No. 152.
Mr. Denby
to Mr. Bayard.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, February 23, 1887.
(Received April 12.)
No. 318.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith tile
answer of the Tsung-li yamên to my communication, of which a translation was
sent you in my dispatch No. 299, of February 8, 1887. I therein urged the
removal of the Woosung Bar.
It will be seen that the yamên has pressed on the local authorities the
necessity of doing this work.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No.
318.—Translation.]
The Tsung-li yamên to Mr.
Denby.
Peking, February 21,
1887.
Your Excellency: Upon the 9th of February the
prince and ministers had the honor to receive a communication from your
excellency having relation to the dredging of the Woosung Bar, wherein
you requested that measures be devised for taking immediate action in
the matter, etc.
The yamên, it appears, during the third Chinese month of last year
(April) sent instructions in regard to the matter to the minister
superintendent of southern trade, urging that action be taken, but up to
the present time no reply has been received from that officer.
Now, having received your excellency’s communication upon this subject,
the yamên has again communicated with the minister superintendent of
southern trade, urging that instructions be sent immediately to the
customs taotai at Shanghai to adopt a plan for taking action in the
premises, and as in duty bound the prince and ministers send this
communication in reply for your excellency’s information.
