18th April, 1900.
Dear Sir—Referring to my com: munication dated the 18th January, by which I informed your Chunber, that their letter dated the 17th January last together with the Resolution therein mentioned, been forwarded to my Head Office, Iam now instructed by ths Company's Board of Dirvetors to inform your Chamber, that, in view of the fact that telegraphic correspondence of the Far East has during the last few years developed sitisfactorily—at least as far as certain classes of traffic are concerned—the Board has, already for some time, had the question of reduction of rates under sideration, but before effect can be to the same the consent of other adtrations concerned will obtained and the matter ave ty be laid before the Internationd Telegraph Conference which is to take phe next your.
Hoping that the above reply may be considered satisfactory, Tam, Door Sir, Yours faithfully, J. Hexsisuses, Genvral Manager. W. D. Lrrtur Esy., i General Chamber of Commerce, The Eastern Exter ion Australasian China Telegraph Company, Ld. Shanghai Station, "ith May, 1900, Dra Sin,—With reference to your letter of the 17th January, and to the Resolution passed by the Committee of the Chambe of Coumerce, relating to the charg tel between Europe and the FarEast, Tam directed to forward to you for your information, a copy of the communications on this subject from the Company to the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce; from which it will be se reduction of rate:
Tam, Dear Sir, Yours faithfully, Controller, The Eastern Extension Telegraph Ca. Wauan D. Lrrrie, Esq, Chairman, hai General Chamber of Commerce.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.