Six months after the exchange of ratifications China will open Ch'angsha to foreign trade, on the same footing as that on which existing Treaty ports were opened. On the exchange of ratifications taking place, China will herself open to foreign trade Moukden and Ta-tung-kou.
Art. XI corresponds with Article XII of the British Treaty.
Art. XII is an interpretation clause, and Article XIII provides for ratification as soon as possible, but under no circumstances must it be delayed beyond a period of six months from date of signature.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
16
[December 7.]
SECTION 1.
(No. 15.) Sir,
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. W. JAMIESON,
Commercial Attaché.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Mr. Jamieson to Sir E. Satow.
Shanghae, October 13, 1903. IN continuation of my despatch No. 14 of yesterday's date on the subject of the new Japanese Treaty, I have now the honour to furnish a précis of the Annexes to that Instrument.
I am given to understand that, so far, only the Chinese and Japanese texts of the whole Treaty have been signed, but that the English version, which, in cases of dispute, is to be held to give the correct sense, is not yet ready for signature.
Annex 1 recapitulates the Inland Waters Steam Navigation Rules, as appended to the British Treaty.
Annex 2 deals with the opening of Peking to trade when the foreign guards shall have been withdrawn. A suitable locality outside of the Imperial city is to be chosen, within the limits of which traders of all nationalities may erect shops and go-downs. It shall not be competent for them to organize a municipality or a police force, except with the consent of the Chinese Government, who reserve to themselves the rights of control within those limits. Any previously existing establishments outside of the limits must, within a given time, transfer themselves to the new locality.
Annex 3 consists of an exchange of notes regarding steam vessels trading on the inland waters. Certain characters have been left blank, and it is difficult to deduce the correct sense.
There appears, however, to be a restriction in the matter of tonnage, from which seventeen vessels trading in the Gulf of Pechili are exempt.
Annex 4 states that, in addition to the places mentioned in the body of the Treaty, China will, later on, open to foreign residence and trade Ch'ang-te (Hunan), Hu-k'ou (Kianghsi), Nganking (Anhui), Hsü-chou (Ssu-ch'uan).
In Annex 5 China agrees to relax her prohibition against the export abroad of cereals, on due official representation being made that there is a scarcity of food-stuffs in Japan.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. W. JAMIESON,
Commercial Attaché.
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne. (Received December 7.)
(No. 352.)
Peking, October 17, 1903. My Lord,
WITH reference to your Lordship's telegram No. 242 of the 2nd October of last year, and to previous correspondence, on the subject of the establishment by the Chinese Government of a camphor monopoly in the Province of Fukien, I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul at Amoy reporting certain action taken by the local authorities in support of the monopoly.
A copy of a note to the Chinese Government, which I addressed to them on receipt of Mr. Hausser's despatch, is likewise inclosed.
I have, &c. (Signed)
ERNEST SATOW.
(No. 10.) Sir,
44
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul Hausser to Sir E. Satow.
September 23, 1903. WITH reference to former correspondence on the subject of the establishment of a Government camphor monopoly in this province, I had the honour to forward with my despatch No. 20 of the 14th November, 1902, copy and translation of certain additional "Regulations for Private Camphor Stills" recently published by the Amoy Taotai. On the 26th January last I further reported that the Taotai had received no instructions from the Wai Wu Pu in the sense indicated in your despatch No. 9 of the 28th October, but that no attempt was for the present being made to enforce the Regulations above referred to. Since then Messrs. Butterfield and Swire and other British firms have openly purchased from the native producer in the interior, and have brought down to Amoy under transit pass, sundry small consignments of camphor, without experiencing any trouble whatever.
On the 28th July, however, Messrs. Butterfield and Swire reported that on the 21st their agent's office at Chang Ping was entered by a Chinese official and ten soldiers, who ordered our people to leave the place, giving as their reason that the camphor business belonged to the Government, and that we had no right to embark in it. Our staff, however, refused to leave the premises, and the soldiers withdrew. I accordingly wrote to the Changchow Taotai protesting against such molestation, and no further annoyance was experienced for the time being.
On the 12th instant Messrs. Butterfield and Swire had again to complain that on the 19th July a gang of policemen, under orders from the Lien Cheng District Magistrate, had arrested two of the workmen employed by them, and seized 230 catties of camphor, on the ground that camphor was a Government monopoly, and that Messrs. Butterfield and Swire had no right to deal in it. Details were wanting, and therefore, whilst reporting the case with all reserve, Messrs. Butterfield and Swire asked that no steps be taken in the matter for the present. On the 15th instant they wrote giving further particulars, to the effect that one of their camphor men, named Su Chun, or Su Ting Kit, who had just returned to Amoy for the purpose of getting from Messrs. Butterfield and Swire some more funds, had been arrested by the Amoy police, at the request of the Lien Cheng Magistrate, on a charge of unlawfully engaging in the camphor trade. On the 16th they wrote stating that the man had been sent up by them with instructions to buy and (or) prepare camphor, and send same down to Amoy on their account; that they were not aware of any Regulations whatever to prevent their employé—a Chinese subject—from preparing camphor, but in any case would hold themselves responsible for ...
[2250 g-1]
B