[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government]
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Translation of Transport Notification No. 67.
With reference to the 2nd clause of Article 13 of the Freight Regulations, which was the subject of revision under Notification 11 of May 1908, when, in the case of goods which, being of different denominations, are placed together, the weight of the said goods does not amount to 20 tons, the freight on the fraction of 20 tons shall be calculated according to the minimum rate leviable on any of the goods in question.
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[24841]
No. 1.
TREES [July 18.]
13 AUG 08
SECTION 4.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Government-General Notification No. 56.
WITH respect to merchandize imported into or exported from Dairen, or dispatched into the interior of Manchuria, it shall be obligatory from the 1st June for the particulars laid down in Articles 16, 17, 18, and 19 of the Provisional Customs Regulations of the Kwantung leased territory to be furnished to the Chinese Customs at Dairen, in accordance with the procedure herewith laid down.
Y. OSHIMA, Viscount, Governor-General.
May 30, 1908.
1. Three copies of the ship's manifest mentioned in Articles 16, 17, and 18 of the Regulations aforesaid shall be drawn up in the form herewith attached and presented at the Customs.
2. The locality of production or of manufacture shall be specified in the export application mentioned in Article 19.
3. With reference to merchandize dispatched by road into Manchuria, the application containing the details specified in Article 17 shall be presented at the Customs, and, after it has been examined in that Office, a clean copy of it shall be made and furnished to the Customs.
Ship's name. Sailed from Date No. of Bill of Lading. No. and Marks of Goods. Name of Goods. Ship's Manifest. No. Weight. Consignor. Consignee. Use. Master's name NationalitySir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 18.)
(No. 166. Very Confidential.) Sir,
Tokió, June 20, 1908.
ON the 13th ultimo, I reported by telegraph (telegram No. 38) that Baron Goto had left for St. Petersburgh on the 28th April, and I stated that it was probable that his mission had for its object, in addition to the discussion of railway matters with the Chinese Eastern Railway authorities, an endeavour to foster in Manchuria a closer understanding between Russia and Japan.
Even Baron Goto returned a few days ago, and is loud in his praise of the cordial reception which he met with in St. Petersburgh, and the friendly sentiments which all classes of society in Russia evinced towards their late opponents in arms. The Emperor in an audience which he graciously accorded to Baron Goto, expressed warm satisfaction at the restoration of friendly relations between the two countries.
All this has been published in the press, and has produced a most excellent impression throughout Japan.
As to the railway question, the Baron is reported to have said that many people predicted that the Russians would place every obstacle in the way of the linking up of the two systems of railways, their natural object being to divert the whole stream of traffic to Vladivostock, but, on the contrary, no such disposition was shown, and the Russians seemed to appreciate that the trans-Asian system of railways is one of the world's great arteries of communication, and that selfish considerations should not be allowed to interfere with its development and utility.
It is generally believed here that Baron Goto has made arrangements with the Chinese Eastern Railway by which Japanese trains will be allowed to run over Russian lines as far as Irkutsk on the one side, and Vladivostock on the other, by means of convertible axles and wheels; the above is corroborated by a telegram received yesterday from His Majesty's Consul-General at Moukden.
(Secret.)
With regard to the possibility of the sale of the railway from Chang Chun to Harbin to Japan, the Baron states that there is not a word of truth in the statement, which originated, he says, in Osaka, whence it had been transmitted to Europe, and had then found its way back to Japan. He adds that many people believed it, and their belief inconvenienced him not a little. The possibility of such a sale, I think, remains, though it may not take place in the immediate future.
I have, &c. (Signed) CLAUDE M. MACDONALD,
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[1841 8-4]