This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government;
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
126
S698
[February 16
I MAR
SECTION 1.
The Marquess of Lansdowne to Mr. Chonte.
Foreign Office, February 16, 1904.
Your Excellency,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 9th instant, stating that the United States' Government have duly considered the Memorandum communicated to your Excellency on the 7th December, 1903, setting forth the points in the British Commercial Treaty with China of the 5th September, 1902, in respect to which no provision is made in the American Treaty of the 8th October, 1903.
I have noted the reasons for which the United States' Government did not think it advisable to recognize or sanction excise duties and consumption taxes in the American Treaty, and also the fact that, in the opinion of the United States' Government, the commercial Articles of the American, British, and Japanese Treaties do not conflict in any of their provisions, but very happily complement each other.
I desire to express to your Excellency my thanks for your communication, and to state that His Majesty's Government will avail themselves of any opportunity which may occur to secure the acceptance by the other Powers having Treaty relations with China of the surtax provided for in the American and British Treaties.
I have, &c. (Signed)
LANSDOWNE.
[1854 q-1]