REDN
(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
.C. O.
202
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
19974
[May 4.]
RECE
CONFIDENTIAL.
Red 5 JUN 07
SECTION 6.
[14405]
(No. 130.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 4.)
Peking, March 13, 1907.
I HAVE the honour to forward to you herewith copy of a semi-official letter which I have received from His Majesty's Consul at Chefoo, in which he draws attention to the advisability of His Majesty's Government appointing a Consular Agent at Tsingtao.
In a further letter which I have received from Mr. Brady he informs me that he has learnt that the American Government have decided to station a Vice-Consul there in addition to the Consul already functioning, and that this Vice-Consul has been especially selected for his intimate knowledge of commercial matters.
In view of the growing importance of Tsingtao as an outlet for the large trade of Shantung, I am of opinion that British interests would undoubtedly be benefited by the appointment of a British Consular Agent there, and I venture to recommend the matter to your favourable consideration.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Consul Brady to Sir J. Jordan,
Dear Sir John Jordan,
Chefoo, March 7, 1907. THE trade of Tsingtao (Kiao-chau) has developed so much within the last few years, and the interest of British firms in it has also increased to such an extent, that I think the present not an inopportune moment to draw your attention to the advisability of appointing a British Consular Agent there, The matter has several times been brought to my notice since my return here, and again recently by the old-established firm of Messrs. Cornabe, Eckford, and Co., of this port, who have large interests in Kiao-chau, where a branch of their firm has been established, which is looked after by one of the partners, Mr. Reginald H. Eckford.
You are doubtless aware of the growing importance of the trade of the German colony from the Consular and Customs Reports. One of the chief industries of this province, namely, the straw braid, the great market for which has hitherto been Chefoo, has now become shifted to Kiao-chau owing to the facilities of transport, &c., afforded by the German railway, which passes through the districts where the braid is manu- factured; and silk and other articles of produce also show a similar tendency to leave Chefoo in favour of the larger market now found at the German port. This movement of trade, of which the foregoing are but instances, has created a demand for shipping facilities, of which British firms have not been slow to take advantage, and the principal steamer lines running on the coast now make Kiao-chau a regular place of call, in addition to which the number of vessels from foreign ports is also on the increase. The fact, too, that an increasing number of British residents and travellers in the East are resorting to Kiao-chau during the summer months also makes it, in my opinion, advisable that we should have a Consular Representative there. The absence of one has, I am informed, not infrequently been felt, and now that the Russian Government is about appointing a Consul, I venture to submit it would be a favourable opportunity for the British Government to take similar action.
It would not appear to me to be necessary to appoint a salaried officer; Mr. R. H. Eckford, who has been resident there for some time, and who is persona grata not only in commercial circles but also amongst the German officials, from the Governor downwards, by reason of his personal qualities and also no doubt of his being a fluent speaker of German, would, I have reason to know, accept the honorary post; and I
[2494 d-6]