TheTaotai replies to the joint communication of the Consuls, received on the 20th day 124 month current year, (January 29th 1872,) in relation to the transhipment of war material, asking that pending the consideration of the subject by the Peking Authorities, such goods might be reshipped, and asking for an answer to said communication.
The Taotai considers the law which relates to material of war as inflexible; and, according to Treaty, such articles should' not be the 12th month, 17th day (January 26th, 1872), he received a dispatch from the great minister the Superivtendant of Trade, stating that the Tsung-lo Yamen, in a reply rite, that such transhipment at Shanghai include importation exportation, and is violation of Treaty which it would be inconvenient to allow.
able Consuls-General and the Honorable Con-'The Taota has already apprised the Honorsuls, of the above, and has desired that they should require foreign merchants to comply.
With regard to temporary permission, the taotai cannot conveniently assume the responsibility, and it is incumbent on him thus and the Honorable Consuls, that they may to reply to, the Honorable Consuls-General take the whole case into consideration,
12th month, 2nd day, (January 31st, 1872.)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.