Your Excellency,
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Mr. J. M. Dickinson to Baron Czikann.
Tien-tsin, General Chamber of Commerce, Tien-tsin, October 12, 1904.
I HAVE the honour to address you on behalf of the Tien-tsin General Chamber of Commerce on the subject of the registration of trade-marks in China.
Although without official information in the matter, the Chamber understands that a scheme for the protection of trade-marks has been formulated by the Chinese Government, and, according to present arrangements, is to come into operation on the 23rd instant.
While welcoming the move as an indication of a desire on the part of the Chinese Government to meet the views of foreign merchants in this respect, the Chamber views with dismay so sudden an application of a scheme dealing with a matter of such far-reaching importance.
It is felt that the interests involved are so considerable that the Chinese Government should have given sufficient time to have enabled merchants in China to correspond with their home friends.
The Chinese authorities, however, have not seen fit to adopt this course, and therefore the Chamber is impelled to invoke your assistance in postponing the operation of the scheme for at least six months.
While desiring to avoid entering into the details of the scheme, the Chamber feels bound to point out that the proprietors of trade-marks are, in the majority of cases, in England, on the Continent of Europe, and in America, hence some time must elapse before their agents in China can be put in a position to procure registration.
Again, in the opinion of the Chamber, it is eminently desirable that all persons interested should have an opportunity of considering the scheme, and of making representations through the proper channels on any points that may appear to them to fail to meet the requirements of the circumstances in any particular.
The Chamber would therefore urge, with respect, that for the foregoing reasons it is essential in the interest of trade that the operation of this scheme should be delayed for a reasonable period, and they trust that you will see your way to make representations to the Chinese authorities in this sense.
I need only add that the Chamber is prepared to take all steps in its power to provide any further information that may be required.
23rd October, but who are unwilling to pay the fees prescribed for registration, to deposit, as far as practicable with His Majesty's Consul-General, duplicates of all trade-marks belonging to them, whether registered in Great Britain or not, and to request him to transmit one of each to the Commissioner of Customs. Should any person hereafter apply for registration of any of these marks, we shall then be in a position to adduce evidence of priority of use.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
ERNEST SATOW.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. M. DICKINSON,
Chairman,
Sir,
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Sir E. Satow to Mr. J. M. Dickinson.
Peking, November 16, 1904.
I HAVE received, through His Majesty's Consul-General at Tien-tsin, your letter of the 12th October, inclosing a copy of a letter addressed by the Tien-tsin Chamber of Commerce to the doyen of the Diplomatic Corps on the subject of the registration of trade-marks in China.
I have already received representations on this subject from the Chamber of Commerce at Shanghae, and have forwarded them by telegraph to His Majesty's Government.
Every effort has been made to bring the proposals of the Chinese Government to the knowledge of those interested, as you will see from the reports in the Shanghae press.
I shall be glad, however, to be furnished with any remarks on the Regulations published at Shanghae that the Tien-tsin Chamber of Commerce may desire to communicate to me.
Meanwhile I advise British merchants who are apprehensive of their interests being injuriously affected, should these Regulations come into force unaltered on the
742