CO129-286 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black Governor Sir Blake & Public Offices - 1898 [11-12] — Page 565

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China Association. Report for 1897-98, and Memorials to Lord Salisbury of 14th April and 8th July 1898.

Lettres d'Extréme Orient: Saigon-Le Developpement de L'Indo-Chine. Pierre Leroy-Beaulieu (L'Economiste Français, 1898). Our Trade with Western China, by J. F. Fraser. and its Trade, by A. J. Little (Contemporary Review, 1898).

The Yangtse Valley Report on the Trade of Central and Southern China. Consul F. S. A. Bourne (1898).

Report of the Mission to China of the Blackburn Chamber of Commerce. F. S. A. Bourne, H. Neville, and H. Bell (1898).

Journey from Hong Kong to Ssumao. Consul Jamieson (1898). Report of a Journey to North Ssuchuan; and Journey from Yachou to Tachien-lu. Consular Assistant G. J. Litton (1898).

China in Transformation. A. R. Colquhoun (1898).

The Yangtse Chiang. Consul W. R. Carles (R. G. S. Journal, 1898). Among various official papers and publications the following have been found most useful:-Yunnan, Trade, &c., by Mr. J. Turner, Agent for the Arracan Company (1897); P. W. Memos. on Ssumao (1898); Consular Re- ports (especially those on Chungking, Wuchow, and Pakboi); Board of Trade Journals (especially November 1897 and April and July 1898); Report on Shan Hills Railway Surveys (P. W. D. Proceedings, March 1891); Con- ventions between Great Britain and China, 1st March and 6th September 1894 and 4th February 1897; Declaration between England and France, 15th January 1896; Notes by Mr. F. R. Bagley, Chief Engineer, Burma Railways Company.

I.-BURMA-CHINA ÖVERLAND TRADE.

Diverse estimates have been formed in recent years as to the extent of Estimates of the Burma-China trade. In 1877 it was placed at 250,0001. annually by the Trade. Captain Cooke. In 1890 Mr. Hosie valued it at 500,0007, and Prince Henry of Orleans has adopted the same estimate. M. Rocher stated in 1894 on the authority of the farmers-general of likin in Yunnan that it amounted to 160,0007, but he suggested that his informants had an interest in under- stating the amount. Although much information is contained in the official reports on trade, it is nevertheless impossible to gauge accurately the dimensions of a trade which is partly indirect and passes by many routes. Besides the direct trade given below, a great deal of the trade between Burma and the Northern Shan States and some of that between Burma and the Southern Shan States is transit trade with China, while even Zimmé (Chiengmai) serves as an entrepôt for this commerce. But though it is impossible to show the full course of trade, it may be useful to furnish tables of the direct insport and export trade between Burma and China, together with tables of the trade between Burma and the North and South Shan States, a subject interesting in itself apart from its relation to the topic under discussion.

The period here dealt with extends from 1890-91 to 1997-98, details for Registration earlier years being incomplete or untrustworthy to a degree that renders of Trade. them of little service for purposes of comparison. The registration of frontier trade was not introduced into Upper Burma until June 1889, and it was imperfect for some time afterwards. Even since revised, simplified, and generally more effective measures of registration have been adopted, reports show that traders frequently make false returns, or evade registration by following circuitous routes. It is thought, for instance, that a considerable illicit traffic in opium is carried on. In spite, however, of incompleteness and inaccuracy, the returns are of value in indicating both the extent of the trade and the kinds of commodities that are interchanged.

It has been suggested in the trade reports that the enforcement of Article IX. of the Convention of 1st March 1594 between Great Britain and China, by which the Manwyne and Sansi routes were opened, prevented traders from adopting routes other than the Bhamo route in 1895-96. But this clause has been usefully modified by the Agreement of 4th February 1897, under which other routes may be opened if the Boundary Commissioners agree that such measures would be in the interests of trade.

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