No. 261.] No. 235. Mr. Davis to Mr. Bancroft. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 8, 1870. SIR Referring to my No. 259, inclosing a copy of Mr. Fish's telegram of the 1st instant, instructing you to propose to the North German government a suspension of hostilities in Chinese waters, I have to say that no reply or acknowledgment has been received. When the massacre of Tien-tsin took place, Mr. Low was of opinion that the outbreak was a local one and unpremeditated, * and although the Chinese populace were still much excited, Mr. Low thought that the danger was over, that the government was sincere in its intention to prevent a repetition, and to punish the offenders, and that there was no probability of similar outbreaks elsewhere. In his subsequent dispatches he still adheres to his original opinion that the disturbance was local and unpremeditated, and that the government at Pekin sincerely desired to prevent a repetition and to preserve peace; but he appears to have decidedly modified his opinion as to the probability that they will be able to do so. His doubts are founded on the injudicious course pursued by the French chargé d'affaires in demanding the summary execution of the Tien-tsin officials as an ultimatum, and upon the hopes the populace in the large Chinese cities derive from the state of war existing between Germany and France, which they argue will neutralize the force of those two powers. He expresses the fear that the government at Pekin may find itself too weak to resist the pressure of popular opinion in the masses, acting in harmony with the cherished wishes and purposes of the literati, and that it may be forced into war to prevent popular outbreaks. It seemed to the President that these views coming from a gentleman so cautious, dispassionate, and prudent as Mr. Low, were entitled to more than the ordinary consideration. He therefore directed, after consultation with the cabinet, the telegram of the 1st instant to be sent to you, believing that any advantage which one belligerent might gain over the other in eastern waters would be of small consequence to the victor, compared with the preservation of peace in China. The President does not intend to depart from the policy pointed out in Mr. Fish's dispatch No. 148, of August 31, 1869. He does not propose to take part, nor does he invite North Germany to take part in any controversy between France and China growing out of the massacre of Tien-tsin. He only desires that so far as the impression of the neutralization of German and French influence by the state of hostilities operated to enfeeble the central government, that impression may be removed; and that should unfortunately a general war be declared by China, or should an outbreak against foreigners take place which the government cannot prevent nor punish, the several powers may be in a position to afford the fullest measure of protection. I inclose copies of two telegrams from Mr. Motley, which would seem to indicate that the commanders of the French and Prussian fleets have come to some understanding, but it is not clear that this has been ratified at Berlin and Paris. I also inclose a copy of a communication of the 5th instant from Baron Gerolt bearing upon this subject. J. C. B. DAVIS, No. 236. Mr. Bancroft to Mr. Fish. No. 157.] It appears to the President that the hostilities between France and Germany, if conducted in Chinese waters, will operate in the minds of the Chinese to put in peril the lives of Europeans and Americans in that empire. You are instructed to sound the government of North Germany to ascertain whether it is possible to obtain suspension of hostilities or a coöperative action between the squadrons in the Chinese waters so far as the protection of the lives and property of Americans and Europeans may require. In case the answer is favorable, you will ask leave to communicate their action to Washburne, and will send him a copy of this telegram, which he will take as his authority to ask for a like action on the part of French government. This Government most fully adopts the line of policy marked out by you, and I shall, therefore, make to Mr. Washburne the communication which you direct. No. 237. Mr. Fish to Mr. Low. GEO. BANCROFT. No. 24. