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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
91
[May 30.]
SECTION 2.
Sir,
Foreign Office to China Association.
Foreign Office, May 30, 1905.
I AM directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd instant, relative to the monetary system in China.
You suggest that the Chinese Government should be reminded of its undertaking, under Article II of the Commercial Treaty with Great Britain of 1902, to establish a uniform coinage and that they should be requested, if they are not prepared to establish one central mint, to insist on the several provincial mints coining dollars of identical value, so that those dollars may all bear the same ratio to the Haikwan tael, in which duties are at present paid. You also propose that this ratio should be officially communicated to the Treaty Powers, and that instructions should be issued to all custom-houses to accept these dollars at the ratio proclaimed.
I am to inform you, in reply, that Lord Lansdowne fully appreciates the importance of the question at issue, and that he will not fail to remind the Chinese Government of the obligations in the matter of a national coinage imposed upon them by the Treaty of 1902. I am to add that his Lordship, in considering, with the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, the terms of the communication to be made to the Chinese Government on the subject, will bear in mind the recommendations contained in your letter under reply.
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I am, &c.
(Signed)
F. A. CAMPBELL.
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