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Chinese - approach the Chinese Government with a view to an enlargement of the trading facilities of South China, but for various reasons nothing has been accomplished in this direction. At the present time the Chamber looks under consideration letters to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and to H.B.M. Minister at Peking praying that action may be taken, and I am directed to invite your valuable assistance in obtaining as much information regarding routes and trading centres as possible.
Your office of Consul General affords special facilities for acquiring information. There is a want of full and precise information regarding the advantages of the West River and tributaries - although as long ago as 1870 this Chamber sent an Agent as far as Nan-ning-fu, and travellers have contributed interesting intelligence since, concerning trading possibilities in South China, still all reports must be regarded as incomplete, and it would be of great advantage if fuller informations were forthcoming.
The Travels of Mr. Bourne in the Kwangsi and elsewhere are of immense value but not having traversed the West River and its entrances, his remarks regarding its trading advantages are necessarily limited to what he has been able to learn by diligent enquiry.
This Chamber would be glad therefore to know whether you could obtain from Her Majesty's Government permission for a Consular Officer to be sent on a mission up the West River and elsewhere in South China for the purpose of reporting upon the commercial field which might there be known to be open.
I would venture to...