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in the conversations which he had with the Ministers, he explained in detail the grounds which rendered a reform of inland taxation upon foreign goods a matter of urgent necessity in the interests of trade, while it would not prejudice the fiscal interests of the Chinese Government, and he had now the honour to lay before the Yamên a résumé of his remarks.
The Yamên have to observe, in reply, that the conditions under which the levy of li-kin as an aid to State expenditure is conducted in different provinces are dissimilar, and there is consequently a lack of uniformity in procedure.
The distance from a given port to a place in the interior is a variable quantity in comparison with the distance from other ports to other points, and li-kin barriers are added or reduced in numbers from time to time. The amount, also, levied thereat is impossible of reduction to a uniform scale, while it is a matter of entire impossibility to hazard an opinion as to the existence or non-existence of abuses in connection therewith.
The note under acknowledgment states that upon the arrival of "such goods" at the place indicated in the Transit Pass, a special levy of other duties is made, in some instances to such an extent as to amount to double the duties en route avoided by the Transit Pass, in consequence of which treatment the merchants are afraid to take out Transit Passes, with the result that uncertificated goods are in excess of certificated goods. A request was accordingly made that, in conformity with the rule in force at the custom-houses, the Tariff dues of each article leviable at the li-kin barriers should be printed and published. His Excellency felt assured that such an arrangement would not be prejudicial to the Imperial fiscal interests and would be of benefit to trade generally.
The Prince and Ministers agree with his Excellency in the practicability of this arrangement, and they will now write to the various provincial Governments requesting them to take steps to effect a reform in this direction by ascertaining all the places at which barriers are established and publishing specific Tariffs of the rates leviable thereat, with a view to the prevention of deception or other irregularities at such barriers.
They would add that the inevitable nature of the necessity for the levy of toll upon goods in the form of li-kin has been proclaimed in the Imperial Decree issued upon the 25th instant, and upon the perusal of this Decree his Excellency must have appreciated the force of the explanation.
A necessary communication, &c.
(Translation.)
Inclosure 3 in No. 49.
The Secretaries of the Tsung-li Yamên to M. Arendt.
THE Secretaries of the Yamên present their compliments to M. Arendt and beg to inform him, with reference to the question he put just now when visiting the Yamên, that they are in receipt of instructions from the Ministers to the effect that the question of the differential duty upon certificated goods is included in the arrangements to be made for effecting a reorganization [referred to in the Yamên's note].
Peking, January 30, 1886.
Inclosure 4 in No. 49.
My dear Colleague,
M. von Brandt to Mr. O'Conor.
Peking, February 3, 1886. DURING the last few weeks I have had occasion to discuss with the Tsung-li Yamên the question of inland taxation on foreign goods. I have tried to avoid as much as possible all questions of principle, and have confined myself to two points of practical importance: the publication of the lists of li-kin and other tax stations in the interior, as well as of their Tariffs, and the abolition of differential duties imposed on foreign goods sent inland under Transit Pass after their arrival at the place of destination.
My note to the Yamên, dated the 23rd January, of which I inclose a copy of the Chinese text, will show you the arguments of which I have made use during my negotiations with the Chinese Ministers on these two points; the Yamên's answer of the 28th January, of which I inclose also the Chinese text, did not seem to me sufficiently explicit as to the abolition of differential duties; I therefore sent M. Arendt to the Yamên to obtain fuller declarations on this subject. From his Report, as well as from the letter to the Secretaries of the Yamên, of which I also forward copies, you will see that the
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in the conversations which he had with the Ministers, he explained in detail the grounds which rendered a reform of inland taxation upon foreign goods a matter of urgent necessity in the interests of trade, while it would not prejudice the fiscal interests of the Chinese Government, and he had now the honour to lay before the Yamên a résumé of his remarks.
The Yamén have to observe, in reply, that the conditions under which the levy of li-kin as an aid to State expenditure is conducted in different provinces are dissimilar, and there is consequently a lack of uniformity in procedure.
The distance from a given port to a place in the interior is a variable quantity in comparison with the distance from other ports to other points, and li-kin barriers are added or reduced in numbers from time to time. The amount, also, levied thereat is impossible of reduction to a uniform scale, while it is a matter of entire impossibility to hazard an opinion as to the existence or non-existence of abuses in connection therewith.
The note under acknowledgment states that upon the arrival of "such goods" at the place indicated in the Transit Pass, a special levy of other duties is made, in some instances to such an extent as to amount to double the duties en route avoided by the Transit Pass, in consequence of which treatment the merchants are afraid to take out Transit Passes, with the result that uncertificated goods are in excess of certificated goods. A request was accordingly made that, in conformity with the rule in force at the custom- houses, the Tariff dues of each article leviable at the li-kin barriers should be printed and published. His Excellency felt assured that such an arrangement would not be prejudicial to the Imperial fiscal interests and would be of benefit to trade generally.
The Prince and Ministers agree with his Excellency in the practicability of this arrangement, and they will now write to the various provincial Governments requesting them to take steps to effect a reform in this direction by ascertaining all the places at which barriers are established and publishing specific Tariffs of the rates leviable thereat, with a view to the prevention of deception or other irregularities at such barriers.
They would add that the inevitable nature of the necessity for the levy of toll upon goods in the form of li-kin has been proclaimed in the Imperial Decree issued upon the 25th instant, and upon the perusal of this Decree his Excellency must have appreciated the force of the explanation.
A necessary communication, &c.
(Translation.)
Inclosure 3 in No. 49.
The Secretaries of the Tsung-li Yamên to M. Arendt.
THE Secretaries of the Yamên present their compliments to M. Arendt and beg to inform him, with reference to the question he put just now when visiting the Yamên, that they are in receipt of instructions from the Ministers to the effect that the question of the differential duty upon certificated goods is included in the arrangements to be made for effecting a reorganization [referred to in the Yamên's note].
Peking, January 30, 1886.
Inclosure 4 in No. 49.
My dear Colleague,
M. von Brandt to Mr. O'Conor.
Peking, February 3, 1886. DURING the last few weeks I have had occasion to discuss with the Tsung-li Yamên the question of inland taxation on foreign goods. I have tried to avoid as much as possible all questions of principle, and have confined myself to two points of practical importance: the publication of the lists of li-kin and other tax stations in the interior, as well as of their Tariffs, and the abolition of differential duties imposed on foreign goods sent inland under Transit Pass after their arrival at the place of destination.
My note to the Yamên, dated the 23rd January, of which I inclose a copy of the Chinese text, will show you the arguments of which I have made use during my negotiations with the Chinese Ministers on these two points; the Yamên's answer of the 28th January, of which I inclose also the Chinese text, did not seem to me sufficiently explicit as to the abolition of differential duties; I therefore sent M. Arendt to the Yamên obtain fuiler declarations on this subject. From his Report, as well as from the letter to the Secretaries of the Yamên, of which I also forward copies, you will see that the
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