496
I have, &c..
ARTHUR YOUNG.
92
Enclosure 4 in No. 25.
RESOLUTION.
True extract from Minutes of 4th April, 1917.
THE Acting Colonial Secretary moved :---
That this Council, having taken into consideration the messages of His Excel- lency the Governor dated the 11th November, 1916, and the 6th March, 1917, on the subject of the commercial and industrial policy of the United Kingdom after the conclusion of the War and the invitation of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Government of Jamaica to furnish a statement of its views on the recommendations of the Economic Conference of the Allies and on the questions submitted to the committee appointed to consider the commercial and industrial policy of the United Kingdom so far as the circumstances of this Colony appear to call for special attention in connexion with them, hereby endorses the report from the special committee of the Board of Management of the Jamaica Agricul- tural Society in co-operation with a committee of the Merchants' Exchange which forms an enclosure to His Excellency's message dated the 6th March, 1917.
Seconded by the Attorney-General and agreed to.
30216
I certify this to be a true extract,
PHILIP STERN,
Clerk of the Council
93
neutrals in this War from bringing capital into the Federated Malay States. I further consider that it is not advisable that the granting or refusing of licences to the subjects of our Allies and neutrals should be left to the Government.
I consider, however, that such a restriction might be applied to the subjects of countries hostile to us in this War after the period of years has elapsed during which they should not, in my opinion, be allowed to hold land or to establish themselves in any trade, shipping, or banking concern.
I am in favour of reciprocity, and if a country does not permit a British subject, or a subject of the rulers of the Federated Malay States, to hold land in that country, then I consider that the Federated Malay States should be permitted, if they so desire, to pass an enactment to the effect that no subject of that country shall be permitted to hold land in the Federated Malay States.
(v) That British manufacturing firms should be urged to confine their
agencies in the Federated Malay States exclusively to British firms.
I do not consider that urging or persuading in such matters would meet with success; you might as well try and urge or persuade British firms here not to buy or sell any but British goods and to refuse to be agents for foreign concerns. should, of course, be glad to see British manufacturing firms confine their agencies -exclusively to British firms in the Federated Malay States, but unless an enactment is passed requiring it I see no prospect of its being carried out.
I may add that the German firm Behn Meyer & Company, prior to the War, was agent in the Colony for twenty-one British concerns.
(vi) Additional information concerning imports. This is solely a local matter.
No. 26.
lului
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
Lil.O.885/25
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
FEDERATED MALAY STATES.
THE HIGH COMMISSIONER to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 14th June, 1917.)
(No. 133.) SIR,
Government House, Singapore, 3rd May, 1917. WITH reference to your predecessor's circular despatches of the 25th September and 24th October, 1916,* requesting an expression of the views of this Government on the question of the commercial and industrial policy to be adopted after the War, I have the honour to forward a copy of the recommendations made by the Chamber of Commerce of the Federated Malay States.
2.
The recommendations are:-
(i) A commission representing all commercial interests to be appointed at home, to frame a set of definite questions to be placed before every Chamber of Commerce throughout the Empire.
This suggestion has its advantages, and I hope that it may be carried out.
(ii) The imposition of a protective tariff on all goods of other than British
origin imported into the Federated Malay States.
I am in favour of this, provided that it does not involve the placing of any tax on food.
(iii) That a trading tax be imposed on all nationals of present enemy countries, the amount to be based on a percentage of the annual turn-
over.
This is a restriction which was suggested by both the Chambers of Commerce, Singapore and Penang, see paragraph 3 (iv) of my Straits Settlements despatch No. 114, of 23rd March, 1917.† I agree with the recommendation, but I am in favour of going further and providing that no subject of a nation hostile to us in this War shall be permitted to hold land, or to establish himself in any trade, shipping, or banking concern for a period of years.
(iv) That no company, firm, or individual be allowed to trade, carry on business, or hold land in the Federated Malay States except under licence. The registration of partnerships to be made compulsory. This question of registration of partnerships is a local matter, and can be dealt with locally, but with regard to the remainder of the recommendation it would tend, in my opinion, to prevent subjects of countries which were our Allies or
*No. 1, and 45879: not printed.
+ No. 28.
Enclosure in No. 26.
Kuala Lumpur, Federated Malay States. Recommendations by the Federated Malay States Chamber of Commerce for measures to be taken to stimulate and protect British trade (so far as concerns the Federated Malay States) within the Empire after the War.
1. In order that a concise and comprehensive summary of views for the furtherance of British trade may be obtained, this Chamber recommends the appointment of a commission in Great Britain representing all commercial interests and acting in co-operation with Government, to frame a set of definite questions to be placed before every Chamber of Commerce throughout the Empire, or to British consuls where no British Chamber of Commerce exists. The same to be accom- panied with instructions to reply solely with regard to local interests.
2. This Chamber would be prepared to support the imposition of a protective tariff on all goods of other than British Imperial origin imported into the Federated Malay States, provided such policy is adopted generally as an Imperial policy.
3. That a trading tax be imposed on all nationals of present enemy countries, the amount to be based on a percentage of the annual turnover.
4. That no company, firm, or individual be allowed to trade, carry on business,
or hold land in the Federated Malay States except under licence. Further, that the registration of partnerships be made compulsory.
5.
That British manufacturing firms should be urged to confine their agencies
in the Federated Malay States exclusively to British firms.
6. That there be added to the duties of the Department of Trade and Customs, Federated Malay States, the compilation and issue at regular intervals to the mercantile community of tabulated information showing the country of origin, quantities, value, and class of all imports to the country, and that, if necessary, an additional official be added to the departmental staff for this purpose.
R. GLEESON,
General Secretary,
G 2
Federated Malay States Chamber of Commerce.
}
94