PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
ཀ ། ། :། །
מון זייד
C.O. 882
6 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
29276.
SIR,
78
No. 56.
TREASURY to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received September 7, 1900.)
[Answered by No. 62,]
Treasury Chambers, September 6, 1900. I AM directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to trans- mit to you, to be laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the enclosed copy of a letter and its enclosures which they have received from the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, recommending that steps should be taken to make the British dollar legal tender at Wei-Hai-Wei.
My Lords are not aware whether the local conditions at Wei-Hai-Wei are at present such that a notification by the administering officer would be likely to be suc- cessful in securing the acceptance of the British dollar as the equivalent of the Mexican dollar. If this effect could be secured they would be disposed to favour the step, in order that Government payments in the locality might be provided for without incurring the premium which is at present charged on those issues of the Mexican dollar which pass current. It would be necessary to have reasonable assurance that the British dollars would be freely accepted before instructions could be given for their issue for the pay of soldiers and sailors on the station.
I am to request that My Lords may be informed of Mr. Chamberlain's views on the proposal.
I am, &c.,
SIR,
Enclosure in No. 56.
E. W. HAMILTON.
Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation,
31, Lombard Street, London, E.C.,
August 30, 1900. I HAVE the honour to enclose extracts taken from letters just received from our Shanghai Branch and Head Office at Hong Kong, with reference to the British dollar. For many years the Mexican dollar was practically the only coin recognised in the far East, but owing to the expansion of trade and the uncertainty of a steady supply of coin from Mexico, it was found necessary a few years ago to take steps for the coinage of a British dollar.
The British dollar has been made legal tender in Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements, much to the advantage of British trade. These dollars are also current at Peking and some of the coast ports of China, including Tientsin. My object in now addressing you is to suggest the advisability of Her Majesty's Government making the British dollar legal tender at Wei-Hai-Wei. If that is done it will help very much to bring about the acceptance of the British dollar throughout China, with the result that it will supersede or, at any rate, circulate on equal terms with the Mexican dollar. Although the British dollar is practically of the same intrinsic value as the Mexican, the latter commands a considérable premium, constituting a heavy tax on traders generally, and especially on Her Majesty's Government. That will be done away with once the British dollar is accepted at all ports.
Sir Francis Mowatt, K.C.B.,
Secretary to the Treasury.
I have, &c.,
EWEN CAMERON,
Manager.
Extract from Letter from Manager, Shanghai, dated July 25th, 1900. Regarding the payment to the troops in the north, this is a splendid opportunity of introducing the British dollar all over China. As all sorts of dollars are taken in Tientsin, a steady influx of the British coin would soon place it first. there, and its acceptance in Chefoo and Wei-Hai-Wei would very soon follow.
79
Extract from Letter from Chief Manager, Hong Kong, dated July 27th, 1900. 'The British dollar is not current at Wei-Hai-Wei, although it is so at Peking and Tientsin. Will you lay the matter before the Government with a view to their taking steps to make it available there? At present all ships of war, and the troops as well, require the old Mexican dollar, which, as you know, is getting very scarce, and which of late has been at a premium of from 6 to 7 per cent. Now would be a good time to get our own dollar introduced, and if we can manage it during the time when so much Ianney is being expended in the north it will be a great boon for the future.
31789.
SIR,
No. 57.
ACTING COMMISSIONER PRENDERGAST to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received September 29, 1900.)
Wei-Hai-Wei, August 13, 1900.
I HAVE the honour to confirm the despatch to you of a code telegram dated July 14, 1900, of which the following is the transcript :-
"£2,500 wanted immediately for defraying
accommodation, &c., for refugees. Commission expenses being incurred in providing 2. On the outbreak of the " Boxer " rebellion a number of missionaries and other Europeans residing in the north of China were obliged to make their way hastily to the coast. Many of them arrived at Wei-Hai-Wei in a destitute condition, and the Com- missioner gave instructions that accommodation should be furnished for them by fitting un Chinese houses in a temporary manner, and in laying in a stock of provisions. Having no funds to meet this expenditure, the above telegram was despatched.
3. I have no definite information as to whether the Secretary of State for the Colonies is prepared to deal with such civil questions at Wei-Hai-Wei, and if this tele- gram and letter have been wrongly addressed, I shall be much obliged if they may be passed to the Secretary of State for War, with a view to obtaining a decision as to the provision of funds to meet expenditure incurred in housing and providing for refugees. 4. Of the above sum, for which covering authority is requested, £600 has been expended by the Naval Authorities, and further liabilities may be incurred by them.
5. Some portion of this expenditure may hereafter be properly charged to military
votes.
31789.
SIR,
I have, &c.,
J. W. PRENDERGAST, Colonel,
Acting Commissioner.
No. 58.
COLONIAL OFFICE to WAR OFFICE.
Downing Street, October 2, 1900. WITH reference to your letter of the 18th July last, respecting the provision of accommodation, &c., for refugees at Wei-hai-Wei, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to transmit to you a letter which has been received from Colonel Prender- gast confirming the despatch of the telegram copy of which was enclosed in the letter from this Department of the 16th July last.§
2. I am to ask that the Marquess of Lansdowne may be so good as to cause the Commissioner to be informed that this letter has been forwarded to the War Office, pending the completion of the arrangements for transferring the administration of Wei-hai-Wei from the War Office to this Department.
3. A letter will very shortly be addressed to you on the latter subject.
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS.
• 22664: not printed.
↑ No. 51.
‡ No. 57.
§ No. 50.