slavism discussed; declarations of Minister.
President Tisza in favor of neutrality; reassur
ing effects of his address.

33 Mr. Delaplaine to Mr. Evarts June 29 The same subject: Interpellation of Dr. Hoffer

Aug. 1

in the Reichsrath, respecting the rumored offer
of alliance between Austria-Hungary and Ger
many; answer of Prince Auersperg, denying
that any overtures of a German alliance had i
been made and explaining the mobilization of
a part of the Austrian army.

The same subject: A cabinet council held to de-
termine Austrian policy in view of recent
events; Count Andrássy empowered to order
military dispositions, with the approval of the
Emperor; no general mobilization contem-
plated; the frontier troops to be re-enforced;
the Austrian army could be mobilized in eight
days.

Aug. 16 Negotiation of a loan: A temporary advance ob-
tained to cover the cost of the partial mobiliza-
tion of the army, which Count Andrássy had
been empowered to make; the loan taken within
the empire; effect on Austrian policy of the
Russian defeats before Plevna; the internal re-
lations between Hungary and Croatia; the ques
tion of the Croatian railways explained.
Agricultural prospects: State of the crops; open-
ing of an international fair for the exhibition
and sale of cereals; large amount of transac
tions; brilliant prospects of the grain harvests:
official report of condition up to the middle of
August.

Aug. 21

39

40

41

42

The religious question in Brazil: Efforts of the
papal internuncio, Mgr. Roncetti, and the ultra-
montane party; fears that the ministry may
yield.
Sept. 29 The electoral question: Imperfections in the lists
of voters; possible unrepresentation of Rio in
consequence; fall in government bonds; state
of the treasury; rumored intention to issue
small 5 per cent. coupon bonds.
Outrage upon the bishop of Rio: Stones thrown
at him in the church of Santa Rita; excitement
on the subject.

Oct. 31

43

do

Dec. 30

1877.

The electoral question: Irregularities in the late
elections; the political complexion of the cham-
ber; questions to come up for debate; the rev-
enue and the deficit.

44 Mr. Partridge to Mr. Evarts. May 10 The political situation: Failure to pass appropri

ation bills in time; an enabling act to be passed;
debate on the governmental expenditures; tab
ular statements of Brazilian finances.

46

47

48

48

49

CENTRAL AMERICAN STATES.

No. From whom and to whom.

Date.

Subject.

Page.

45 Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish.

1877. Jan. 14

46

do

47

do

The political situation: The term of President
Barrios prolonged for four years in Guatemala;
Mr. Marco A. Soto still President of Honduras;
discontent against the Zaldivar administration
in Salvador; the Chamono government gaining
strength in Nicaragua; revolutionary plottings;
all quiet at present.

Mar. 5 Report on the present and prospective lines of
communication of the Central American States
with the United States and with Europe: His-
torical review of the difficulties of early travel;
methods of developing commerce by increased
facilities of communication on the Pacific coast
considered.

Mar. 21 Promulgation of new civil and precedure codes for
Guatemala: Ceremonies on the occasion; nature
of the change.

48 Mr. Williamson to Mr. Evarts. Apr. 24 Postal question: Correspondence with the minis

ter of foreign affairs of Guatemala respecting a
variance between an item in the local postal reg
ulations and the postal convention of 1862 with
the United States; suggestion of further reduc-
tion of rates.

Official reception of the Guatemalan minister to
Salvador: Character of the governments and peo-
ple of Central America; the aims of President
Barrios.
May 31 Postal question: Reply of the Guatemalan minis
try; the convention with the United States to
be obeyed.

June 1

Financial measures in Guatemala: Promulgation
of decrees increasing certain taxes and impos-
ing a forced loan of $500,000; their effect on for-
eign interests.

52

53

61

62

65

66

Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish.. Oct. 1 Wreck of the American steamer Georgia in the

1877.

Mr. Williamson to Mr. Evarts. June 14

55 Mr. Seward to Mr. William July 19

son.

Straits of Magellan : Report of her captain, John
K. Nickerson.

The same subject: Correspondence with the Chil
ian government; narrative of the wreck and sub-
sequent salvage, involving claim to the owner-
ship of the vessel.

The same subject: Instructions as to the suspi
cious character of the stranding of the ship and
her subsequent sale.

CHINA.

69

71

The agreement between Great Britain and China
relative to rights and treatment of foreigners:
Account of the negotiation; how the agreement
will affect other foreigners in China; the Yun-
nan matter; Mr. Seward's friendly intercourse
with the British minister, Sir Thomas Wade;
text of the Chefoo agreement.
Visit of the English, French, and German admirals
to the port of Chefoo: Interest of the Chinese
authorities in the foreign vessels; the Chinese
aiming to improve their army and navy.
Administrative frauds: Condemnation to death of
two Chinese officials guilty of falsifying ac
counts; other officials to be punished for failure
to discover that the frauds were being perpe-
trated.

