Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay.
Peking, August 14, 1903.
(Replying to Mr. Hay’s telegram of July 26, Mr. Conger quotes the following official note just received from Prince Ch’ing:
Your excellency has several times communicated to me the desire of your Government to have provision made in the commercial treaty for opening Moukden and Tatungkou to foreign trade. We, the Prince and ministers, of course can agree to this, but it will be necessary to wait until October 8, the date on which Russia has agreed to completely withdraw the Russian troops now occupying Manchuria, and to hand back the civil government. We, Prince and ministers, promise on that day to insert in the treaty provision for the opening by China of the said two ports, and that at the same time the completed treaty will be signed.
Mr. Conger inquires if this is satisfactory to the United States Government.)