Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay.

No. 102.]

Sir: I have the honor to confirm, on the overleaf, your telegram of the 28th instant and my reply of this date.

Perfect quiet prevails at present, but the same reasons exist for having the guards here and at Tientsin as did when I wrote my dispatch No. (81) of November 3, to which I respectfully refer without repeating its contents.

The effect of the presence of the foreign guards here has been an increased respect for the foreign Governments by the Chinese, and an [Page 241] inspiration on the part of the Government to take such increased precautionary measures as will probably insure protection to foreigners.

I have, etc.,

E. H. Conger.