and south of Moukden, but at some distance off, would not therefore be of much service to merchants unless they were granted shipping facilities to and at the goods stations.
Railway Freights.--He was struck by the absolute ignorance of the Russian officials as to the rudimentary principles of railway freighting (long haul, short haul, three rates, return freights, and the like). It would be necessary to have American freight agents to teach them; otherwise the Railway could never pay. There was a state of absolute chaos in this respect, the rates seeming to depend on the will of the official.
Differential Railway Rates.--This subject is as much discussed in Manchuria as elsewhere. Some officials think it desirable to discriminate against foreigners; others maintain that the Railway cannot pay unless foreign trade is granted and encouraged. His own opinion is that the Railway cannot pay without foreign merchandise.
At the same time, the question of differential Tariff treatment at the ports is more important than the question of differential freights, which no Treaty can prevent. It exists in spite of the most stringent regulations in America. The Railway is essential to the development of trade, and if the Russian authorities chose to discriminate against foreigners on their Railway, the question of the Tariff at the ports is of minor importance.
St. Petersburgh, December 9, 1903.
"This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government."
CHINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
15
[November 19.]
SECTION 2.
Mr. Jamieson to the Marquess of Lansdowne.(Received November 19.)
(No. 14.)
Shanghae, October 13, 1903.
My Lord,
I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith copies of two despatches I have addressed to Sir Ernest Satow, with reference to the Treaty recently negotiated between China and Japan in terms of the Peace Protocol of 1901.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. W. JAMIESON,
Commercial Attaché.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Mr. Jamieson to Sir E. Satow.
(No. 14.) Sir,
Shanghae, October 12, 1903.
The Treaties which, in terms of the Protocol of 1901, the Plenipotentiaries of the United States and Japan have been negotiating with the Special Commissioners appointed by the Chinese Government, were signed here on the 8th instant.
The North China "Daily News" has published as a supplement the full text of the United States' Treaty, but it is understood that the English text of the Japanese Treaty will not for the present be made public. The Chinese text appeared in one of the native papers (the "Hsin-wen Pao") the day before yesterday, and the following is a précis of the various Articles extracted therefrom:-
Article 1. As regards import surtaxes to compensate for the loss of revenue likely to arise out of the proposed abolition of li-kin dues, the Japanese Government will accept, and be bound by, any arrangements made by China with other Treaty Powers. They are also prepared to recognize the legality of imposing such growers', consumption, and excise taxes, or duties on salt and opium, as may receive the assent of other Powers, but in neither case must there be any differential treatment of Japanese goods.
Art. II. The Chinese Government permit private Japanese enterprise to establish, at its own expense, and after the consent of the Imperial Maritime Customs has been obtained, appliances for facilitating the passage of vessels between Ich'ang and Chungking.
Art. III. Steam navigation on inland waters may be carried on under special Regulations. (These Regulations are given in an Annex, and are identical with those attached to the British Treaty.)
Art. IV. Chinese and Japanese Courts will reciprocate in the matter of causing the terms of any partnership Agreement between the subjects of the two countries to be faithfully carried out.
Art. V. The Chinese Government agree to draw up Regulations to prevent the infringement of trade-marks or copyright.
Art. VI. The Chinese Government will, as soon as possible, introduce a uniform system of national coinage. Duties, however, shall be calculated in terms of the Haikuan tael.
Art. VII. The Chinese Government will take steps to reform, on a uniform basis, weights and measures throughout the Empire—the new system to be inaugurated at the Treaty ports and thence gradually extended into the interior.
Art. VIII. This Article appears to be supplementary to Article III, as it simply reiterates the right to navigate the inland waters under special Regulations.
Art. IX. Previous Treaty stipulations, not modified nor cancelled by the present Instrument, shall remain in full force, and most-favoured-nation treatment is secured for Japanese subjects at the hands of the Chinese Government—Imperial or provincial.
Art. X. When the foreign garrisons in Chihli shall have been withdrawn, China will open Peking to international trade.
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