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inasmuch as Japan's shipping is far more developed than
that of China, thus making any competition by Chinese
shipping interests absolutely impossible, the recognition
of such a right would constitute a death-blow to Chinese
shipping interests. They also urge that steps be taken to
secure the relinquishment by all the Powers of the uni-
lateral privileges they have heretofore enjoyed in China.
This indicates a movement which is gaining ground, yet
Clementi seems to me to put the telescope to the blind
eye - he refuses to see the writing on the wall:
I may add that the practice of allowing Customs
duties to be collected in the territory of one Power by
the agents of another Power on behalf of the Government of
the latter is no new device in international relations.
Even Lord Palmeraton, whose strong pro-British attitude no
one can question, admits that such an arrangement may be
justified by circumstances. When giving instructions to
Sir Henry Pottinger in 1841 he specifically drew the atten
tion of the departing Envoy to instances of such arrange-
ments then in force:-
"The Transit Duties which 3hipping and Goods going
"up the Scheldt are liable to pay to the Dutch Govern-
"ment, are collected not at Flushing, but at Antwerp.
"by Dutch Agents stationed in that Belgian Town.
*The Duties which the Hanoverian Government levies
"upon Shipping and Goods passing by the Fort of Stado
"on their way up the Elbe, are levied not at Stado or
"Brunhausen, but by a Hanoverian agent in the City of
"Hamburgh: and a plan has for some time past been
"under discussion between Denmark and other Powers,
"by..