No. 295.
Mr. Dinsmore to Mr. Bayard.
Seoul Corea, October 24, 1887. (Received December 5.)
Sir: On the 18th instant I had the honor to receive from you a telegraphic message to the following effect:
Dinsmore, Minister,
Seoul, Corea:
Definite proposals must be sent guarantying aliberal salary, payable monthly to the army instructors from the time of departure, and also allowances, transportation, and prepaid return for chief and two assistants.
Bayard.
Immediately upon receipt of this dispatch I communicated its contents to the Corean foreign office.
Yesterday I received a dispatch from the president of the foreign office bearing the office seal, offering liberal terms to such military instructors as may come to Corea and enter the service of His Majesty [Page 438] the King through the kind offices of the Government of the United States.
The King is extremely anxious for their early arrival, and at his request and expense I send to Nagasaki a telegraphic message to be dispatched to you from there, so that it may not pass through the hands of the Chinese.
I may remark that the house offered for the occupancy of the instructors will be unfurnished, and they will have to furnish it themselves.
The place is fresh and clean, having never been occupied since it was finished. Its capacity is not ample for those gentlemen, but the King offers to make it comfortable for them.
I have, etc.,