Mr. Adee to Mr. Sands.
Washington, September 12, 1899.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 201, of the 10th ultimo, reporting that in spite of the promise given last March that the port of Peng Yang would be opened on the 1st of May of this year, the Korean Government has again refused to open the port, but offers as a compromise a site for a foreign settlement to be outside the city and entirely away from the water, a place which you say is wholly undesirable and not in any way suited to the purposes of trade, which is the prime object in opening the port.
In reply I have to say that the compromise offered is entirely unacceptable to this Government.
You will continue to urge fulfillment of the promise given in March to open the port of Peng Yang. The excuse advanced for not doing so, that there is “much property in that city belonging to the imperial household,” appears to be inconclusive. The fact should have been known in March last, and such interests, if established, could readily have been respected in marking out the boundaries of the promised foreign settlement. Even at this late day it should not be difficult to take cognizance of the alleged fact, and modify the original [Page 490] boundary accordingly without destroying its essential character as a station for foreign trade and residence accessible from the sea.
I am, etc.,
Acting Secretary.