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MR. BYRON BRENAN'S REPORT.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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[July 7, 1897.
notes made for Mr. BRENAN by "an intelligent and practical "merchant, who has much experience in
'pushing business."
We have, in the first part of this article, recommended Mr. BRENAN'S report to the consideration of merchants and manufac turers. It is to be hoped that it will also receive attention in the Foreign Office, for it gives an admirable account of the commercial situation from a political point of view, shows the limitations imposed on merchants under existing conditions, and illustrates the necessity of a firm and for- ward policy on the part of the British Government.
be taken to promote British trade in China seem to rely on Chinese learning our is almost the same thing as asking what "language, which they do when it is to By the English mail we received a copy steps can be taken to improve the condition "their own advantage, but there must of Mr. BYRON BRENAN'S "Report on the of the people, for China's capacity for buy-occasionally be times when it is a distinct State of Trade at the Treaty Ports of ing progresses with the development of her disadvantage to have to carry on negotia- "China." It forms an interesting and in- material resources, and this development is
"tions through an interpreter The report whose good structive book of seventy pages and merits at present struggling against every obstacle
"faith is not above suspicion." attentive perusal and consideration by that bad government can put in the way. closes with some British merchants and manufacturers. The Reference is made to the opposition of the report opens with a reference to the fewness official class to all development, the con- of complaints by merchants, but a closer nivance of Peking with provincial short- inquiry into the subject, Mr. BRENAN says, comings, and the futility of sending com- reveals the fact that complaints are few plaints to Peking. As an instance the because our merchants are but little engaged following specific case is given :-"A British in pursuits out of which complaints may "merchant at a treaty port appoints a arise; and that, being denied the opportunity "Chinese to sell coal for him. Some local of doing what they fain would in creating revenue officer directs the Chinese agent the conditions out of which a prosperous "to add five per cent. to the price, trade springs, the scope of their operations" and to pay the money
his is so limited that there 18 now department. The Chinaman under in- scarce room for the appearance of
"structions from his employer refuses, and any question that has not already been "he is seized and imprisoned. The usual fully debated and finally settled. Mr." reference to Peking is made and orders in BRENAN then shows that Treaty privileges" due time arrive, but meantime the business benefit Chinese as well as foreigners and "has been injured and all Chinese concerned that, Foreign Powers having prepared the "intimidated. The net result is that the ground for their nationals, the Chinaman is "purchasers are still surcharged the five gradually elbowing them out and occupying per cent., and that the Chinese agent holds the position for himself. "But so long as
his tongue in future." Passing on to the "this result is obtained, not by curtailing prospects of reform, Mr. BRENAN Bays: treaty rights of our merchants, but rather "The financial difficulties which now beset "by extending these rights or their equiva- "China may turn out to be more productive "lent to the native of the country, we must "of reform than the severe lesson lately "rest content to let the business pass into forced upon the country by Japan. If "the hands of those who can do it most "China's need of money is wisely utilised
successfully.
6 The British mer- by foreign Powers she may be driven to "chant in China appears to be disappearing, "husband her resources and to adopt mea- "but the interests of our manufacturers sures for still further adding to the na- "remain, and as a market capable oftions! wealth." China's proposal that the "immense extension China may well claim more attention than she at present receives. We should look beyond the "China as it is, and think of the China as "it might be, if portion of the restless energy we display in new lands could be "diverted to hasten the development of the unexploited if not undiscovered resources "of this ancient country."
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The second section of the report deals with the inland transit trade and the in- genious and persistent attempts made by the native officials to evade the provisions of the treaty. The report, it should be men- tioned, is dated the 15th October last and therefore does not cover the new conditions in Kwangtung and Kwangsi resulting from the proclamations of January last recognis ing the transit trade in those provinces. Part III. is headed "The suggestions and "complaints of merchants," and reference is made to the suggestions of the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce with regard to the opening of the West River, suggestions that have now happily been partly carried into effect. Part IV. is entitled "Con- "sequences of the war with Japan," in which the provisions of the Shimonoseki Treaty and their effects are considered. Referring to the prospects of foreign manufacturing in dustry in China Mr. BRENAN points out that while much has been written to prove that the fall in the gold price of silver must tend to encourage manufactures in silver using countries, it has been over- looked that copper much more than silver is the currency of China. "If it now “costs one tael of silver to turn out 1,200 cash, when formerly one tael would buy 1,500 cash, it is not that the copper cash can now purchase more labour, but that silver can purchase less. Whether Shang- hai can compete with Manchester depends as much on copper as on silver.”
