1.800. in Mr.Tratman's1 81.No.1 of Jany. 14th. 1901.
Consul to Mr.Forsyth.
Copy
B.P.O.2 to Chefoo.
700
H.M. Consulate.
Sir,
Chefoo, Dec.15,1900.
I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th. Inst., in which you enclose copy of correspondence which has passed between you and the Imperial Chinese Postoffice at this Port with reference to certain postal charges.
Being dissatisfied3 with the existing postal arrangements, you ask that steps be taken to establish a British Post Office at Chefoo.
I observe that the document you circulated amongst the British community of Chefoo is simply signed by residents as such; there is nothing to show whether the signatories are bona fide members4 of the British community or not. If I receive a petition in proof of your proposition for the establishment of B.P.O. here signed by a majority of the British community and giving the reasons on which the request is based, I am prepared to lay the matter before H.M.'s Minister at Peking.
I presume, however, that any arguments in favor of a B.P.O. at Chefoo would apply equally to such Ports as Tientsin and Newchwang and I think it right to say that as far as my information goes, I believe that any application for an increase in the number of British Postal Agencies in China has little chance of meeting with a favorable reply.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
J.N.Pratten
H.M.'s Consul
2B.P.O. stands for British Post Office.
3"digetisfied" corrected to "dissatisfied".
4"BeeD" corrected to "bona fide members". "ep-" seems to be a fragment and is removed for clarity.