This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.
678
CHINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
32735
Rec
[October 16
SECTION 3.
BAD NOV
(No. 260.) My Lord,
Mr. Bax-Ironside to the Marquess of Salisbury.—(Received October 16.)
Peking, August 24, 1899.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 138 of the 25th May, I have the honour to forward herewith to your Lordship copies of further correspondence which has passed between this Legation and certain British shipping firms in Hong Kong, through the intermediary of Her Majesty's Consul at Canton, with reference to the working of the Rules and Regulations for Inland Steam Navigation in the West River of Canton.
I have no further remarks to make on this subject beyond those contained in my above-mentioned despatch.
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE.
(No. 38.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul Mansfield to Mr. Bax-Ironside.
Canton, August 9, 1899.
I HAD yesterday the honour to send you the following telegram in code:—
"Shipping Companies anxious for reply to their last despatch written in reply to your despatches of the 27th April and the 17th May, having regard to the West River, forwarded by me 19th June."
And the same day to receive your reply in code as follows:—
"In reply to your telegram of to-day's date no despatch received from you bearing date 19th June or thereabouts on subject referred to."
I have now the honour to inclose copy of the Shipping Company's letter in question, which letter, having been only sent to me for perusal, I sent in the first instance without a covering despatch, and which must have miscarried in the post.
I also inclose copy of the letter dated the 7th August from the Shipping Companies which was the cause of my addressing you by wire.
The loss of the letter of the 17th June is very regrettable, as the present working of the Steam Navigation Inland Regulations is most unsatisfactory.
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. W. MANSFIELD.
Sir,
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Hong Kong Shipping Companies to Mr. Bax-Ironside.
Hong Kong, June 17, 1899.
WE have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatches of the 27th April and 17th May, which, with inclosures, reached us through the medium of Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Canton.
It is with much disappointment that we infer from your despatch that you do not propose to take any steps, and that you think it well, in the meanwhile, to concur in the interpretation placed by Sir Robert Hart on the Rules and Regulations for Inland Steam Navigation in China, and that the system should be given due time to afford a fair test of its merits.
If the Rules and Regulations as interpreted by Sir R. Hart could be regarded as in any respect satisfactory, or if they gave fair promise of eventually meeting the
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