In Part V. we come to the crucial ques
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treaty tariff shall be doubled should, in Mr. BRENAN's opinion, be accepted only on the Foreign Powers' own terms. If, after we "have indicated a course which will not only enrich the State but bring prosperity "to the people, the Chinese Government still persists in preferring measures which must be injurious to the “nation at large, we may well refuse to be
a party to the suicidal act and withhold | our consent to any modification of the treaty." This leads up to a proposal for the international arrangement of the lekin tax and its collection by a foreign staff similar to that of the Imperial Maritime Customs.
ne step which Mr. BRENAN says Her Majesty's Government might take in furtherance of trade is the appointment of a commercial secretary, the Consuls being too fully occupied to dovote much time to commercial matters. The scope of this official's duties is set out in some detail. To this branch of the subject we shall revert on another occasion. We then come to the question of what merchants aud manu- facturers can do to help themselves. Home manufacturers, Mr. BRENAN holds, must initiate organised research, into China's needs and resources; local foreign mer- chants cannot be expected to set on foot a systematic inquiry, as the research would cost time and money and the local merchant cannot feel assured that the resulting profits would be his. Showrooms are also recommended, and the experience of Shanghai in this matter is cited in sup- port of the recommendation. Mr. BRENAN confirms the statement so frequently made, that Continental manufacturers are more accommodating than British; and he says, that in another direction we have also something to learn from German firms.
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A BRITISH COMMERCIAL ATTACHE FOR CHINA.
In another column we reproduce the re- marks made by Mr. BYRON BRENAN, in his Report on the State of Trade at the Treaty Ports of China, on the appointment of a Commercial Attaché or Secretary. The idea has not originated with Mr. BRENAN, the suggestion having been before the public for several years past, but the functions of the proposed officer have never before been set out so clearly and in such detail. For our own part, we are not san- guine that the appointment of a Commercial Secretary or Attaché would produce any remarkable effect in the development of British trade in China, for it is not very apparent what such an officer could do beyond what is already done by the various Consuls and the Legation; but it would be in- teresting to see the experiment tried. There are, however, a few points in Mr. BRENAN'S remarks on the inadequacy of the present arrangements that seem to call for some comment. He says in the first place that Consuls are too much occupied to devote time to commercial matters.
"At the more important places, political mat- "ters, judicial cases, claims on behalf
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countrymen against Chinese subjects or officials, cases of assault or "other form of outrage, questions connected "with shipping, and many other affairs "which could only occur in an oriental country, occupy a Consul's time to the ex- "clusion of other matters which are never- "theless deserving of attention. "Under such conditions a Consul cannot do justice to the commercial interests of his country; he must attend to what is pressing "and immediately before him, and leave "alone what can wait. He can at best but "devote intermittent attention to subjects of "vital importance to our British industries.”↳ It is somewhat of a revelation to learn that Consuls are so busily employed, as ordinary observation would hardly lead to the conclusion that they were as a rule short of leisure. Then with regard to the compilation of commercial reports as now issued Mr. BRENAN says that "At-present a manufacturer or merchant in England wishing to know to what extent his goods are consumed, or are likely to find a market "in China, has to refer to some twenty trade reports to arrive at the information he re- quires. In trade reports as they are now "made up there is a want of uniformity in the collection of returns, weights and mea- sures are differently stated, and each Consul
富露
In almost every German mercantile house "there is at least one German partner" tion, “What can be done to promote trade?""or clerk who speaks Chinese ; this
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Mr. BRENAN says that to ask what steps can “is seldom found in English houses, We "in converting silver values into sterling fixes