This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
(
CONFIDENTIAL.
[15709]
No. 1.
[May 13.]
SECTION 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir F. Bertie.
(No. 287.) Sir,
M. CAMBON informed me on the 2nd instant that certain Japanese traders
Foreign Office, May 13, 1907. established in China make a practice of assuming the Chinese names of foreign firms with a view to disposing of their goods under cover of this unlawful appropriation.
German and American merchants had already communicated with their Govern- ments on this question.
The counterdraft of the Regulations for the protection of trade-marks, returned to the Peking Government by the Representatives of the principal interested Powers in June 1905, did indeed contemplate the protection of trade names, including "hong" names, without there being any obligation for registration, but the new draft Regulations drawn up by the Chinese Administration in October 1906, which, however, the Powers had refused to discuss, contained no provision for this.
It would in M. Cambon's opinion be well to reinsert an Article ad noc in the Regulations which the Chinese authorities were on the point of proposing for the acceptance of the Powers.
The French Minister at Peking has,
seems, been requested to endeavour to get
his colleagues to take concerted action on the subject.
M. Cambon asked me to consider these points and to send instructions to His Majesty's Minister at Peking on the subject.
I subsequently communicated to M. Cambon a Memorandum, copy of which is inclosed, pointing out the position of His Majesty's Government in regard to the question.
[2475 n-1]
I am, &c.
(Signed)
E. GREY.
* Memorandum communicated to M. Cambon, May 13, 1907.
138