ייל*
207
+
Apparently the above arrange ment if carried
out, will satisfy the HongKong Shipping Firms to some
extent as it will allow those of their steamers
exclusively employed on the West River to trade on
the River with Treaty Ports and non-Treaty Ports alike
It will not however allow steamers from Hong Kong or
other places outside China to do so.
I must, however, confess that I have much
dufficulty in understanding why, if the principle
of registering inter -Treaty Port steamers under
Inland Navigation Regulations is once accepted as re-
gards the West River or even certain ports on the
West River that principle should not be extended
so as to allow all Foreign steamers to trade with
non-Treaty Ports.
T.C.M.
17.5