[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
(No. 230.) Sir,
No. 1.
The Marquess of Salisbury to Mr. Bax-Ironside,
681 C.O. 32755 [October 25]
A SECTIORES 25 NOV 19
Foreign Office, October 25, 1899.
I HAVE received your despatch No. 260 of the 24th August, transmitting copies of further correspondence you have had with certain British shipping firms in Hong Kong with reference to the working of the Regulations for inland steam navigation in the West River.
You will since have received my despatch No. 174 of the 31st August, in which copies of communications received from the Board of Trade and from Mr. G. Jamieson, late Consul-General at Shanghai, on the subject were enclosed.
I therein expressed my concurrence in your opinion that sufficient time had not yet elapsed to afford a proper test of the working of these Regulations, and I stated that it would be desirable to take any opportunity that presented itself of urging on the Chinese Government the desirability of putting an end to the double system of taxation by the maritime and provincial customs.
As I informed you, however, in my despatch No. 211 of the 12th instant, I consider this remedy to be of too drastic a nature to be insisted upon in present circumstances, although, when occasion offers, it should be brought forward with a view to securing eventually a favourable consideration of the proposal by the Chinese authorities.
In the meanwhile I should be glad to learn whether, in your opinion, the remedy suggested by Mr. Jamieson in his Memorandum of the 8th August, viz., that the destination and not the steamer should be made the criterion of the duties payable, is one which would commend itself to the mercantile and shipping community.
I am, &c.
(Signed) SALISBURY.
(2242 B/1)
[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.)
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
(No. 230.) Sir,
No. 1.
The Marquess of Salisbury to Mr. Bax-Ironside,
681
C. O.
32755
[October 25]
A
SECTIORES 25 NOV 19
Foreign Office, October 25, 1899. I HAVE received your despatch No. 260 of the 24th August, transmitting copies of further correspondence you have had with certain British shipping firms in Hong Kong with reference to the working of the Regulations for inland steam navigation in the West River.
You will since have received my despatch No. 174 of the 31st August, in which copies of communications received from the Board of Trade and from Mr. G. Jamieson, late Consul-General at Shanghae, on the subject were inclosed.
I therein expressed my concurrence in your opinion that sufficient time had not yet elapsed to afford a proper test of the working of these Regulations, and I stated that it would be desirable to take any opportunity that presented itself of urging on the Chinese Government the desirability of putting an end to the double system of taxation by the maritime and provincial customs.
As I informed you, however, in my despatch No. 211 of the 12th instant, I consider this remedy to be of too drastic a nature to be insisted upon in present circumstances, although, when occasion offers, it should be brought forward with a view to securing eventually a favourable consideration of the proposal by the Chinese authorities.
In the meanwhile I should be glad to learn whether, in your opinion, the remedy suggested by Mr. Jamieson in his Memorandum of the 8th August, viz., that the destination and not the steamer should be made the criterion of the duties payable, is one which would commend itself to the mercantile and shipping community.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
SALISBURY.
(2242 b~~1]
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