2
I feel that the German here is keen to display anti-Japanese feelings and to make capital vis-à-vis the Chinese thereof. In fact, he says he means to claim any and every advantage which the Japanese are enjoying, whether under plea of military occupation I told him I could not go as far as that; I would claim what seemed a or otherwise. proper privilege, such as exemption froni li-kin at Mukden. The other day he informed ine he had heard from Peking that the Japanese were claiming a preferential position here as one of the conditions of giving up the port, also advantages in Mongolia, and suggested to me the advisability of the Consular Rody addressing the Diplomatic This seemed a Corps, begging their protest or influence against such conditions. ruse to back up China and gain kudos for Germany, and I told him I thought it was hardly seemly for the Consular Body to attempt to mould the policy of their Chiefs in this way.
He commenced his career here in June 1906 by questioning the right of the Japanese to be here at all. Arnhold, Karberg, and Co. had bought land in the town from a Chinese. Another Chinese claimed it, and a lawsuit between them was heard by the Japanese Court, who gave it against Arnhold, Karberg, and Co.'s friend. Mezger refused to recognize the Japanese Court as having any jurisdiction in the matter, and asked how they obtained their right to try cases between Chinese in Yingkow.
The Chinese in Mukden have been delighted to see him get rid of some of the
Japanese Consular police out of the temple in Mukden he had rented.
We are good friends, but I feel he requires a cautious attitude. The Chinese will naturally play the off-set game between the nations for all it is worth and are cultivating Mezger assiduously.
Yours sincerely, (Signed)
H. E. FULFORD.
P.S.-I am told that in Tiehling- -one of the new ports-Japanese tobacco has been made to pay li-kin. The Japanese importers refused, but the Chinese dealers who received it were forced to pay. This shows that the Chinese are going to make a bold But I think we may trust fight for their principle, "towns not open, only Settlements." the Japanese to insist on the towns being open.
H. E. F.
3
far as possible, especially at the outset, to keep a foreign agent on the spot to watch over their interests.
I entirely approve also of the attitude of caution which you propose to adopt in your relations with your German colleague, and I consider that we should endeavour, as far as possible, to enlist Japanese co-operation in establishing our commercial position on the basis of the Treaties without entering into any discussion of political questions, which, should they arise, can be dealt with in Tokió or elsewhere as may seem best to His Majesty's Government.
I am, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
(No. 27.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Consul-General Fulford.
Peking, November 6, 1906. ON the occasion of your recent visit to Peking you conferred with me regarding the necessity of maintaining that the city of Mukden should be open to foreign trade and residence, and that foreign goods should, as at other Treaty ports, enjoy exemption from li-kin within the port area.
area."
You suggested that, as the place had been opened under the American and Japanese Treaties, the Representatives of those Powers might be invited to instruct their Consuls at Makden to co-operate with you in fighting the question with the Chinese authorities, who desire to limit the rights of foreigners to the "Settlement I have recently consulted my American, Japanese, and German colleagues on. the subject, and learn from Mr. Rockhill that the American Government is determined to have Mukden opened on the same footing as any other Treaty port. Mr. Straight, the American Consul-General, has bad instructions in this sense, aud these instructions will be repeated, so that you may rely on his co-operation.
Mr. Hayashi stated that he held the opening of Mukden to mean that the whole city was to be open to foreign residence and trade on precisely the same terms as prescribed by earlier Treaties, and that he would resist any attempt to enforce payment of li-kin. He promised to send telegraphic instructions to the Japanese Consul-General to act with you in this matter.
Baron von der Goltz, the German Representative, likewise informed me that he would be prepared to co-operate with as in securing the same rights at Mukden as we enjoy at other Treaty ports.
With reference to the view expressed in your private letter of the 31st October, I quite agree that discussion of the principle of this question of Treaty port areas is not effective in the absence of concrete cases, and British firms should be encouraged as
70