Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
2
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Instructions of the Yen Ping Prefect to the District Magistrates within his jurisdiction (Translation.)
I HAVE received urgent instructions from the Viceroy to the following effect:--
CHINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
673
[October 25.]
SECTION 1,
Sir M. Gosselin to the Marquess of Lansdowne (Received October 25.)
Lisbon, October 20, 1904.
ON receipt of your Lordship's despatch No. 61 of the 1st instant, I communicated to the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, as instructed, the action taken by His Majesty's Government in order to give effect to the arrangement agreed on by the two Governments for the mutual protection of trade-marks in China, and I now learn from
"From the establishment of the Camphor Bureau, the Japanese experts in employ have evaded their contract and infringed official prerogative, and I have, therefore, after telegraphic consultation with the Board of Foreign Affairs, dismissed them in accordance with the terms of their contract, and directed Li Taotai, of the Camphor Bureau, to inform the Japanese Consul. It is therefore necessary to stop the operations of the Camphor Bureau, and all their local offices established in the interior must be abolished. Hereafter, native and foreign merchants and others are at liberty to proceed at their pleasure into the interior to purchase camphor, and must not be subjected to the least interference. Should any persons presume, under pretence of being employed by the Camphor Bureau, to interfere with the transport of camphor, and cause trouble, the local officials are to use vigorous measures to restrain them, and prevent disturbance, and are also to issue Proclamations without delay making this generally known. I have therefore given the necessary instructions to the Camphor Bureau and the Board of Foreign Affairs, and have also directed the officials of the localities concerned immediately to require the officials under their jurisdiction to act accordingly, and to issue Proclamations and also to inform the military authorities. A draft Proclamation is inclosed."
I have therefore to instruct the District Magistrates concerned to communicate once to the military authorities, and also to the local camphor offices, the above instructions, and without delay to issue Proclamations, forwarding me copies of the Proclamations, and a Memorandum of the places at which it has been posted and the date of the receipt of this.
[2206 bb-1]
I have, &c. (Signed) MARTIN GOSSELIN.