AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[31686]
No. 1.
[September 19.]
SECTION
C O
740
38281
REC
H
Sir,
Manchester Chamber of Commerce to Sir Edward Grey.—(September 19.) R 17 00 06
Manchester, September 18, 1906.
THE Board of Directors of this Chamber have followed with anxious interest the course of events since the promulgation of the Chinese Imperial Edict of the 9th May, which virtually displaced Sir Robert Hart from the position he has so admirably filled for forty-three years as Controller of the Chinese Customs. The Directors cannot but regard this innovation as a measure calculated to very seriously affect British prestige in China, and to materially diminish the security and confidence of all foreign traders in that country.
The Board fully indorse the views expressed by the China Association in their covering letter of the 30th August to the Foreign Office, and to their accompanying Memorandum. In the opinion of the Board, the reply to that communication from the Foreign Office, dated the 7th September, does not adequately meet the grave circumstances. Nothing short of an abrogation of the Edict would do so. The granting of permission to Sir Robert Hart to circulate, as a subordinate under the control of two Chinese Commissioners, "their instructions to continue the administration of the Customs as before," sufficiently marks the derogation of his position, and is inconsistent with the undertakings given by the Chinese Government in 1896 and 1898.
It is the earnest hope of the Board that His Majesty's Government will endeavour to secure the co-operation of other European Powers, and of the Governments of the United States and Japan, in pressing upon the Chinese Government that the preservation of China's honourable relations with foreign Powers and the future development of her commerce alike demand the revocation of the Edict of the 9th May, and the restoration of the status quo ante in the control of the Customs.
I have, &c.
(Signed) WALTER SPEAKMAN,
Secretary.
[2146 t-1]