2
Article III for the purpose of attacking the privileges which the China Merchants Company has enjoyed for the past thirty years without protest, but in case of extensions of the privileges, or in the event of other attempts at discrimination against foreign shipping, it would seem that the engagement entered into by China with the United States in 1880 furnishes an additional means of defence.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
376
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[June 8.]
SECTION 1.
23672
[18727]
No. 1.
RECR Rcg 4 JUL 07
Mr. H. Lowther to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received June 8.)
(No. 103.) Sir,
Tokió, May 10, 1907. THE subject of the trade-marks question as between China and Japan has been occupying the attention of the Japanese press.
The "Nichi Nichi Shimbun " of the 6th instant states that this question, which has dragged on till the present time without reaching a solution, has no immediate prospect of being dealt with, it having leaked out that the Patent Bureau in charge of such matters has decided to postpone action indefinitely,
Considerable apprehension as to the result of this decision exists among Japanese, who expect the Chinese, with characteristic disrespect for the rights of others, to take advantage of the situation to copy and counterfeit the trade-marks of Japanese goods.
The Japanese themselves have not been free from the dishonest practices attributed in the press to the Chinese, the imitation of foreign trade-marks by them having been prevalent to a great extent in Japan prior to the 1899 Treaties, as well as a complete disregard of copyright.
I have, &c. (Signed)
HENRY CROFTON LOWTHER.
[2542 h-1]
}