Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 6, 1880

No. 295.
Mr. von Schlözer to Mr. Evarts.

Imperial German Legation,
Washington, March 17, 1880.

Esteemed Mr. Secretary of State: According to a communication from Mr. von Brandt, the imperial envoy at Peking, bearing date of November 14, 1879, the consultations between the representatives of the treaty powers at that capital have led to the resolution to discontinue the negotiation which has been conducted in writing with the Chinese Government in regard to the audience question and other matters of etiquette, and to confine themselves to the demand that hereafter free access to the provincial authorities shall be allowed to all consular representatives of the treaty powers.

My government is prepared to express its approval of the above resolution to Mr. von Brandt, but desires to know, before doing so, whether the Government of the United States shares this view.

I should therefore be very grateful to you, esteemed Mr. Secretary of State, if you would let me know your opinion on this subject.

Accept, &c.,

SCHLÖZER.