va
2.
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the control of Salt, the prevention of smuggling &c., and if necessary the actual enforcement of Articles ",VI, VII and VIII may be left in abeyance until conditions in Canton are more normal. In Mr.Harris' memo- randum enclosed in the above despatch he explains the grounds for includin ing provisions for the control of salt as a quid pro quo for the privileges granted under Article IX.
The following précis of subsequent correspondence shows the course of negotiations up to the present year:-
September 11th 1916: Sir H. lay to Sir J. Jordan: Fds. 10 copies of draft agreement, containing further amendments greed to by Governor and
Mr. Harris,
September 23rd 1916: Sir J. Jordan to Foreign Office: Fds.above draft and states that Inspector-General has received similar draft from Hongkong and will submit it to the Chinese Government. If acceptable to the latter Sir J.Jordan proposes to telegraph to Foreign Office for sanction to
sign the agreement.
On the same date Sir J.Jordan wrote to the Governor informing him
of the action taken.
March 24th, 1917: Governor informs Sir J.Jordan that he has agreed to some further slight amendments of the draft agreement.
October 22nd, 1917: Tai Chino Pu to Sir J.Jordan: proposes, at the in instance of the "inistry of Cormunications, the addition of a section providing for the carriage of Chinese ails by British steam launches between Hongkong and ports in Kuangtung.
November 14th. 1917. Sir J. Jordan to Wai Chiao Pu: Enquiries whether the Chinese Government is prepared to accept the draft subject only to
the above amendment.
Vecember 12th.1917: Wai Chiao Pu to Sir J.Jordan: Provided that
amendment re carriage of mails is accepted the Chinese Government is
prepared to sign the agreement.
December 26th, 1917: Sir J.Jordan to Hongkong: Fds.copies of cor-
respondence with Wai Chiao Pu, recommends acceptance of alteration sug- gested and offers assistance in securing signature of agreement.
December 28th.,1917: Sir J. Jordan to Foreign Office conies of above
correspondence.
January 19th, 1918:Sir H. May to Sir J. Jordan: Colonial Office has
been