CONFIDENTIAL.
$495]
No. 97.)
No. 1.
[April 21.]
1857A
SECTION 3REE 26 MAY OF
Sir E. Satow to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 21.)
Peking, March 6, 1906.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a note which I addressed to Prince Ching on the 2nd instant, calling attention to the fact that three months had elapsed since his Highness had informed me that the final copy of the new Mining Regulations was being made by the Viceroy at Wuchang, and that it would be submitted to the Throne as soon as this work was completed.
In a reply of the 5th instant, copy of which is inclosed, his Highness informed me that the Mining Regulations, as drawn up by the Viceroy, were laid before the Throne, and by Imperial Rescript referred for consideration to the Wai-wu Pu and Board of Commerce.
These Boards had not yet laid their views before the Throne.
A copy of the Wuchang Viceroy's Memorial submitting the Mining Regulations to the Throne, as published in the "Universal Gazette" of the 28th January, is also inclosed.
From this and previous correspondence you will observe that the delay in the promulgation of the Regulations is not due to want of repeated pressure on my part. I am inclined to think that the real difficulty in the matter is the incompatibility between the desire of the Chinese to keep the profits of mining to themselves and the expectation of foreign speculators that the Mackay Treaty will enable them to acquire mining properties as freely as they could in any part of the dominions of His Britannic Majesty. Whatever regulations may be promulgated are certain to disappoint such persons, and to evoke loud protests against the neglect of His Majesty's Government to enforce the provisions of Article IX of that Treaty.
For my own part, I am of opinion that no mines can be profitably worked in China by foreigners unless they succeed in securing the hearty good-will and cooperation of the Chinese local authorities, which our past experience and knowledge of the country scarcely permits us to hope for. In a country where we have consular jurisdiction which cannot be extended to the interior, it is, in my opinion, not prudent to encourage British subjects to invest their money in such enterprises, which must, in any case, be carried on under very great difficulties.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Sir E. Satow to Prince Ching.
Your Highness,
Peking, March 2, 1906.
THREE months again have elapsed since your Highness informed me that the final copy of the new Mining Regulations was being made by the Viceroy at Wuchang, and that it would be submitted to the Throne as soon as this work was completed.
I have not had the honour to receive any further communication from your Highness' Board on this subject, and I now feel bound to request that I may be furnished with a copy of this document without further delay.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Prince Ch'ing to Sir E. Satow.
Peking, March 5, 1906.
WE have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's letter commenting on the delay in issuing the Mining Regulations, and asking that you might be furnished with a copy at an early date.
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However, as the original text does not contain the content of the next page, the output remains as is.CONFIDENTIAL.
$495]
No. 97.)
No. 1.
[April 21.]
1857A
SECTION 3REE 26 MAY OF
Sir E. Satow to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 21.)
Peking, March 6, 1906.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a note which I addressed to Prince Ching on the 2nd instant, calling attention to the fact that three months had elapsed since his Highness had informed me that the final copy of the new Mining Regulations was being made by the Viceroy at Wuchang, and that it would be submitted to the Throne as soon as this work was completed.
In a reply of the 5th instant, copy of which is inclosed, his Highness informed me that the Mining Regulations, as drawn up by the Viceroy, were laid before the Throne, and by Imperial Rescript referred for consideration to the Wai-wu Pu and Board of Commerce.
These Boards had not yet laid their views before the Throne.
A copy of the Wuchang Viceroy's Memorial submitting the Mining Regulations to the Throne, as published in the "Universal Gazette" of the 28th January, is also inclosed.
From this and previous correspondence you will observe that the delay in the promulgation of the Regulations is not due to want of repeated pressure on my part. I am inclined to think that the real difficulty in the matter is the incompatibility between the desire of the Chinese to keep the profits of mining to themselves and the expectation of foreign speculators that the Mackay Treaty will enable them to acquire mining properties as freely as they could in any part of the dominions of His Britannic Majesty. Whatever regulations may be promulgated are certain to disappoint such persons, and to evoke loud protests against the neglect of His Majesty's Government to enforce the provisions of Article IX of that Treaty.
For my own part, I am of opinion that no mines can be profitably worked in China by foreigners unless they succeed in securing the hearty good-will and cooperation of the Chinese local authorities, which our past experience and knowledge of the country scarcely permits us to hope for. In a country where we have consular jurisdiction which cannot be extended to the interior, it is, in my opinion, not prudent to encourage British subjects to invest their money in such enterprises, which must, in any case, be carried on under very great difficulties.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Sir E. Satow to Prince Ching.
Your Highness,
Peking, March 2, 1906.
THREE months again have elapsed since your Highness informed me that the final copy of the new Mining Regulations was being made by the Viceroy at Wuchang, and that it would be submitted to the Throne as soon as this work was completed.
I have not had the honour to receive any further communication from your Highness' Board on this subject, and I now feel bound to request that I may be furnished with a copy of this document without further delay.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Prince Ch'ing to Sir E. Satow.
Peking, March 5, 1906.
WE have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's letter commenting on the delay in issuing the Mining Regulations, and asking that you might be furnished with a copy at an early date.
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344