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authorities, and that owing to the indifference of Her Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking the Chamber were unable to obtain not only any redress from the injuries sustained, but even a reply from him to the Chamber's communications on the subject.
The Committee deemed it desirable to send to your Lordship a telegram on the 11th instant, when their letter would about be in your hands, to the following purport:—
"
"Chamber's letter First December position unchanged save "adoption further regulation favouring Natives matter serious "needing instant redress."
Your Lordship would thus be in possession of the actual present situa- tion at the time of the receipt of the Chamber's letter.
The Committee now wish to bring to your Lordship's notice that matters have not improved, but on the contrary have become worse; for many other articles of export, that used to be free to come in Foreign bottoms are now also, owing to the action of the native Customs, previously detailed, diverted to Chinese junks.
Some special imports, such as kerosine oil, will also be exclusively con- veyed by Chinese craft, for the native authorities have, it is stated, farmed the duties derivable from the goods to a syndicate of Chinese, who by their ability to undercut the duties, will prevent these imports by British shipping. What was feared at first from the inaction of Her Britannic Majesty's representative at Peking appears likely to be realised; for by one device or another it is quite possible the Chinese Government may strangle the British carrying trade in these waters.
The thin end of the wedge has been applied, and it only needed the indifference that has been displayed to induce the Chinese to further drive home their advantage.
ports.
Success in these Southern waters may quickly spread to the other treaty
The urgency of the matter is so very apparent, that it is to be hoped immediate and determined action will be taken to compel the observance by China of her treaty obligations.-I have, &c.,
To the MARQUESS OF SALISBURY, K.G.,
E. MACKINTOSH, Chairman,
Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, &e., &c., &c., Foreign Office, London.
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FOREIGN OFFICE, January 13th, 1892.
SIR,--I am directed by the Marquess of SALISBURY to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 1st ultimo and subsequent telegram of the 11th instant and to state that your representations as to the action of the Hoppo at Canton in levying lower duties on cargo carried by Chinese junks than on similar cargo shipped by vessels of other nationalities will receive His Lordship's immediate attention.---I am, &c.,
E. MACKINTOSH, Esq.,
T. V. LISTER.
Chairman of the HONGKONG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HONGKONG.
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
HONGKONG, 14th January, 1892,
SIE, I have the honour to wait upon you with the accompanying letter -in triplicate-addressed to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs drawing His Lordship's attention to the action of the Hoppo of Canton in granting to shippers by Native craft privileges denied to shippers in Foreign bottoms, and beg to request, by direction of my Committee, that His Excellency the Governor will be good enough to forward same by the -outgoing mail.-I have, &c.,
The Honourable W. MEIGH GOODMAN,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
F. HENDERSON, Secretary,
FOREIGN OFFICE, January 29th, 1892. SIR,With reference to my letter of the 13th instant respecting the action of the Hoppe at Canton, I am directed by the Marquess of SALISBURY to state that your communication of the 1st instant was referred to Consul ALABASTER, who is now in England, for his observations.
Consul ALARASTER points out, with reference to your appeal to the United States Treaty of 1880, that the United States have never themselves claimed the full execution of the third article, which is quoted in your letter of the 23rd September to Sir J. WALSHAM, and he appears to think that there would be great practical difficulty in carrying it completely into effect.
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