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now ply,
within the waters of a port,
or from one open port or ports to another open
port or ports,
or from one open port or ports to places inland
and thence back to such port or ports,
she may land or ship passengers or cargo at any
recognised places of trade passed in the course of the
voyage that is to say she may trade at all places
where native craft trade.
The only restriction now placed upon a steamer
trading on the inland waters of China, so far as
the Chinese Government.
places of trade goes, is that she may not ply exclu-
sively between inland places without the consent of
That is to say suppose A,
B, C, and D, are treaty ports she may not ply between
two places between A. and B., or between B. and C., or
between C. and D., or between places higher up than
D., without returning to one of the treaty ports, un-
less she has the authority of the Chinese Government.
The Chinese professed to be afraid that foreign
vessels might establish themselves on stations away
from the Treaty ports and away from Consular control,
and occasion trouble, and this objection was surmount-
ed by my proposing that they should allow us to trade
at places between and beyond Treaty ports provided
that the steamers returned to Treaty ports, unless
specially permitted to remain away, a condition which
would involve no practical interference with trade.
As Your Lordship surmises the stipulation in rule
No.8 was expressly framed to guard against any at-
tempt on the part of the Chinese to continue the
prohibition which under the old rules prevented re-
gistered vessels from trading at places between
Treaty ports when passing such places in the course
of their voyages, and it will only be necessary to
adhere to the new rule No.8 to prevent a return to
the former disability.
(Signed)
I have, &c.,
Jas. L. Mackay.
vessels