This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
PRINTED FOR USE OF THE EASTERN DEPARTMENT, COLONIAL OFFICE.
No. 14.
PRINTED FOR USE OF THE EASTERN DEPARTMENT, COLONIAL OFFICE.
[October 14.]
SECTION 1.
No.
The Marquess of Salisbury to Mr. Choate.
Your Excellency,
Foreign Office, October 14, 1899.
WITH reference to my note of the 29th ultimo, I have the honour to state that I have carefully considered, in communication with my colleagues, the proposal contained in your Excellency's note of the 22nd September that a Declaration should be made by foreign Powers claiming "spheres of interest" in China, as to their intentions in regard to the treatment of foreign trade and interest therein.
By Article 1 of the proposed Declaration, such Powers would undertake not to interfere in any way with any Treaty port or any vested interest within any so-called "sphere of interest" or leased territory which they may have in China.
I have the honour to request your Excellency to explain to the United States' Government that the territory leased by this country at Hong Kong has been declared to be an integral part of the Colony, and that, as far as possible, the laws of the Colony are already applied to it, and that it therefore stands on a wholly different footing from a "sphere of interest." It is practically an extension, conditioned by a term of years, of an existing Colony, and serious inconveniences would obviously arise if a customs line were drawn across it, and its fiscal administration were to be conducted on rules differing entirely from those of the actual British territory on which it abuts.
With regard to Wei-hai Wei, which is also leased by Great Britain from China, there is no trade there at present, and no question has consequently arisen as to what customs duties, if any, should be levied.
Her Majesty's Government would be willing, in the event of customs duties being at any time imposed on goods reaching Wei-hai Wei by sea, that they should be collected on behalf of China at the Chinese Treaty rate, and the proceeds remitted to the Chinese Government.
In view of what is stated above, Her Majesty's Government consider that all mention of leased territory should be omitted from the proposed Declaration, which should be confined to spheres of interest.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
SALISBURY.
[2242 6—1]
2888x25 28484 sec.
Gagament.
This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
PRINTED FOR USE
EASTERN
No you
COLONIAL
14
PRINTED FOR USE
EASTERN
No
COLONIAL
OFFICE
OFFICE
[October 14.]
SECTION 1.
No..
The Marquess of Salisbury to Mr. Choate.
Your Excellency,
Foreign Office, October 14, 1899. WITH reference to my note of the 29th ultimo, I have the honour to state that I have carefully considered, in communication with my colleagues, the proposal contained in your Excellency's note of the 22nd September that a Declaration should be made by foreign Powers claiming " spheres of interest" in China, as to their intentions in regard to the treatment of foreign trade and interest therein.
By Article 1 of the proposed Declaration, such Powers would undertake not to interfere in any way with any Treaty port or any vested interest within any so-called
sphere of interest or leased territory which they may have in China.
CE
"
I have the honour to request your Excellency to explain to the United States' Govern- ment that the territory leased by this country at Hong Kong has been declared to be an integral part of the Colony, and that, as far as possible, the laws of the Colony are already applied to it, and that it therefore stands on a wholly different footing from a "sphere of interest.” It is practically an extension, conditioned by a term of years, of an existing Colony, and serious inconveniences would obviously arise if a customs line were drawn across it, and its fiscal administration were to be conducted on rules differing entirely from those of the actual British territory on which it abuts.
With regard to Wei-hai Wei, which is also leased by Great Britain from China, there is no trade there at present, and no question has consequently arisen as to what customs duties, if any, should be levied.
Her Majesty's Government would be willing, in the event of customs duties being at any time imposed on goods reaching Wei-hai Wei by sea, that they should be collected on behalf of China at the Chinese Treaty rate, and the proceeds remitted to the Chinese Government.
In view of what is stated above, Her Majesty's Government consider that all mention of leased territory should be omitted from the proposed Declaration, which should be confined to spheres of interest.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
SALISBURY.
[2242 6—1]
+768.
644
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