Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1906, (In two parts), Part I

Minister Rockhill to the Secretary of State.

[Extract.]

American Legation,
Peking, October 9, 1906.

No. 423.]

Sir: I have the, honor to transmit herewith copy of a note received to-day from the foreign office, informing me that the Japanese troops having now evacuated Hsin-min Fu (or tun) said locality is opened to international trade.

I have, etc.,

W. W. Rockhill.

[Inclosure—Translation.]

The Prince of Ch’ing to Mr. Rockhill.

Peking, October 8, 1906.

Your Excellency: The first article of the supplementary convention between China and Japan with reference to affairs in Manchuria provides that, upon the withdrawal of the troops from the province of Feng-t’ien (Shengking), China will herself open to international trade the places, Feng-huang-ch’eng, Liao-yang, Hsin-min-t’un, T’ieh-ling, T’ung-chiang-tzu, and Fa-k’u-men.

On September 10 of the present year I had the honor to inform your excellency that the three places T’ieh-ling, T’ung-chiang-tzu, and Fa-k’u-men had already been opened to international trade, as the records will show.

I now have the honor to inform your excellency that the Japanese troops have been withdrawn from Hsin-min Fu, and it becomes necessary in accordance with the convention to open that place to international trade.

As in duty bound, therefore, I send this dispatch for your excellency’s information.

A necessary dispatch.

(Seal of the Wai-wu Pu.)