Mr. Hay to Mr. Conger.

No. 265.]

Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch, No 344, of March 23 last, on the subject of consular jurisdiction in Chinese territory leased to foreign powers.

The United States ambassadors to Great Britain, Germany, and Russia have been instructed to make with the governments to which they are respectively accredited some arrangement for the recognition of the competency of the most available consul—the consul at Chefoo at present—to exercise consular functions in the territories those powers have acquired by lease within the Chinese Empire.

The results of the negotiations in the matter will be communicated to you as soon as conclusions have been reached.

I am, etc.,

John Hay.