80

82

1876.

60 Mr. Seward to Mr. Fish..... Nov. 29 Woosung railway: Transfer of the railway to the

Chinese government; the articles of agreement;
prospects of the road being worked by the gov

ernment.

Dec. 13 Diplomatic and consular service of China: Publi-
cation of official regulations; character and term
of appointments.

61 ......do

Mr. Fish to Mr. Seward.....' Dec. 19

62

63

1877.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Fish...... Jan. 23

64....

do

65

.do

66

do

1

Jan. 30

Mar. 13

Mar. 13

Mar. 19

The agreement between Great Britain and China:
The Yunnan affair; the questions submitted to
the foreign legations, viz: judicial matters, the
audience question, and the likin taxes; instruc-
tions given on these several points.
Ceremonial of intercourse between foreign minis
ters and high native officials: Prince Kung and
high officers call upon the foreign representa-
.tives; their visits to be returned; list of the
officials taking part.

The Shanghai Steam Navigation Company: The
vessels and property sold to the Chinese Mer-
chants' Company; terms of the transfer; failure
of the foreign scheme through continued favors
shown by the government to the native com-
pany; advantageous price paid; the Chinese
company practically a monopoly; views of Mr.
Seward.

The Imperial Chinese College: Its scope and char-
acter; a statement of one of the professors
transmitted; comments of Mr. Seward thereon.
Four new ports opened to foreign trade in accord-
ance with the Chefoo agreement: Official notifi
cation of the fact and response of Mr. Seward;
American consuls and merchants notified.
Relief of an American vessel: Thanks of the
United States Government for services ren-
dered by the Imperial Chinese gunboat Sin
Ching to the American ship Enoch Train; cor-
respondence exchanged on the subject.

68 Mr. Seward to Mr. Evarts... April 30 Wen-Chow: Report of Consul Lord on this port,

recently opened under the Chefoo convention;
question of consular arrangements; Mr. Sew.
ard's instructions to Consul Lord.
Chinese coinage: Action of the Chamber of Com-
merce of Shanghai in favor of establishing a
mint; action of the foreign diplomatic body; its
probable success; correspondence exchanged on
the subject.

Woosung Railway: Its employés re-engaged for
eighteen months; the road not yet turned over
to the Chinese government; hopes that it may
continue to be worked, notwithstanding the
governmental disfavor shown to railways in
China.

May 12 Amoy Question of the establishment of a munic-
ipal body for the control of roads, &c., in the
Amoy district occupied by foreigners. Mr.
Seward defers comments thereon.
Wuhu opened to American trade: Visit of the
Chinkiang consul to Wuhu for that purpose:
his report; question of appointing a consular
officer at Wuhu.

Judicial system in China as affecting foreigners:
Its unsatisfactory condition; memorial ad-
dressed to the throne by the governors of Fuh-
kien and Che-kiang in favor of its amelioration.
Amoy municipal regulations: Copy thereof for-
warded.

Drought in Northern China: Distress in Shan-
tung and neighboring provinces; action of the
Netherlands minister for the relief of the suffer-
ers; large foreign subscriptions; relief distrib-
uted through the missionary stations; want of
facilities of internal communication one of the
causes of the disastrousness of a local famine;
thanks of the Chinese authorities for foreign aid.
Coal mines in Formosa: Extensive preparations
for working them; an American expert to re-
port on the production of oil in that island;
progressive tendencies of the Chinese governor
of Fub-kien.

American shipping trade with China: General
representations made by American houses
against the law requiring that American ships
shall be officered by citizens of the United
States; frequent difficulty of complying with
the law; Mr. Seward recommends its modifica-
tion and that consuls be authorized to ship for-
eign officers on satisfactory proof that no Amer-
ican can be found in their districts; effects of
the shipping laws of the United States; free
trade in ships advocated.

The recently opened ports not as beneficial to
trade as was expected: Reasons therefor; arti-
cle from the Shanghai Daily News; Mr. Seward's
views agree with those therein expressed.
Attempt to burn the United States consulate-
general at Shanghai: The damage slight; no
trace of the incendiary; security of the archives
of the consulate from loss by fire.

112

116

117

1876.

DENMARK.

The political situation: Increase of the opposi
tion party in the new Rigsdag; their parlia
mentary policy one of obstruction; the senate
ministerial by a large majority; legislative
dead-lock.

The same subject: Popular dissatifaction at the
prolonged dead-lock; the chambers disagree on
the financial bill; a "constitutional crisis;"
its causes; conjectures as to its consequences.
The same subject: A provisional financial law
promulgated by royal decree; question as to its
constitutionality.

