of which Wuhu will be the inlet and outlet.
Imports.—Native cotton cloth, (nankeens,) foreign cotton cloth, foreign agar agar, (for dyeing,) foreign fans, native fans, foreign sugar, native sugar, foreign opium, native opium, foreign lung-ngaus, native lung-ngaus, (dried,) foreign camlets, native lotus-nuts, foreign broadcloths, medium cloths, cotton shirting, and piece-goods, and native cotton, cow-hides, medicines, grass-cloth, paper, earthenware, iron, tin, copper, hemp, laquer, coal, oils, white wax, and safflowers.
Exports.—Alum, preserved dates, paper, lily-flowers, ink, tea, rice, (grain,) mats, dyes, and China.-root.
Wuhu was very much injured during the Taiping rebellion, and her trade so very much, impaired that the native customs was discontinued and was not reopened until July of last year, as it was not until that time that the local authorities felt justified in opening the customs again. The foreign customs, under the supervision of Mr. Woodruff, has but recently been opened and as yet has done but little. The foreign steamers all stop at Wuhu now, and carry more or less freight, which latter, I am told, is rapidly increasing. There are three American steamers still running on the river, belonging to a new company, and it is understood that they contemplate increasing their fleet at once.
There are also thirteen American lorchas running on the river, which possess an average (registered) tonnage of one hundred and thirty tons, all of which will expect to receive their share of freight to Wuhu, and hence expect and require some sort of consular protection there. There are at present no American citizens at Wuhu, but I learn of several who contemplate going there to engage in business.
[Page 104]I strongly recommend having an agent there as soon as possible. Few, if any, persons will care to go to any of the new ports to reside until they have a consular representative there to protect their interests, and I do not regard that those representatives are present solely to subserve the interests of merchants only, who perhaps trade as much or more in products of other countries as those of the United States, but by their presence, industry, and energy to encourage the introduction of American manufactures among Chinese merchants who, from their long assimilation with foreigners, are rapidly becoming extensive dealers in foreign goods. And I now confidently prophesy that the day is rapidly approaching in China when the Chinese merchant will become his own importer, having his purchasing agents in New York, Boston, or London and Liverpool, as the case may be, at the same time exporting his own silks, teas, &c., to the same agents, and thus eventually become a wholesale importer, exporter, and jobber in foreign and native goods.
I regard it as desirable that when that period arrives the United States should be in a position to secure their share of such a trade, and I know of no letter aid in bringing it about than by active, energetic consular representatives at every port. Great Britain has already a consular representative at Wuhu, her policy being the introduction of English manufactures at all objective points, and I think the United States might wisely imitate her example.
I am under very many obligations to Commander Fyffe, of the United States steamer Monocacy for his kindness and courtesy to me; as also the same for same reasons to Mr. Brennan of Her Majesy’s consular service, and to Mr. Woodruff of the Imperial customs.
My sincere thanks are due to Mr. Walker for his services as interpreter.
I am, &c.,
Hon. George F. Seward,
United States Minister, Peking.
Mr. Seward to Mr. Colby.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive your dispatch, No. 48, reporting to me your visit to the port of Wuhu in the United States steamer Monocacy,
I approve your procedure in all respects.
I do not think that there is immediate occasion for the nomination of a consular agent at the port mentioned; in fact, it does not appear that any of our people, or, indeed, any foreigners, saving the staff of the customs and of Her Britannic Majesty’s consulate, are resident there. If hereafter any of our people shall settle there, or, failing this, if any foreigners shall establish themselves at the port from among whom a suitable agent can be selected, it will be well for you to report to me further, so that I may advise the Department whether an agency is needed.
I am, &c.,
- GEORGE F. SEWARD.
- J. C. S. Colby, Esq.,
United States Consul, Chin-Kiang.