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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
O.
32382
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
(24808)
No. 1.
IM [July 18.] 4. 08
SECTION 4.
(No. 133.) Sir,
Sir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received July 18.)
Tokió, June 5, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith copy of a despatch from his Majesty's Minister at Peking, transmitting a letter from the Shanghae branch of the China Association to their head-quarters in London, complaining of the action of the Japanese authorities in Dairen in obstructing foreign trade at that port.
Although the points raised by the China Association had been already dealt with at some length by the British Vice-Consul at Dairen, I thought it as well to forward this letter to him for any observations he might have to make.
I have the honour to transmit herewith copy of a despatch from Mr. Parlett which deals with the allegations of the China Association. It will be observed that, in cases in which it has been brought to the notice of the superior officials that foreign ships have been put to inconvenience by the action of their subordinates, a remedy has been promptly forthcoming; also that the success of Japanese importers of cotton goods can be accounted for without ascribing it to the favour of the Japanese authorities in Manchuria; further, that the figures quoted by the China Association for the comparative trade of Dairen and Newchwang are incorrect, the true figures being much more favourable to the latter port than those given by the Association; and, finally, that the statements contained in the letter of the China Association regarding the tenure of land at Dairen refer to a condition of things which no longer exists. Mr. Parlett states that he has always been given to understand that the Japanese authorities are most anxious to encourage Chinese to settle at Dairen, an anxiety which appears very natural if, as the Association believe, those authorities wish Dairen to capture the trade of Newchwang.
There are undoubtedly a number of Japanese undesirables in the leased territory and in Manchuria generally, and it is to be hoped the Japanese Government will do their best to minimize an evil which is, under the circumstances, to a certain extent unavoidable. I have frequently drawn the attention of the responsible authorities in Tôkió to the harm which is being done to the good name of Japan by the presence of these undesirables in Manchuria, and recent travellers have noticed a marked improvement in this respect. I am given to understand that a similar state of things existed in Formosa after the China-Japan war 1894, when that island was flooded with Japanese and other undesirables. Matters there have long since righted themselves.
In conclusion, Mr. Parlett states that he does not consider that it would be impossible to find some definite proof of Japanese designs if they are as crooked as is generally believed.
I have, &c. (Signed)
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir C. MacDonald.
Sir,
Peking, April 13, 1908,
I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Excellency herewith a copy of a despatch which I have received from His Majesty's Consul-General, Shanghae, forwarding a letter from the Shanghae branch of the China Association on the subject of the alleged obstruction by the Japanese to foreign trade in Manchuria.
I have, &c. (For His Britannic Majesty's Minister),
STEPHEN LEECH.
(Signed)
[1844. S -4]
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