No. 146.
Mr. Fish
to Mr. Avery.
Washington, March 4, 1875.
Sir: Your No. 15, dated December 20th ultimo, in reference to the question of protecting telegraph-cables upon the Chinese coast, has been received. You state that General de Raasloff, lately sent by the Danish government to obtain protection for the lines of Danish telegraph now in operation in the Chinese empire, and to assist in reference to Danish telegraph enterprises, had arrived at Peking, and that at his request the representatives of the treaty-powers had agreed to address the authorities in support of General Raasloff’s mission, and that yon had joined therein.
The particular purpose of General Raasloff’s mission appears to be to protect and obtain advantage for certain specified lines and for Danish interests; and upon an examination of the protocol, or note, annexed to your dispatch, and which it was proposed to address to the Chinese authorities, it appears to ask for efficient protection for particular cables therein referred to.
I am fully impressed with the advantages which must attend the grant of support and protection by Chinese authorities to enterprises in connection with land or ocean telegraphs, and I am of opinion that the subject may properly be brought to the attention of the Chinese authorities by the foreign representatives at Peking.
I am of opinion, however, that the aid and assistance to be furnished to this end by a joint note of the foreign representatives should not be limited to a demand for the protection of any particular lines, or for advantages to be extended to any one corporation.
If, in addition to this effort for exceptional advantages to enterprises in which Denmark has a particular interest, the government of China should be asked to grant any exclusive privilege, or a monopoly, either to the Great Northern or any other company, I am of opinion that such a scheme should not only not be favored, but should be disapproved by the foreign representatives.
In this view, on examination of the protocol, or note, annexed to your dispatch, and which it was proposed to address to the Chinese government, it appears that the request to be preferred asked for efficient protection for the particular cables enumerated, rather than the adoption of any general measures for the protection of all similar enterprises.
It may be that, these being the only existing cables, it was deemed sufficient to ask protection for them at this time, without the intention to secure for them any invidious protection; or it may be that it was thought inexpedient to do more at present than was done, fearing that a demand for any general action on the part of the Chinese government [Page 275] would be unsuccessful. Your action in lending your assistance is approved, but I call your attention to this point should the question again arise.
Mr. Seward, consul-general at Shanghai, with his No. 882, of the 8th of January, inclosed, in confidence, a copy of a form of collective declaration intended to be addressed, by the foreign representatives to the Chinese government, which had been sent to him by General Raasloff for his examination, a copy of which is also inclosed, and which has already doubtless come to your knowledge.
The request for protection in this note is also a request that these particular telegraphs referred to in your dispatch should be taken “under the special protection” of the Chinese government.
The question of affording general protection to all ocean-cables is familiar to this Government, and has already been formally presented to the foreign powers by the United States.
In the month of November, 1869, a circular was issued suggesting some measures to obtain protection for all cable-lines, as well as to encourage the future construction of new ones, and the draught of the convention embodying these points, and of the circular, were forwarded to various of the foreign governments. A copy of these papers is herewith inclosed. Various foreign governments, among them Belgium, Denmark, The Netherlands, Russia, France, and Great Britain, replied to the invitation and circular with more or less alacrity, generally approving the theory of the proposition, but nothing definite was accomplished.
You will perceive that the proposition made was for the general protection and encouragement of all cables. There was no desire on the part of this Government to obtain any exceptional advantages for any country or scheme, and it is believed that a perseverance in this view will finally develop the most substantial results.
The government of Denmark, on the receipt of the circular, referred the subject to the minister of finance in the early part of the year 1870, but no further action was taken thereon until the month of June, 1874, when the chargé d’affaires of Denmark at Washington notified the Department that his government was prepared to negotiate a convention and accept the draught prepared, with certain modifications. This action may have been induced by the same reasons which have led to this mission of General Raasloff. Nothing-further has, however, been accomplished.
While concurring, therefore, in the desire to afford assistance toward the protection and encouragement of telegraphic enterprises in China, I am of opinion that general advantages and general protection should be kept in view, and that a monopoly or exclusive grant is not to be desired.
I am, &c.,