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whether coinage was to be carried out at one central
mint or by the existing provincial mints must be de-
termined by local considerations, but that it was es-
sential, if the provincial mints operated, that they
should do so under central control.
In November, 1905, an Imperial Decree was published
sanctioning the immediate introduction of a uniform
silver currency, with a coin of the weight and value
of a Kuping tael as a standard unit.
Subsequently a memorial of the Finance Commission
was issued requesting that restrictions should be
placed upon the output of copper coin from the pro-
vincial mints, the representations made as to the
danger to be expected from the unlimited coinage of
the new tan cash picces having evidently begun to bear
fruit.
No information on the subject has reached me since
and, as far as I am aware the Decree ordering the as-
tablishment of a uniform silver currency with a stand-
ard unit remains a dead letter.
I