[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[6146]
No. 1.
[February 22.]
SECTION 5.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received February 22.)
(No. 10.) Sir,
Peking, January 6, 1908. WITH reference to your telegram No. 140 of the 19th December and my reply No. 219 of the 24th December respecting the Regulations for the opening of Nanning to foreign trade, I have the honour to inclose copies of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton No. 65 of the 19th December, and of my note to Prince Ch'ing based thereon of the 4th January, complaining of the attitude of the Provincial authorities in still maintaining that the city forms no part of the port opened to foreign trade.
In the case which forms the subject of Mr. Mansfield's despatch, a British subject has sought to establish an agency in rented premises in the city. To this the Taotai objected, holding that the British merchant must establish himself in the Settlement indicated by the Chinese authorities.
His Majesty's Consul-General referred the matter to the Viceroy, who supported the Taotai's decision.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 65.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul-General Mansfield to Sir J. Jordan.
Canton, December 19, 1907. REFERRING to previous correspondence on the subject of the opening of Nanning, I have the honour to inclose herewith copies and translations of certain correspondence with the Provincial authorities on the subject of the establishment by Mr. Edwards, a local British merchant, of a branch office within the City of Nanning. The inclosures are:
1. From Nanning Taotai, received the 11th November.
2. To Viceroy, the 4th December.
3. From Viceroy, the 15th December.
The Viceroy supports the Taotai's ruling that foreign merchants can only carry on business within the Settlement area, thereby opening the way to li-kin and other charges between the Settlement and the city. No such charges are, I understand, at present imposed, but this is no guarantee that they never will be. In face of the Viceroy's attitude, and the general principle involved, it seems useless to discuss the question further here. Copy of this despatch and its inclosures go to His Majesty's Consul at Wuchow.
I have, &c. (Signed)
R. W. MANSFIELD.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1,
(Translation.) Sir,
Nanning Taotai to Consul-General Mansfield.
Nanning, November 11, 1907. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter stating that the British merchant, Edwards, has written to you to say that he is establishing an agency under the name Hung Hsing Ho, in Nanning, at the Chih Jung piece-goods shop in Sha Street, and is renting the premises for occupation. In reply, I have the honour to inform you that the original intention in opening Nanning was to provide a place
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