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 29, 1870. SIR: I acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch of the 26th of September last, No. 31, with three inclosures, exhibiting your correspondence with Prince Kung upon the removal of the missionaries from Tungchow and the disturbed condition of affairs in China. Although the general tenor of your note of the 13th September to Prince Kung is regarded as judicious and proper, your assurance toward the close, that a flagrant violation of the rights and privileges of our citizens by the people, and the failure of the imperial government to apply the proper remedy promptly, are the only circumstances which will cause a departure from the traditional policy of the United States in their intercourse with China, is considered to be too strong an assurance of forbearance, and it would be, perhaps, well that Prince Kung should understand that any violation of the rights of our citizens and any flagrant violation of treaty stipulations of other powers may cause a change. HAMILTON FISH. SIR: No. 238. Rear-Admiral Rodgers to the Secretary of the Navy. UNITED STATES STEAMER COLORADO, FLAG-SHIP OF ASIATIC FLEET, Wusung, below Shanghai, China, October 8, 1870. * I propose to send the Benicia in a few days to Che Foo, to convey the American missionaries from that place back to Teng-chow-foo, which they left in consequence of apprehensions of violence from the native population, having been brought away by an English gunboat. From an apparently dispassionate account of the state of suspense, uncertainty, and reasonable expectation of mob violence, in which they were for a time there, I cannot see that they did otherwise than prudently and wisely in coming away. They go back at the request, I believe, of our minister to Pekin, and at their own desire. I shall give the commander of the Benicia carefully-considered instructions in regard to them, and as to his intercourse with the authorities. Having performed this duty, the Benicia will be ordered to proceed to Japan. * I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Rear-Admiral, Commander-in-chief of Asiatic Fleet. No. 239. No. 26.] Mr. Fish to Mr. Low. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 1, 1870. SIR: With reference to your No. 29, dated 17th September, 1870, in relation to the removal of the American residents at Tung-chow to Che Foo on the British naval vessels Borassa and Grasshopper kindly placed at their disposal by Sir Henry Kellett, I have to inform you that I have instructed Mr. Benjamin Moran, the chargé d'affaires of the United States at London, to cause the grateful apppreciation entertained by this government for the friendly and meritorious conduct of Sir Henry to be communicated to her Majesty's government. It is presumed that you have called upon Mr. Holmes for an explanation of his failure promptly to report to you upon the circumstances which gave rise to the sudden exodus of the missionaries and other American residents from Tung-chow, and the manner of their departure. If not it would be well for you to do so, and it might be expedient to call the attention of other consular officers to the importance of promptly communicating with you in similar cases. HAMILTON FISH. GREAT BRITAIN. No. 240. THE NORTHWESTERN BOUNDARY, The Secretary of War to the Secretary of State. WAR DEPARTMENT, November 18, 1870. SIR: In reply to your letter of the 17th instant, I have the honor to inclose, herewith, copies of the report of Captain D. P. Heap, United States Army, upon the location of the new military post and reservation known as Fort Pembina, Dakota Territory, together with a plot of the reservation. WM. W. BELKNAP. Captain Heap to Major General Hancock. [Extract.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF DAKOTA, * SIR: After the completion of the survey of the reservation selected by the board General Sykes left me, and I went at once to Pembina, camping near the post set up by Major Long, which post is at present recognized as the boundary line between the United States and the British Possessions. Here, in accordance with verbal instructions received from Major General Hancock, I commenced at once taking observations for latitude, to determine the true position of the forty-ninth parallel. Both Mr. King and myself took a large number of observations, remaining five days at this camp for this purpose. From the whole number I selected six observations which I believed to be the most accurate and reliable, and which most closely agreed with each other. A mean of these six places Long's post in latitude 48° 59′ 13′′, or 4,763 feet south of the forty-ninth parallel. The result I believe to be as accurate as could be obtained with the instruments at my disposal. Observations with finer instruments may change the result somewhat. It so happened that of the six observations selected, three were taken by Mr. King and three by myself. Having determined the latitude, I planted a large oak post 4,763 feet north of Long's post, on the edge of the woods on the west bank of the Red River. On this post “U. S." was chiseled on the south side, "B. P." on the north side, and "49th "on top. From this point I ran the parallel thirty-five miles west, nearly to the foot of Pembina Mountain, marking each mile by a stout stake driven through three sods, cut on the direction of the parallel. Each stake has "U. S." chiseled on its south side, and "B. P." on its north side. It may be interesting to know that while running the parallel, I saw drift-wood five miles west of Red River. The ground from the Red River to the foot of Pembina Mountain has a gradual upward slope of not much more, I should judge, than one foot to the mile. Having completed this duty, which took me till June 3, I rested one day, and on June 5 started for Fort Wadsworth, via Fort Totten. Mr. Bellon, guide at Fort Totten, was going there at the time, and could be of service to me; and I was also enabled to measure the distance from St. Joseph to Fort Totten and make a map of the country. I reached Fort Totten on June 8. The distance is about one hundred and eight miles; plenty of water along the route at this season; in dry weather there is scarcely any. No wood from Pembina Mountain to east end of Devil's Lake; roads generally good. