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(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[14402]
No. 1.
[May 4.]
SECTION 1.
(No. 127.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 4.)
Peking, March 12, 1907. I HAVE the honour to forward to you herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul at Foochow, inclosing certain Rules drawn up by the local Chinese authorities for the regulation of camphor cultivation and trade in the Province of Fuhkien.
Both the Japanese Minister, whom I have consulted on the subject, and myself are of opinion that the Chinese request is not one which can be entertained without creating a dangerous precedent, and I have instructed His Majesty's Consul in this sense.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
(No. 4.) Sir,
Consul Playfair to Sir J. Jordan.
Foochou, February 22, 1907. I HAVE the honour to forward, for your consideration, the Rules for the regulation of camphor cultivation and trade in this province, which have been transmitted to me by the Board of Foreign Affairs. These Rules differ essentially from those which were first laid before me, and it is only after several months of negotiation that the form they now assume was evolved. There does not seem to me anything unreasonable in their provisions, and I have accordingly consented to submit them for your approval, and trust that the Representatives of the Treaty Powers will, on your persuasion, agree to sanction and make them operative.
The Japanese and ourselves are the only Powers personally interested in the camphor trade; the only opposition to the authorization of these Rules is likely to come, therefore, from the Minister of Japan. Indeed, the Japanese Consul at Foochow has already told me that, having communicated them telegraphically to his Government, his Foreign Office had informed him in reply that they could not see their way to assent to the proposed inland tax of 1 tael per picul.
My own reasons for considering it ought to be conceded are as follows:--
Fuhkien is badly provided with exports. There are practically only two-tea, which has been an article of export since Foochow was first opened to our ships; and camphor, a comparatively young industry, dating from only a few years back. Tea, from one cause and another, has long been a dying industry, and, since the amounts exported grow annually less, seems likely to die of inanition, done to death by Indian competition and the obstinate incompetence of the native tea-planter. Camphor, if steps are not promptly taken to cherish and give it the attention it requires, is assured: of a speedy decease of exhaustion. For the only known way to obtain a supply of the drug is to destroy the tree which produces it. The number of camphor trees being limited, their destruction must be counteracted by afforestation, if camphor is to continue to be a product of this province.
One of the Rules I now forward provides for a recourse to this desirable device, and it is only just that the authorities should be allowed to form a fund on which to draw in order to insure a continuance of this valuable tree, as you will notice it is undertaken that the money so raised shall be expended in camphor cultivation alone. Whether the Chinese will be able, even with this precaution, to insure the cycle of
[2475 d-1}
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