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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
334
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
:
[October 13.]
SECTION
C 0
34588
F
[37192]
(No. 331.)
No. 1.
RECE REG? 11 NOV 10 Sir,
Peking, September 23, 1910. WITH reference to my despatch No. 244 of the 27th July, I have the bonour to transmit herewith a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's consul at Harbin, forwarding the new regulations* for the navigation of the Sungari River, which were drawn up by the Russian and Chinese delegates, who, as reported in my above-mentioned despatch, met to discuss the question in Peking at the beginning of August.
Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 13.)
Mr. Sly's account contains such a detailed study of the new regulations, and a comparison of them with those issued last year, that it is only necessary for me to add that they fully confirm my prognostication, that the Chinese Government would show a more accommodating spirit in the negotiations. In fact, the upshot of the precipitate action of China in issuing regulations last year without consulting Russia has been a complete diplomatic victory for the latter Power, who has practically forced China to accept all her contentions in detail. Article 18 of the treaty of St. Petersburgh (1881) has been acknowledged to have full power. Trade by the Sungari will be subject only to the lesser dues of the tariff in force on the land routes. The tonnage dues are abolished, and the Russian demands in regard to the freedom of trade in the frontier zone are fully conceded. It is true that the regulations contained no definite statement that the navigation of the Sungari is reserved to Russians and Chinese, to the exclusion of all other nationalities, but Mr. Sly's despatch shows how improbable it is that foreign steam-ship owners will attempt to engage in such an undertaking, or that they even could do so with a reasonable prospect of a profitable enterprise.
The victory of Russian diplomacy in maintaining the validity of Russia's treaty rights in regard to this question ought to be of considerable assistance to Russia when the time comes next year for discussing the revision of the 1858 and 1881 treaties.
I have, &c.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Acting Consul Sly to Mr. Max Müller,
(No. 27.) Sir,
Harbin, September 12, 1910. REFERRING to previous correspondence in regard to the Sungari navigation question, I have the honour to enclose herewith copy of a new set of regulations introduced as a result of the negotiations held during the present year at Harbin and Peking between the Russian and Chinese authorities.
The chief points of contention were, as recalled in my despatch No. 15 of the 12th July last :-
Exclusive navigation rights;
Duty-free list;
Free frontier zones;
The two-thirds duty scale; and
Tonnage dues.
A study of the new regulations and a comparison of them with those issued last year, copy of which was enclosed in my despatch No. 4 of the 1st March last, will help to reveal the extent to which Russia has been successful in pressing upon the Chinese Government the acceptance of her views on a matter which has given rise to much controversy.
There is no definite statement in the regulations to the effect that Russian subjects
* Not printed.
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