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERAL, Headquarters Department of Dakota. D. P. HEAP, Captain of Engineers. [Indorsements.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF DAKOTA, Respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant General of the Army, through headquarters Military Division of the Missouri. The papers in reference to the survey of Fort Wadsworth reservation have been forwarded in another communication. Captain Heap was instructed to mark out the line in front of the position of Fort Geo. H. Thomas, for the information of the troops. Since that country is likely to increase in importance, it would be advantageous if the 49th parallel were authoritatively established, and with a view of suggesting such a result, this communication is transmitted. WINF'D S. HANCOCK, HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI, Respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant General of the Army, in the absence of the Lieutenant General. Official copies. GEO. L. HARTSUFF, Asst. Adjt. General. ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, November 18, 1870. E. D. TOWNSEND, Adjt. General. No. 241. Mr. Boutwell to Mr. Fish. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, July 19, 1870. (Received July 20. SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith a letter, dated the 23d ul timo, from the collector of customs at Pembina, Minnesota, relative to a change effected by a survey recently made by a United States military commission, under Major General Sykes, United States Army, in the line heretofore recognized as the proper boundary between the United States and the British Possessions in that region, fixed by treaty at the forty-ninth parallel of latitude. It is therein stated that the line now established is 4,600 feet north of that heretofore recognized, and the results of the change are, in one respect, at least, noted therein. I will thank you for any information upon the subject you may be able to furnish; and whether said new line has been established by competent authority binding upon the two governments of Great Bri tain and the United States. CUSTOM HOUSE, Pembina, June 23, 1870. SIR: I have the honor to call your attention to the fact that the United States military commission, under Major General Sykes, United States Army, and Captain Heap, United States Corps of Engineers, while here this spring for the purpose of locating the new fort and military reservation, have by a series of careful solar and lunar observations, located and established the forty-ninth parallel, or international boundary line upward of 4,600 feet north of the old established post, and that from the initial point established on the west bank of the Red River, by the said military commission, a careful survey of the said boundary line was made for military purposes as far west as St. Joseph, and the same distinctly marked, and stakes driven at every mile. This change brings the Hudson's Bay Company's trading post, north of here, within our lines, on United States territory, which, in case the said last established location shall be recognized as the actual boundary line, would subject the whole of said Hudson's Bay Company's stock of goods on hand at said trading post, and all future importations thereto, to the payment of duty. I have therefore ordered a full inventory of all their goods and effects for the purpose of assessment of duty, in case the said last established line shall be recognized as the true boundary. I would, therefore, in view of these facts, respectfully request instructions in the premises, and beg to be advised as to which of the two different lines established I am to recognize as the true boundary line for customs revenue purposes. I am, sir, very respectfully your obedient servant, Hon. SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, J. C. STORER, Collector. Washington, D. C. No. 242. Mr. Davis to Mr. Richardson. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 13, 1870. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the letter of the 19th ultimo, from the Treasury Department, making inquiry concerning the boundary line between the possessions of the United States and Great Britain, and in reply to inform you that no joint action of the two governments has been taken for marking upon the surface of the ground that portion of the boundary along the forty-ninth parallel which extends from the |