[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL,
No. 1.
732
[December 5.]
SECTION 2.
(No. 358.) My Lord,
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received December 5.)
Peking, October 14, 1904. WITH reference to my despatch No. 345 of the 29th ultimo, and my telegram No. 210 of the 28th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith a despatch which I have received from His Majesty's Consul at Foochow, reporting the settlement of the Fuhkien camphor claims and the distribution of the sum awarded.
I have approved Mr. Brady's action in the matter.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
(No. 32.)
Sir,
Consul Brady to Sir E. Satow.
Foochou, September 29, 1904. I HAVE the honour to confirm my telegram of yesterday's date, in which I had the pleasure of informing you of the final settlement of the camphor claims by the payment to me of the sum of 30,000 dollars by the Chinese authorities.
The amount, as you will notice, is 300 dollars short of the sum which I originally agreed upon with the Hai Fang Ting, as reported in my despatch No. 31 of the 10th instant, but the difference is so slight that when I was appealed to on behalf of the Tartar-General to make my demand a round sum, in order to simplify his Excellency's accounts, I at once agreed to waive it, in preference to engaging in an undignified altercation, and also to show good feeling.
I submit herewith a statement showing how the 30,000 dollars has been distributed, which I trust will meet with your approval, and I also inclose receipts for the payment.
Merchants engaged in the trade report to me that there is now no longer any official opposition to camphor being brought down from the interior either under transit pass or in the ordinary way on payment of li-kin en route, but for some reason or another, possibly because of the fallen value, it is not arriving in any great quantity.
(Signed)
I have, &c.
HERBERT F. BRADY.
P.S. Mr. Bucknall being away from Foochow, I have been unable, I regret to say, to obtain his signature to the receipts; but as soon as he returns this shall be done, and the documents forwarded to you at once.
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