Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
American Legation,
Peking,
China, May 17,
1904
No. 1609.]
Sir: I have the honor to confirm my telegram of
the 18th instant.
I inclose copy of a note from the foreign office by which it will be seen
that Wei-hsien and Chou Ts’un are also opened; these two to be
considered branches of the port of Chi-nan fu.
Chi-nan fu is the capital of Shan-tung and the present terminus of the
German railroad from Tsing-tao, and is likely to become an important
business place; we ought, also, to have a consul there at the earliest
moment practicable.
Wei-hsien and Chou Ts’un are important stations on the railway, At
Wei-hsien the American Presbyterians have a large mission station and an
important school.
For more than a year the Germans have had a consular officer stationed at
Chi-nan fu, but he has been called an agent of the governor or
representative of the railway, or something of that kind, and has not
been authorized to perform regular consular functions.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
The foreign office to
Mr. Conger.
In the third month of the thirtieth year of Kuanghsü (May, 1904), the
superintendent of northern! trade, together with the governor of
Shan-tung, sent in a memorial asking that China voluntarily open up
to foreign trade a mart outside of Chi-nan fu, the capital of
Shan-tung, and also a village to the east of the capital, called
Wei-hsien, as well as Chou Ts-un in the Chang-shan district; the
last two to be considered branches of the port at Chi-nan fu.
This board, after due consideration, did, upon the first day of the
fourth moon (May 15, 1904), prepare a memorial containing this
request, in response to which we had the honor to receive an
imperial edict giving the sanction of the Throne to the matter.
[Page 168]
As soon as we have formulated satisfactory regulations and decided
upon a day for opening the port, we will again write to inform your
excellency of the matter; but as in duty bound we also send this
letter in advance, that your excellency may be notified of the
action taken.
A necessary dispatch.
Thirtieth year of Kuanghsii, fourth moon,
3d day (May 17, 1904).
[
seal.]
