This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
136
[February 6.]
SECTION 1.
(No. 30.) Sir,
The Marquess of Lansdowne to Sir E. Satow.
Foreign Office, February 6, 1904.
I TRANSMIT to you a copy of a letter which has been received from the China Association, inclosing a letter from the Hong Kong branch of the Association,* in which it is urged that the opening of the port of Waichow should not be deferred until the provisions of Article VIII of the Treaty of the 7th September, 1902, have been accepted by the Treaty Powers, and stating that the opinions expressed by the Hong Kong branch are shared by the London Committee.
The opening of the port of Waichow forms, as you are aware, part of the consideration to be granted by the Chinese Government in return for the payment of the surtax under the above-mentioned Article, and His Majesty's Government are hardly in a position, therefore, to press them to open it at once, in the event of their being unwilling to do so.
You should, however, urge upon the Chinese Ministers the advisability of opening the port without further delay unless you are of opinion that they could not be approached in the matter with any prospect of success.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
LANSDOWNE.
No. 2.
Sir,
Foreign Office to China Association.
Foreign Office, February 6, 1904.
I AM directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th ultimo, in which you inclose a copy of a letter from the Hong Kong branch of the China Association relating to the opening of the port of Waichow and to the Kowloon-Canton Railway.
With regard to the opinion expressed by the Hong Kong branch, and shared by your Committee, that the opening of the port of Waichow should not be deferred until Article VIII of the Treaty of the 7th September, 1902, has been accepted by the Treaty Powers, I am to point out that, as the opening of that port forms part of the considerations to be granted by the Chinese Government in return for the payment of the surtax under the above-mentioned Article, His Majesty's Government can hardly bring pressure to bear upon them to open it at once.
A copy of your letter and its inclosure will, however, be sent to His Majesty's Ambassador at Peking, and Sir E. Satow will be requested to urge upon the Chinese Ministers the desirability of opening the port without further delay, unless he should be of opinion that there is no likelihood of their entertaining the proposal.
I have, &c. (Signed) F. A. CAMPBELL.
* China Association, January 28, 1904.
[1854 f-1]