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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
CHINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[21177]
No. 1.
[June 20.]
SECTION 1.
(No. 237.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received June 20.)
Peking, May 27, 1908.
HIS Majesty's Vice-Consul at Antung reported on the 6th February last that a consumption tax was still being levied on British goods in that port, and that he had addressed a note to the Taotai setting forth the principles which should be observed in regard to foreign goods within the Treaty Port area.
The question was also taken up by the Acting British Consul-General at Mukden, who reported in a despatch of the 16th March last, a copy of which I have the honour to inclose, that a joint note had been addressed by the Consular Body to the Viceroy, protesting against the continued levy of this tax.
To this the Viceroy replied that the question was under the consideration of the provincial authorities, and that a further communication would be made to the Consuls at a later date.
Nothing further being forthcoming, the Consular Body again addressed the Viceroy on the 12th May.
In his despatch of the 14th May, copy of which I also have the honour to inclose, Mr. Willis observes that while he has only received one direct complaint on the subject, as affecting British trade, there is little doubt that British goods in Chinese hands are subjected to this irregular taxation.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 28.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Willis to Sir J. Jordan.
Mukden, March 16, 1908.
ON the receipt of the copy of Mr. Russell's despatch to you No. 4 of the 6th ultimo, I suggested to Mr. Straight, the American Consul-General and Doyen of the Consular Body, that the question of the taxation of foreign goods in Chinese hands was one in which, in my opinion, joint action by the Consular Body was desirable.
Accordingly a meeting of the Consular representatives at Mukden was held on the 26th ultimo, as a result of which a joint note was sent to his Excellency the Viceroy, copy of which I have the honour to inclose.
In his reply, copy of which is also inclosed, his Excellency carefully refrains from committing himself on the merits of the question at issue.
It appears to me that, whilst the provincial authorities are prepared to accept the conditions of the Provisional Regulations, and recognize the validity of the exemption certificates, as long as goods are in the hands of foreign merchants or their recognized agents it will be a matter of great difficulty, owing to the reluctance of the Chinese to complain to foreign officials, to obtain effective protection for foreign goods once they have passed into native hands.
I have reason to believe that consumption taxes or similar dues are being collected at Mukden, and if this is so, probably a similar procedure obtains elsewhere.
I have, &c. (Signed) ROBERT WILLIS
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