211
2
of November, when the required conditions were carried out. After realisation of a number of the securities, a sum of 1,083,976 51 taels was expended on the payment of dishonoured native orders in the hands of foreign merchants, principally British; and a sum of 150,000 taels was retained for mixed court and land office expenses. A full statement of accounts, together with the remainder of the securities and a balance of 1,431:32 dollars and 58,671 91 taels in cash, were handed over to Mr. Ivan Chen by the senior consul on the 23rd November. Much satisfaction has been caused by the final settlement of this troublesome question, which has been outstanding for upwards of two years, and has involved a great deal of time and labour.
I have, &c.
[2944]
No. 8.
J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 515.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 20, 1913.)
Peking, December 27, 1912.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith a translation of a telegram addressed by the Ministry of Communications to the Chinese diplomatic representatives in the United States, Great Britain, and Japan and to certain consuls-general on the subject of the election of representatives in the Senate of the chambers of commerce and other societies formed by Chinese residing abroad.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
(Translation.)
Enclosure 1 in No. 8.
Extract from the "Gazette" of December 17, 1912,
TELEGRAM from Ministry of Industry and Commerce to diplomatic representatives in the United States, Great Britain, and Japan, and the consuls-general at Singapore, Batavia, and Vladivostock, for transmission to the consuls at the various ports. To the consuls at the various ports :-
The laws for the election of members to the Senate, and the regulations for putting the above laws into effect, have already been communicated to you by telegraph. On the 8th instant detailed regulations were published, which provide that the members of the Electoral College of Chinese resident abroad shall be elected by the Chambers of Commerce, Chinese societies, Chinese clubs, and literary associations formed by Chinese resident abroad. The elections shall be conducted in the same manner as is customary for the election of president or other officer of such Chamber of Commerce, society, &c., and the person elected must be possessed of the following qualifications
1. He must be a Chinese male subject of 25 years of age or upward.
2. He must be the owner of movable or immovable property to the value of 500 dollars or upward.
3. He must have none of the disqualifications enumerated in article 6 of the Election Laws of the House of Representatives.
On the same day an order was issued dealing with the election of members to the Senate by the Electoral College of Chinese resident abroad, and providing that the election of such members should take place on the 10th February in the second year of the republic.
We have, therefore, to order you to make careful enquiries and forward by telegraph to this Ministry without delay for record a list of all the Chinese societies, Chinese clubs, and literary associations founded before the publication of the electoral laws, that is to say, before the 10th August of the first year of the republic.
You will further instruct the various bodies that they are to carry out the election of members of the Electoral College in all respects similarly to the election of officers
of such club or association, and that they must not allow such election to develop into
an open election among the Chinese resident in the port in question.
You will report by telegraph from time to time, and thereby show proper respect for the importance of the elections-MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE.