2
appeals against the decision of Arbitrators asked to decide disputes between Chinese and foreign merchants. The pretension to establish a healthier basis for trade between foreign firms and Chinese merchants is also inadmissible. He would have done better to confine himself to such efforts as regards his own countrymen alone.
"I think it would be well if you took a suitable opportunity of informing your colleagues, and, if need be, the Chinese authorities, that you cannot recognize the right of the German Consul to make stipulations of this sort, except as regards matters affecting German subjects."
I have, &c.
(Signed)
ERNEST SATOW,
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA
JHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
517
[May 1.]
SECTION 1.
Consul-General Wilkinson to Foreign Office.-(Received May 1.)
(No. 1. Commercial.) Sir,
Yunnan-fu, March 13, 1905. I HAVE the honour to forward copy of a preliminary note ou the trade of Yunnan Province for the year 1904, which I have prepared for His Majesty's Commercial Attaché at Shanghae.
Sir,
I have, &c.
(Signed) W. H. WILKINSON.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul-General Wilkinson to Mr. Jamieson,
Yünnau-fu, March 7, 1905. I HAVE received from His Majesty's Acting-Consul at Tengyel, and from the Commissioners of Customs at Mengtzü and Ssimao, certain of the returns for 1904 which enable me to furnish you with an estimate of the total trade of Yunnan in so far as it passes through the three Treaty Marts.
As you are well aware, however, the province also draws supplies through Ch'ungk'ing, Shashih, Hankow, and Wuchow. The once flourishing trade through Pakhoi has, I am inclined to believe, finally disappeared, yielding to the greater advantages of the Mengtzu route. With the view of obtaining, as far as is possible, a complete record for 1904 of the Yunnan trade that came under the cognizance of the Imperial Maritime Customs, I have asked His Majesty's Consular Officers at the places enumerated above to be good enough to send me particulars of the goods forwarded from their respective ports into this province under transit pass. I had hoped to thus obtain details which would enable me to trace the currents of trade; but I learn that the Imperial Maritime Customs offices have not only ceased to publish the towns of destination, but, as a rule, no longer keep a record of anything but the province for which a transit pass is issued.
Except in the case of Wuchow I have not yet received replies from our colleagues; but in order not to unduly delay your returns for 1904, I send you this preliminary note, reserving a completer report until I am in possession of the necessary particulars. The following Table shows the values, in Haikuan taels, of the trade of Mengtzů, T'engyüeh, and Ssumao for 1904 :-
Imports
Exports
Total
Mengtzů.
T'engrüeh.
Ssŭmao.
Total,
6,063,777
1,747,820
221,768
4,688,522
337,684
45.230
10,717,299
2,085,504
266,983
8,033,350 5,066,436
13,099,786
The corresponding figures for 1903 were :-
Mengizů.
T'engyüeh.
Saŭmao.
Total,
Imports
3,916,890
Exports
2,518,688
1,472,281 243,372
Total
6,435,578
1,715,653
168,942 35,825
204,767
5,558,118 2,797,885
8,355,998
[1977
-1]
B