[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C. O.
33136
83
REC [Augu16 SEP 07
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[27251]
No. 1.
SECTION 1.
t
Sir,
Board of Trade to Foreign Office.—(Received August 14.)
7, Whitehall Gardens, London, August 13, 1907. I AM directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th ultimo, inclosing copy of a communication from the China Association, on the subject of discrimination in railway rates on the South Manchurian Railway, whereby Talien is favoured at the expense of Newchwang.
In reply, I am to observe that there are no trustworthy statistics of the trade of Talien, but that as regards Newchwang, the Consular Report on the trade of that port for 1906, shows that the British and Japanese shares of the direct foreign trade were as follows:-~~
British
Japanese
Other
:::
Total..
Imports.
£ 402,000 384,000 203,000
Exports.
£
84,000 1,110,000
989,000
1,194,000
The indirect foreign imports (of which the nationality cannot be distinguished) amounted to 1,271,000, and the native imports to 3,785,000%; the total of the indirect and the native exports was 1,604,0007; and re-exports amounted to 78,0001. The total gross trade of Newchwang in 1906 was thus 8,921,0001. Of this gross total 7,383,000l. was carried by vessels of foreign type, the value carried by British vessels being 3,918,000%, or 53 per cent.
The Board concur in the view that discrimination against British and in favour of Japanese goods at Newchwang or Talien does not appear to exist, but in view of the fact that, as shown by the figures quoted above, the British interest in the import trade of Newchwang is predominant, I am to suggest that, should Sir E. Grey see no objection, stops should be taken to bring the matter of the discrimination in railway rates in favour of Talien against Newchwang to the notice of the Japanese Govern- ment, with a view to ascertaining whether anything can be done in the direction of more nearly equalising conditions.
I am, &c. (Signed) GEO, J. STANLEY.
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