Office of the Historian

No. 94.
Mr. Holcombe to Mr. Evarts.

Legation of the United States,
Peking, July 3, 1878. (Received September 2.)
No. 22.]

Sir: I have the honor to hand to you copies of letters which have passed between the foreign office and this legation, from which you will learn that the Chinese Government has appointed a minister to Russia.

Chung How, the person to whom the appointment has been given, is at present acting military governor of Manchuria, and a member of the [Page 151] foreign office. He was placed at the head of the mission sent by the late emperor to Paris in 1870 to express the regrets of this government for the Tientsin massacre, and gave great satisfaction to the Chinese by the manner in which he discharged his duties. He is much higher in rank and influence than any of the ministers hitherto sent abroad by the Chinese. This is, perhaps, to be accounted for by the fact that the recent successes of the Chinese army in Kashgar have brought those troops and the Russian forces face to face, and developed some delicate questions. There are also some complications between China and Russia with regard to the boundary of Ili.

It is understood that Chung How is to depart at once upon his mission.

I have, &c.,

CHESTER HOLCOMBE.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 22.—Translation.]

Prince Kung to Mr. Holcombe.

Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for foreign affairs, herewith makes a communication.

Upon the 22d instant I had the honor to receive an imperial decree, in the following terms:

“Let Chung How, senior vice-president of the hoard of civil office, he appointed as our envoy to Russia.

“Respect this.”

I beg leave to communicate to you a copy of this edict for your information.

Chester Holcombe, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

Peking, June 23, 1878.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 22.]

Mr. Holcombe to Prince Kung.

June 24, 1878.

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Imperial Highness’s dispatch of yesterday, covering copy of an imperial edict, by which Chung How, senior vice-president of the board of civil office, is appointed to be His Majesty’s envoy to Russia.

I have, &c.,

CHESTER HOLCOMBE.