Mr. Roustan to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Washington, February 24, 1885. (Received February 24.)
Mr. Secretary of State: I had the honor to inform you in my letter of the 20th instant of a decision of my Government relative to shipments of rice destined for the ports of China, this merchandise having to be treated, after the 26th of this month, as contraband of war.
I have just received fresh instructions upon this subject, and I have the honor to announce to you that the Government of the French Republic has recognized the possibility of admitting, in the interest of neutral commerce, a modification of the measure indicated in my letter above mentioned.
Consequently it has been decided that shipments of rice intended for Canton, or the southern Chinese ports, can freely pursue their course after the 26th of February instant; but shipments of rice bound for Chinese ports north of Canton will be declared interdicted and treated as contraband of war.
Be pleased, &c.,