April 10 1856
My dear Walewski,
In case you may have time to read it I send a dispatch from Bowring (?) and  a letter from the American Minister in China.
Bowring's remarks upon it are just and if we try for too much in China we shall get nothing,  but I should like to settle with you the instructions to our agents for a united policy in that country and also with reference to Japan. Can you tell me what the French naval force is or will be in China for we ought not to undertake important negotiations there or in Japan without a respectable number of ships.
Ever yours
Clarendon
If you have no objection I will propose the mediation principle to the congress on Saturday.