This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
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# CHINA TRADE.
## CONFIDENTIAL.
[959]
No. 1.
[January 5, 1906.]
THE FEE 06 SECTION 3.
112
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received January 8, 1906.)
(No. 388.) My Lord,
Peking, November 15, 1905.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 204 of the 9th June, I have the honour to inclose a copy of a letter which I addressed to Prince Ching on the 20th ultimo on the subject of revised Mining Regulations.
I have repeatedly urged this matter on the attention of Prince Ch'ing, Natung, and Ch'ü Hung-ch'i, and on the 7th instant Mr. C. W. Campbell, by my direction, made a strong complaint to Viceroy Yuan Shih-k'ai against the delay that has taken place.
The delay is no doubt intentional and prompted by the existing anti-concession agitation. The fear that applications for Mining Concessions will pour in as soon as satisfactory Regulations are established and cause endless embarrassment to the governing authorities is also a factor in the provincial opposition. I have, moreover, reason to suspect that alarm caused by the number of mining claims in the Province of Hunan, which the German Minister is pressing on behalf of a German firm at Hankow, counts for something in Viceroy Chang's share of the delay.
I shall not fail to continue pressing the subject on the attention of the Chinese Government.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
ERNEST SATOW.
Your Highness,
Inclosure in No. 1.
Sir E. Satow to Prince Ch'ing.
Peking, October 20, 1905.
ON the 9th June last your Highness was so good as to inform me that a communication had been received from the Hukuang Viceroy to the effect that the draft of Mining Regulations sent to his Excellency last winter by Mr. Wu Ting-Fang had been carefully considered by Mr. Broad, a British mining engineer of reputation; that Mr. Broad having submitted his observations, a revision was being made by other persons, Chinese and foreign, appointed by his Excellency for the purpose, and that this revision would probably be completed in about a month, when it would be embodied in a Memorial by the Viceroy and referred for consideration to the Wai-wu Pu and the Board of Commerce.
During the past three months I have made verbal inquiries of your Highness and the Wai-wu Pu, and have always been told that the Regulations are still in the hands of the Hukuang Viceroy. In view of the fact that in June last his Excellency thought a month would be sufficient for the final revision of the draft Regulations, I would suggest that steps be taken to expedite the fulfilment of the pledges given to His Majesty's Government in Article IX of the Commercial Treaty of 1902.
The favour of an early reply is requested.
I avail, &c.
(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.
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