Chargé Coolidge to the Secretary of State.
Peking, February 9, 1905.
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 1797, of January 25, I have the honor to confirm below your telegraphic instruction of January 26 with regard to the proposed annulment of the concession granted to the American China Development Company. I also transmit a copy of my last note of protest to the foreign office.
Deeming it advisable to emphasize this note by a personal interview, I made an appointment and was received by His Excellency Natung and Mr. Wu Ting-fang. In a long conference I endeavored to impress upon them the fact that the question had entered upon a new phase, that the old cause for complaint had disappeared, and that consequently there was now no ground upon which an annulment could be admitted. * * *
They replied that for the present the question was out of their hands; that it was the province of the board of commerce to consider the matter; and, above all, that as Chang Chih-tung had been commanded by imperial decree to investigate the situation, no action could be taken until his report was received; but that all of my government’s representations had been communicated at once. I pointed out that this was a question of internal administration, which did not concern us.
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I have, etc.,