Minister Conger to the Secretary of State.

No. 1844.]

Sir: Referring to legation dispatches Nos. 1792 and 1813, concerning the Whangpu conservancy, I have the honor to report that there now seems a very good prospect of the adoption of a plan which will insure the early commencement of this work. Most of the great powers have now substantially agreed to the plan, a copy of the terms of which I forwarded in the above-mentioned dispatch No. 1792.

This plan differs so little from the last proposals of the Chinese government that there is little doubt of their accepting it.

As I am largely responsible for this plan, I had hoped to see it agreed upon and adopted before I left Peking, but the delay of some of the powers in sending instructions to their representatives makes this impossible. I believe, however, it will, as it ought to, soon be accomplished.

I have, etc.,

E. H. Conger.