No. 24

Mr. Grosvenor to Earl Granville—(Received February 14)

(No. 155 Most Confidential)
Peking, December 14, 1882

My Lord,

I LEARN on good authority that M. de Bützow, Russian Minister here, endeavoured shortly before his departure to negotiate with the Tsung-li Yamên a set of Regulations between Russia and Corea for overland trade between the two countries.
M. de Bützow was met by the assurance that it was impossible to persuade the Corean Government to enter into arrangements regarding overland trade with any country, China herself included.
The appearance of the Regulations lately framed for trade by sea and overland between China and Corea (see my despatch No. 147 of the 4th December) consequently caused no little surprise, I am informed, at the Russian Legation here; and I have good reason to believe that these Regulations formed the subject of a rather angry disenssion between M. Waeber, at present in charge of the Russian Legation, and the Ministers of the Tsung-li Yamên.

I have, &e.
(Signed)　　T. G. GROSVENOR