[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
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C. C.
11933
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[7664]
No. 1.
[March 9 C
SECTION REGE 5 APR 07)
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received March 9.)
(No. 27. Confidential.) Sir,
Peking, January 18, 1907. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 417 of the 29th November, 1906, inclosing copy of a letter from the China Association on the subject of the Chinese Customs Administration, and I beg leave to offer the following observations thereon:---
The statement which is made in the twelfth paragraph of the Association's letter, to the effect that it is proposed to change the periodicity of the Trade Returns from the foreign to the Chinese year, is, so far as I can ascertain, without foundation. At least, Sir R. Hart knows nothing of the proposed change, and, had it been contemplated, it is very unlikely that this would not have come to his knowledge.
The only change which appears to have been made in this respect is that the Annual Returns and Reports should be sent this year to the Shui-wu Ch'u for inspection before publication. This will, of course, delay their issue to the public and seriously impair their value. The reason given for the order is that a new system of classification is desirable, and that the matter has to be decided here in consultation with Sir R. Hart. It is generally believed, however, that the real object is to obviate the publication of reports like that of the Commissioner of Customs at Santuao, which contained reflections upon native methods of administration.
There has been no change with regard to the Quarterly Returns, and Sir R. Hart informs me that the Annual Returns will after this year be published as before.
One incidental effect of the instruction was the withdrawal of the courtesy which His Majesty's Consuls have long enjoyed of gaining access to the Returns immediately after the end of the year. I have brought this matter to the attention of Tong Ta-jen, and I have hopes that a modification of the rule will be made which will satisfy our requirements.
The Edict of the 9th May, 1906, had undoubtedly a very disturbing effect on the Customs Service, and it is probably true that the apprehensions felt by its members have not been entirely removed by the assurances which have since been published by the Inspector-General under the authority of the Wai-wn Pu. So far, however, no tangible changes of any moment in the actual working of the service seem to have followed upon the transfer of the Customs from the Wai-wu Pu to the Shui-wn Ch'n, except that the latter Office takes a much more active interest in the Administration than the Wai-wu Pu ever did. It is difficult for an outsider to estimate the advantages or disadvantages which may result from supervision of this kind, but Sir R. Hart, who is in the best position to form an opinion, and whom it principally atfects, seems to think that it conduces on the whole to the intelligent transaction of business.
So long as the Customs was subordinate to the Wai-wu Pu the Inspector-General no doubt had often opportunities of doing useful work entirely outside his own Depart- ment, which he may not enjoy to the same extent under the new régime, but he considers, and I agree with him, that in the present state of public opinion in China a change in this respect was bound to come sooner or later, Even had the Customs remained under the Wai-wu Pu, Tong Shoa-yi, as Vice-President of that Board, could have exercised quite as effective control over the Administration as he now does in his capacity as Controller of the Shui-wu Ch'u. There is scarcely a Department or public Office in the capital towards which the efforts of the reformers have not been directed during the past year, but most of the changes have so far produced little material result.
The example which the China Association quotes from the Water Police at Canton seems to be perfectly justified by the facts as stated in the accompanying extract from the Canton Intelligence Report of the 30th June, 1906, and there can be no doubt that
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