The same subject: Continued excitement about
the financial law; its constitutionality denied ;
state of parties in Denmark; conservatism pre-
vails in the towns and radicalism in the rural
districts; comments by Mr. Cramer.
St. Bartholomew: Reported sale of the island by
Sweden to France; terms of the sale not yet
made public.

1876.

FRANCE.

85

Mr. Washburne to Mr. Fish. Sept. 13. Project of a Darien ship-canal: Plan of Mr. de

Gogorza submitted to the president; antece-
dents of the author; his scheme before the in-
ternational geographical Congress; the plan
considered feasible by Mr. de Lesseps, the en-
gineer of the Suez Canal; a company organ-
ized to make the preliminary surveys; sug-
gested co-operation of the United States.
La Rochelle: The chamber of commerce of that
city remonstrates against the suppression of
the United States consulate; Mr. Washburne's
views adverse to the petition.
Congratulatory address and medal of the Polish
colony in Paris on occasion of the American
centennial celebration, transmitted to the De-
partment of State.

Slanderous attack on the United States, said to
be by a French commissioner to the centennial
exhibition, republished fr m a Vienna paper
by the Paris Figaro: Explanation asked of the
French government; Duke Decazes promises
reparation; the reputed author publicly denies
the slander: friendly disposition of the Duke
Decazes in this incident.

125

127

127

123

89 Mr. Washburne to Mr. Fish. Dec. 22

1877. Jan. 12

Ministerial crisis: Fall of the Dufaure cabinet, on
the issues of amnesty to the communists and
the funeral honors to the infidel members of the
Legion of Honor; narrative of the contest in
the assembly; formation of a new cabinet by
Mr. Jules Simon; conmments of Mr. Washburne.
The French exposition of 1878: Letter from the
French commissioner-general to Mr. Wash-
burne, urging prompt action by the United
States.
Feb. 16 Protection of Germans in France during the
Franco-German war: Mr. Washburne compiles
from the records an official history of the action
of the United States in that behalf, for the
archives of the Department of State.

92 Mr. Hitt to Mr. Fish........ Feb. 23

The French exposition of 1878: The participation
of the United States; further letter from the
French commissioner-general; space will be re-
served awaiting congressional action on the

matter.

93 Mr. Fish to Mr. Washburne. Mar. 2 Protection of Germans in France during the

94 Mr. Hitt to Mr. Fish.......

Mar. 3

Mar. 29

Apr. 11

197

do

Apr. 24

98 Mr. Washburne to Mr. May 4 Evarts.

June 29

Franco-German war: Approval of Mr. Wash-
burne's course.

Metallic currency: Publication of a letter on the
subject by Mr. de Parien, called forth by one of
Mr. Washburne's published dispatches."
United States 44 per cent. loan: Inquiries, with a
view to its admission to the Paris Bourse, made
by the Paris Stock-Brokers' Association: Reply
of Mr. Hitt; suggestion as to the payment of
United States coupons in France.
French foreign office: Animated debates in the
French senate respecting the diplomatic and
consular service; rules for admission and pro-
motion; recent decrees on the subject; discus-
sion thereon; measures proposed; salaries paid;
remarks of Mr. Hitt.
The Paris exposition of 1878: Many applications
from American expositors; they can only par
ticipate through the authorized representation
of a national commission; statements of Mr.
Krantz, the French commissioner-general; ex-
traordinary efforts of French manufacturers;
progress of the buildings; facilities reserved
for the United States.

The foreign relations of France: Important dec-
larations of the Duke Decazes respecting for
eign policy in the present war; its responsibitity
charged wholly upon Turkey; comments of
Mr. Washburne.

The Russo-Turkish war: Military operations;
the Danube crossed; attitude of Austria; Hun-
garian sympathy with Turkey; comments of
Mr. Washburne as to the position of France.
July 16 Transmits photographic copies of an interesting
revolutionary relic: autograph letter of Benja-
min Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee to
the Count de Vergennes, dated December 23,
1776, proposing a treaty of amity between France
and the United States.

The French diplomatic and consular service: Pro-
mulgation of a decree prescribing the condi
tions of examination for admission to the lowest
paid grades; comments of Mr. Hitt thereon.
The Paris exposition of 1878: Continued applica-
tions for information; the French government
about to renew urgent request for the participa-
tion of the United States; space to be reserved
until the last practicable moment.
The same subject: Circular to all the foreign
commissioners, stating progress of buildings, &c.
The funeral of Mr. Thiers: Description; its or
derly character; effect of Mr. Thiers's death
upon the political contest in France; opinions
of leading French republicans; tributes paid by
Mr. Washburne and Mr. Noyes to the memory
of Mr. Thiers.

The political situation: Manifesto of President
MacMahon; comments of French journals

thereon.

132

135

136

137

137

138

141

142

147

148

152

154

155

167

168

169

170