Mr. Riddle to Mr. Ray.

No. 565.]

Sir: Referring to Mr. Tower’s dispatches, No. 543 of March 13 and No. 547 of March 18,1902,1 have the honor to transmit to you herewith a translated copy of a note received from the ministry for foreign affairs concerning irregularities in the transmission of telegrams with Niuchwang.

It would appear from the present note that no further ground for complaint exists.

I have, etc.,

J. W. Riddle,
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]

Prince Obolensky to Mr. Tower.

No. 1565.]

Mr. Ambassador: In supplement to the ministerial note of the 2d (15th) of March last under No. 1050, concerning irregularities in the transmission of telegrams with Niuchwang, I have the honor to inform your excellency that in accordance with a communication of the American consul at Inkow transmitted to the imperial ministry through the administration of Russian posts and telegraphs, the only complaint made upon this subject came from an American trading company, and was presented to the minister of the United States at Pekin in the month of December last. That complaint was made at the time of the installation at Inkow of the field telegraph when the reception of telegrams was temporarily suspended for two weeks. At the present moment, according to the reports transmitted by the local authorities, the consular representative above referred to is entirely satisfied with the Russian telegraph and recommends it to his fellow countrymen as being cheaper and working with as much regularity as all other telegraph lines.

Please receive, etc.,

Prince Obolensky.