the
concession
of facilities for trade as favorable as those granted to shance
The Cornmittee consider revision necessary
not a love for the protection of foreign commercial interests which are of corviss prevravily the object of
the Chamber's concert, but also and not
less in the interests of China berself and for the develop went and future. independence of the trade of her frouteer and westery provinces.
In Youth Chira there has been no
progress whatever made towards obtaining access to the Country from the olden days when Canton was the factory in which commerce centered; and beyoud the bity, the river with its
many
brauches and valuable tributaries, still remains closed to foreign enterprise, to Steais. Communication and to improvement and: progress in every for.
The changes however which the recent creaty concluded betwvien France and Chiva recognizes, render it impossible that China can longer neep. closed the provinces that border on Lonquin and it is probable that under Freuch influence enterprise will be directed towards diverting the trade of
these provvices into Channel's where science will remove natural obstacles
enlightened administration overcome difficulties. The natural trade routes therefore from the west by the unmerous brauches and tributaries of what is known
and
other
) aw
27
as the Canton river should in the interests
as
China and also of foreign nations trading with her be opened up as unreservedly possible to Steam Communication _ Under well Considered Customs regulations there should be no difficulty in protecting the revenue, and this bhamber instead of indicating sximply large bities to which foreigners should be admitted would express a hope that by
means of Passports and if weeessary by Security bonds foreign traders should have perfect freedom of travel and residence in the interior for all lawful purposes. By opening all navigable streams, by removing obstructions to navigation where such exist, and by allowing the pane natural and unrestricted development of the means Communication that other nations leave to private enterprise, China would secure Commercial advantages of great value, and strengthen herself greatly and social sense, Railways to the vigorous and to the highest development. of a country, but they are costly and should hardly precede the utmost development of water communication where there are navigable streams. The employment of steaders would cost the Government nothing as private enterprize would introduce and manitain them! The Committee do not desire to confine their recommendation to the opening up of South China although
urgently to press for Kwantung, Kwanger and Yunnan
in a
recent events lead them more
national
are exsential
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