210                          FOREIGN     RELATIONSS.

  The foreign office has now appointed Chdn Lan-pin, a titular prefect, who
had
charge of the pupils sent abroad, (to the United States,) to be a special
commissioner to
go to Cuba to inquire into and manage the matter, and has associated with
him A. Mac-
pherson, now commissioner of customs at Hankow, and A. Huber, now commissioner
of
customs at Tien-Tsin, who are to join him and proceed to Havana at once.
  These appointments were reported to the throne on the 21st, and His Majesty's
re-
script has been received approving of them.
  In making these appointments known to your excellency, it seems to me also
proper
to say, that as these commissioners on reaching Havana will be unacquainted
with the
people and places, I hope that you will make known to the proper officers
at Wash-
ington their purpose in going,. to the end that directions may be given to
the Ameri-
can consuls at that port, and elsewhere in Cuba, to afford them such assistance
on their
arrival as will further the attainment of the objects of their visit.
  His Excellency S. WELLS WILLIAMS,.
                 United States Charg( d'Affaires to China.



                                 [Inclosure 6 in No. .]

                            Mr. Williams to Prince Kunj.
                                          LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
                                                        Peking, Septeinber
25, 1873.
  SIR: I was honored by the receipt of your Imperial Highness's dispatch
of yesterday,
in which you inform me that three-commissioners, Messrs. Chin Lan-pin, A.
Macpher-
son, and A. Huber, have been appointed to go to Cuba, there to inquire into
the treat-
ment of Chinese laborers; and as they will on arrival be unacquainted with
the people
and places, the hope is expressed that I will move tthe United States Government
to
advise its consular officers in that island to afford them such assistance
as will further
their object.
  During the twenty and more years since Chinese laborers began to be carried
to Cuba
from Kwangtung Province, the report of the hardships they have suffered there
has
never ceased, and no one knows their extent. It is, therefore, a source of
great satis-
faction to me to learn from this dispatch that a commission has been appointed
to pro-
ceed there and inquire carefully into the truth of the reports. Such a course
evinces
a regard for the Chinese now there, and is an act suitable to the national
character
and will elevate the reputation of China.
  I will not fail to inform the Government I have the honor to represent
of these
things, and to request that directions may be given to the American consuls
in the
island to give such assistance to the commission on its arrival as they may
be able.
  I avail myself of this occasion to renew the assurance of my respect.
                                                         S. WELLS WILLIAMS.
  His Imperial Highness PRINCE KUNG, 4-C.



                            [Inclosure 7 in No. 9-Translatfon.1
                            Prince Kung to M.. lTillanis.

                            TUNGGcII, 12th year, 8th smoon, 17th day. (October
8, 1873.)
  Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for foreign affairs, herewith makes
a communi-
  cation.
  It appears that, in relation to the appointment of Chdn Lan-pin, a law-adviser
in the
  board of punishments, to go to Cuba as commissioner to inquire into the-
condition of
  Chinese laborers, his promotion to the full grade he now holds was not
clearly made
  known in my previous dispatch. He is an officer advanced to the fourth
grade, and
is specially privileged to wear a peacock's plume.
  By Chinese rule the law-advisers in each board rank with the intendants
of circuit
  in the provinces; and as Chdn has now been promoted to the fourth grade,
his parity
  with an intendant and his imperial appointment as envoy to go to Spanish
countries
  will make him of equal rank to the Spanish officers living in Cuba, and
to the salaried
  consuls of the United States residing there.
  it is proper that I inform you of this, so there may be entire accord with
them in
  managing the affair.
  His Excellency S. WELLS WILLIAMS.
                   United States Char~ge d'Affaircs to China.