Mr. Denby to Mr. Sherman.

No. 2929.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instruction No. 1560, of the 31st of March, 1898, wherein you inclose a note from the Russian chargé d’affaires ad interim, touching the cession in usufruct of Port Arthur and Talien-wan by China to Russia.

As a corollary to this note, the Russian consul at Tientsin recently notified the consular body that all foreigners within their consular districts desiring to visit either Port Arthur or Talien-wan must not only obtain passports but must have their passports viséed at the Russian consulate before departing.

I have, etc.,

Charles Denby.