[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government? 14
CHINA TRADE.
к
CONFIDENTIAL.
62 DEC 09
[September 17.]
SECTION 1.
175
[34844]
(No. 153.)
No. 1.
Si, J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received September 17.)
(Telegraphic.) P.
ABOLITION of li-kin.
Peking, September 17, 1909.
Please see previous correspondence on the subject, in particular my despatch No. 163 of the 24th April and your telegram No. 80 of the 1st May.
I received a visit yesterday from Liang Tun-yen. His Excellency informed me that his Government proposed to invite the Powers to appoint delegates, who would confer with a representative of the Chinese Government on the question of the abolition of M-kin, and the consequent revision of the Customs tariff. Previous to taking such a step, however, he was anxious to make certain whether the proposal would gain the adhesion of His Majesty's Government. He had formed the impression, from what had appeared in the "Times," that His Majesty's Government were prepared to reconsider their previous decision, and he asked me to ascertain your views by telegraph.
I have also been approached on the same subject by the American chargé d'affaires.
I think that this would hardly be an auspicious moment for us to enter into the Chinese proposal, even though we were ready to accept the same in principle, as, with the question of Sir Robert Hart's successor still unsettled, we would be faced with the probable appointment of Sir Robert Bredon as Chinese representative on a commission whose labours would in all likelihood extend over a year at the very least.
[2427 r-1]