694
-tion and that if I received a petition signed by the majority of the British community I would represent the matter in the proper quarter. In due course a further letter (copy enclosed) was received from Mr. Forsyth
covering a petition in the form suggested.
There are at present established at Chefoo Post Offices belonging to Germany, France, Russia and Japan. Parcels originating in either of those countries are forwarded by their respective offices in Shanghai to the corresponding offices here and their original postage franks them through. Parcels of British origin are handed by the British Post Office at Shanghai to the Imperial Chinese Post Office at that port which forwards them to its Office at Chefoo and the parcel rate from Shanghai to Chefoo is collected here on delivery. This additional charge would appear to be levied in accordance with the rules of the Chinese Postal Service and under existing circumstances it has to be paid. The payment would be avoided, and other facilities would be gained, by the establishment of a British Post Office at Chefoo which would give the British community the same advantages as are enjoyed by the subjects of the four Powers mentioned above, but I presume that the plea of this port might be urged with equal force by the other Treaty Ports, e.g. Shanghai. I have advised the petitioners not to be too sanguine as to the success of their application for an increase in the number of British Postal Agencies