181
No. 1.
Sir J. Walsham to the Earl of Iddesleigh.-(Received November 30)
(No. 288. Confidential.) My Lord,
82
REOP
REGO 3 JAN 37
Peking, October 11, 1886. I HAD the honour to forward to your Lordship, with my despatch No. 256 of the 12th August last, a summary of the proceedings of the Hong Kong Mixed Commission which had been prepared by Mr. Brenan, the Consular Delegate.
The Commission had then so far advanced their labours as to allow of Sir Robert Hart, one of the Chinese Delegates, going to Macao to undertake the task of obtaining from the Portuguese authorities some such voluntary or other kind of help against the system of opium smuggling as had been promised at Hong Kong, the execution of this promise having been made conditional on Sir Robert Hart's success.
Upon his starting for Macao, the Second Chinese Commissioner left for good, as he had other duties to perform elsewhere, and it was at first supposed that the Commission would not hold any more sittings; but I requested Mr. Brenan to remain until Sir Robert Hart's return, as it seemed to me clear that, whatever might be the result of his visit to Macao, the Commission could hardly do otherwise than take formal cognizance of his negotiations.
I am now glad that Mr. Brenan did remain, for although nothing was positively decided by Sir Robert Hart and the Portuguese Governor, whose term of office was just expiring, proposals were drawn up, and conditionally agreed to, which, if subsequently approved by the Portuguese Government, would enable the Hong Kong Government to make good their promise of assistance.
This being so, on the 7th ultimo the Mixed Commission renewed their sittings, at which Sir Robert Hart was authorized to act for his absent colleague, and the Delegates appear to have concluded their work satisfactorily, as will be seen by the accompanying copy of a Memorandum signed by them at their final meeting, and containing the bases of agreement at which they arrived.
I beg leave to inclose at the same time an account of the meetings which preceded the signature of the document in question, and also a copy of a Confidential despatch from Mr. Brenan, relating to Sir Robert Hart's negotiations at Macao.
Your Lordship will observe that until the Portuguese Government has had time to consider the distinct bases of arrangement concerning Macao, those of the Agreement signed at Hong Kong will not be submitted to the Legislative Council of the Colony.
Nothing further can therefore be done in the matter before next month.
I am forwarding a copy of this despatch, and of its inclosures, to the Viceroy of India.
I have, &c. (Signed) JOHN WALSHAM.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
MEMORANDUM of the Bases of Agreement arrived at after discussion between Mr. Byron Brenan, Her Majesty's Consul at Tien-tsin, Mr. James Russell, Puisne Judge of Hong Kong, and Sir Robert Hart, K.C.M.G., Inspector-General of Customs, and Shao Tao-Tai, Joint Commissioners for China, in pursuance of Article VII, section 3, of the Agreement between Great Britain and China signed at Chefoo on the 13th September, 1876, and of section 9 of the Additional Article to the said Agreement signed at London on the 18th July, 1885.
MR. RUSSELL undertakes that the Government of Hong Kong shall submit to the Legislative Council an Ordinance for the regulation of the trade of the Colony in raw opium subject to conditions hereinafter set forth, and providing-
1. For the prohibition of the import and export of opium in quantities less than one chest.
[257]
181
No. 1.
Sir J. Walsham to the Earl of Iddesleigh.-(Received November 30)
(No. 288. Confidential.) My Lord,
82
REOP
REGO 3 JAN 37
Peking, October 11, 1886. I HAD the honour to forward to your Lordship, with my despatch No. 256 of the 12th August last, a summary of the proceedings of the Hong Kong Mixed Commission which had been prepared by Mr. Brenan, the Consular Delegate.
The Commission had then so far advanced their labours as to allow of Sir Robert Hart, one of the Chinese Delegates, going to Macao to undertake the task of obtaining from the Portuguese authorities some such voluntary or other kind of help against the system of opium smuggling as had been promised at Hong Kong, the execution of this promise having been made conditional on Sir Robert Hart's success.
Upon his starting for Macao, the Second Chinese Commissioner left for good, as he had other duties to perform elsewhere, and it was at first supposed that the Commis- sion would not hold any more sittings; but I requested Mr. Brenan to remain until Sir Robert Hart's return, as it seemed to me clear that, whatever might be the result of his visit to Macao, the Commission could hardly do otherwise than take formal cognizance of his negotiations.
1 am now glad that Mr. Brenan did remain, for although nothing was positively decided by Sir Robert Hart and the Portuguese Governor, whose term of office was just expiring, proposals were drawn up, and conditionally agreed to, which, if subsequently approved by the Portuguese Government, would enable the Hong Kong Government to make good their promise of assistance.
This being so, on the 7th ultimo the Mixed Commission renewed their sittings, at which Sir Robert Hart was authorized to act for his absent colleague, and the Dele- gates appear to have concluded their work satisfactorily, as will be seen by the accom- panying copy of a Memorandum signed by them at their final meeting, and containing the bases of agreement at which they arrived.
I beg leave to inclose at the same time an account of the meetings which preceded the signature of the document in question, and also a copy of a Confidential despatch from Mr. Brenan, relating to Sir Robert Elart's negotiations at Macao.
Your Lordship will observe that until the Portuguese Government has had time to consider the distinct bases of arrangement concerning Macao, those of the Agree- ment signed at Hong Kong will not be submitted to the Legislative Council of the Colony.
Nothing further can therefore be done in the matter before next month.
I am forwarding a copy of this despatch, and of its inclosures, to the Viceroy of India.
I have, &c. (Signed) JOHN WALSHAM.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
MEMORANDUM of the Bases of Agreement arrived at after discussion between Mr. Byron Brenan, Her Majesty's Consul at Tien-tsin, Mr. James Russell, Puisne Judge of Hong Kong, and Sir Robert Hart, K.C.M.G., Inspector-General of Customs, and Shao Tao-Tai, Joint Commissioners for China, in pursuance of Article VII, section 3, of the Agreement between Great Britain and China signed at Chefoo on the 13th September, 1876, and of section 9 of the Additional Article to the said Agreement signed at London on the 18th July, 1885.
MR. RUSSELL undertakes that the Government of Hong Kong shall submit to the Legislative Council an Ordinance for the regulation of the trade of the Colony in raw opium subject to conditions hereinafter set forth, and providing-
1. For the prohibition of the import and export of opium in quantities less than one chest.
鬓
[257]
B
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