[This Document is the Froperty of His Britannic Majesty's Government.?
CO 6654
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
[March.2.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
SECTION 2.
[6128]
No. 1.
507
Foreign Office to Board of Trade.
Sir,
Foreign Office, March 2, 1911. IN a letter from this Department, dated the 26th January, the Board of Trade were furnished with a copy of correspondence which had taken place between this Department, the Colonial Office, and His Majesty's Minister at Peking, with reference to the claim put forward on behalf of Hong Kong to the enjoyment in respect of the trade with China passing through the leased territory of Kowloon of privileges similar to those already possessed by Great Britain in respect of the trade across the Burmah-China frontier, and by France and Russia, as regards the land frontier trade between their respective Asiatic possessions and the Chinese Empire.
I am now directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to forward to you a copy of a despatch from Sir J. Jordan,* in which, as requested, he furnishes his observations upon the matter.
It will be seen that Sir J. Jordan lays emphasis on the fact that no Power has yet claimed special treatment for the traffic passing across the frontiers between its leased territory and China, and that he expresses the view that any such claim would be firmly resisted by the Chinese Government.
Sir E. Grey proposes, if the Board concur, to inform Sir J. Jordan that, in the circumstances, no action should be taken in the sense suggested by the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce.
I am, &c.
F. A. CAMPBELL.
* Sir J. Jordan, No. 37, January 28, 1911.
[1918 6-2]