TRANSLATION.
Viceroy T'an to Mr. Consul Mansfield.
Sir,
April 15, 1899.
812
I am in receipt of your despatch stating that the Governor of Hong Kong has written to the effect that I had altogether misunderstood him with regard to the question of the Customs Stations discussed at our interview.
During interview on April 2, the Governor of Hong Kong first said that the Customs must be removed. I strongly insisted that they could on no account be removed. When the Governor was leaving, I asked if the delimitation was to be regarded as settled; His Excellency replied that it was. I again said that it was not necessary to again refer to the question of the removal of the Customs. The Governor replied that it was not necessary to again refer to it. I regarded this as conclusive. The words are still in my ears, and I did not misunderstand.
I am again sending Taot'ai Wang Ts'un Shan to Hong Kong to personally confer and take action, and I shall feel obliged if you will inform His Excellency the Governor of this.
I have &c.
(Seal of Viceroy)