[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
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AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
REC RE18 JU 11
CONFIDENTIAL.
[July 3.]
SECTION 1.
[25808]
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received July 3.)
(No. 251.) Sir,
Peking, June 17, 1911. WITH reference to my despatch No. 145 of the 31st March, I have the honour to enclose the translation of a reply which I have received from the Wai-wn Pu, who state that, after consulting the Viceroy at Nanking, they do not propose to continue the discussion for the opening of Pukow to foreign trade at present.
I have, &c.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Prince Ch'ing to Sir J. Jordan.
J. N. JORDAN,
(Translation.) Sir,
Peking, June 15, 1911. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's note of the 27th March last regarding the opening of Pukow to trade (précis of note quoted).
My board at once requested the superintendent of southern trade by telegraph to consider the matter, and have now received his reply to the following effect :-
Nanking has already been opened to trade, and is situated immediately opposite Pukow on the southern bank of the river where the water is deep and the anchorage more convenient for steamers. Moreover, the railway administration have already purchased a large proportion of the land at Pukow for their own use, and the remainder is all the property of private owners.
As regards wharfage facilities for foreign merchants, the best plan would be to follow the procedure laid down in article 1 of the Additional Rules for Inland Waters Steam Navigation, under which the local officials are to provide warehouses and jetties and lease them to foreign merchants. Instructions have accordingly been given to the customs taotai and railway administration to consult together with a view to such an arrangement being made,
My board are of opinion that the report of the superintendent of southern trade represents the actual circumstances of the case, and that consequently further discussion of the opening of Pukow to trade can be postponed for the present.
I avail, &c.
Prince CHING.
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