Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1906, (In two parts), Part I

The Secretary of State to Minister Rockhill.

Department of State,
Washington, February 7, 1906.

No. 95.]

Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 177, of December 23 last,^b inclosing a copy of a translation of new mining regulations, approved by the Chinese Government on November 27 last, by which provincial bureaus of inspection are established.

You call attention particularly to a clause in Regulation VII, which provides that mining lands belonging to private individuals may be sold only to natives of the district in which such lands are located, and you inclose a copy of your note to the Chinese foreign office protesting against the enforcement of that regulation, on the ground that it is in direct conflict with Article VII of our last treaty with China.

Your note to the Chinese foreign office is approved by the department.

I am, sir, etc.,

Elihu Root.

1. Foreign Relations, 1905, p. 235.