639
III cannot be considered to have in any way invalidated that clause or leweined its effects, either as re- ..gards America herself, or other nations
choose to avail of it.
whe
may
ui
any of
It has been contended that
because there is no
specific provision. the treates
-aganist lower- ing the scale of duties that therefore the Chinese are within their rights
granting preferential duties, but lower duties on cargo -granking of by nation craft is obviously tantamount in its effects to imposing higher rates
on cargs carried
by foreign vessels,
the
a
and it has not been suggested that under any circumstances could the treaties be construed to admit of brigher duties being charged.
Her Majeship Minister at
Scking, who has eveniced
who has eveniced great ink.
rist in the question of preferential duties, has expressed himself anxious
ausions to be furnished with positive proof that such concessions are made,
though it is an easy matter to -get furticulars of many
but
instances
in which that has been done,
it
is impossible to get any Chinamian to substantiate these particulars, not only through dread of their own Officials but also through fear that -giving evidence of such a nature might in some. the contingency - work to his disad_ vantage. This difficulty has not es-
capew
way,
have ver remoto
: the notice of Your Exellency, nor is the absence of positive proof
matter of very great importance when there exists the admission of the. (inister of the Tsungli Gamen ochore Siv John Walsham " that the.
p
the stoppe and stated that they had
“achin
Page 14 of ". Printed "gular,
4
o had been cre
Corresford." a ready written to the Government
" of Canton on the subject. Only a few
ence,
fv
"days"