5
deduction in the amount of export duty payable will be made in proportion to the ascertained damage; and, should the merchant desire to be released from his obligation to export such damaged goods, his obligation will be cancelled and bond returned, on his paying to the customs a sum equal to two and a-half times the diminished export duty.
RULE XII.
The last barriers nearest the port of Hankow are, for the present:
1. At the railway station, Hankow-fluviale.
2. At the railway station, Hankow-ville.
3. At Nan Kuan.
4. At Chiao K'ou.
Hankow, March 1, 1903.
(No. 117.) My Lord,
No. 2.
Mr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received May 9.)
IN my despatch No. 80 of the 7th instant I had the honour of transmitting to your Lordship copy of a joint note to Prince Ching on the subject of prohibitions of the export of rice,
Peking, March 25, 1903.
I have now the honour to forward a translation of his Highness' answer, in which he takes note of the declaration of the Diplomatic Body that they do not object to prohibitions where some special reason, such as local scarcity exists, and states that instructions have been issued "in accordance with the tenor" of the doyen's despatch.
The lack of precision in this latter statement seemed to the foreign Representatives unsatisfactory; and the doyen, the United States' Minister, was commissioned to remind the Prince that they were only prepared to waive their objections provided a prohibition of export were made effective and absolute.
I had occasion to call on the Prince the day on which this subject was discussed by the Diplomatic Body, and as I had received a few days' earlier the instructions contained in your Lordship's despatch No. 21 of the 27th January, I informed his Highness of their tenor, and stated that His Majesty's Government would not recognize these prohibitions in future unless the conditions laid down in the joint note were strictly observed. To this his Highness answered that the Chinese Government were fully in agreement with the Diplomatic Body as to the necessity of a prohibition being made generally applicable, and that stringent instructions in this sense had been telegraphed that morning to the Nanking authorities.
I placed this assurance on record in the note of which I have the honour to inclose a copy.
As will be seen from the Circular of the doyen, of which a copy is also inclosed, a similar assurance was given to him by the Ministers of the Board of Foreign Affairs. It remains to be seen how far the actions of the Chinese Government correspond to these promises, but as they have now given assurances which practically amount to an acceptance of the proposal reported in Sir E. Satow's despatch No. 351, I propose for the present not to act on the instructions contained in your Lordship's despatch No. 21, except so far as to instruct His Majesty's Consular officers to report any evasions of existing prohibitions and to refuse their consent to the issue of any fresh ones unless the conditions laid down by the Diplomatic Body are satisfied.
If experience proves, as is unfortunately only too likely to be the case, that the Chinese Government do not act up to their promises, I shall inform them that no prohibitions will be recognized by His Majesty's Government.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
WALTER TOWNLEY.
Inclosure 1 in No. 2.
Prince Ch'ing to Doyen of Diplomatic Body.
March 12, 1903.
(Translation.)
ON the 7th of the second moon of the 29th year of Kuang Hsü I had the honour to receive your despatch saying that the Vth Article of the Tariff Regulations of the Treaty of Tien-tsin concluded between China and Great Britain stipulates that the export of rice or other cereals, no matter whether native or foreign, without distinction as to the place whence imported to any foreign port is prohibited; but that these commodities may be shipped from one open port of China to another on the same terms, as regards payment of duty, as cash; that at present Chinese officials at the ports have repeatedly forbidden the shipment of rice from one port to another, notwithstanding such action is in violation of the Treaty stipulations, thus causing, moreover, serious losses to the shippers engaged in this coasting trade; that, if at any place there should be some special reason, such as a local scarcity and the proclamation of prohibition should be uniformly adhered to, it ought not to be objected to on the part of the various foreign Governments, but that every time such proclamation of prohibition is issued, there are Regulations in accordance with which those requesting a permit are allowed, upon the payment of an additional duty, to engage in such export; that recently the Taotai of Shanghae has issued a Proclamation prohibiting the export of rice, yet is granting permission to export to those who are willing to comply with his demand for additional duty in violation of the Treaties, that this has been brought to the attention of the Diplomatic Corps by the Consular Body and you request that instructions may be sent to the local officials of the various ports.
I find, upon examination, that with regard to the export of rice and other cereals, it inquiry be made into the origin of its prohibition by local authorities, it will appear that their first intention was that only in case of a dearth or anxiety lest the food supplies of the people should become exhausted was such action to be taken. Now, since your despatch has been received, clearly declaring that in case of any special reason therefor, such as a local scarcity of grain, a Proclamation of prohibition ought not to be objected to by the Powers, it is evident that your Excellencies the Ministers cherish just sentiments, and also show a disposition to consider the interests of both sides, which the other Ministers and myself very highly appreciate. I have, therefore, at once sent instructions to the Superintendent of Trade for the South, in accordance with the tenor of your despatch, that he may issue orders to the said Taotai.
As in duty bound, I send this reply to your Excellency, that you may transmit it to the Ministers of the various Powers for their information.
Inclosure 2 in No. 2.
Mr. Townley to Prince Ching.
Peking, March 20, 1903.
ON the 17th instant I had the honour to hold a conversation with your Highness respecting the question of the prohibition against the movement of grain from one port to another. I pointed out that in replying to the joint note of the foreign Representatives, the Board of Foreign Affairs, in their note of the 12th March, had expressed appreciation of the view held by the Diplomatic Body, that in cases such as a local scarcity of grain a prohibition should not be objected to, but that no mention was made in this note of the stipulation that such prohibition should be absolute.
I informed your Highness that the question had been the subject of discussion at a meeting of the Diplomatic Body that morning, and that as news had been received from Shanghae, stating that the prohibition had just been prolonged indefinitely under the same conditions, whereby rice could still be conveyed to other ports on payment of 200 cash per picul, it had been decided that the doyen of the Diplomatic Body should shortly visit your Highness and again explain that the foreign Representatives could only consent to such prohibitions on the ground of local scarcity if they were made absolute, that is to say, if, during the period of such prohibitions, no rice whatever be allowed to leave the port.
Your Highness agreed that this view was entirely reasonable, and promised to issue instructions by telegram to the Shanghae Taotai, laying stress upon this point.
Page 180
Page 181
5
deduction in the amount of export duty payable will be made in proportion to the ascertained damage; and, should the merchant desire to be released from his obligation to export such damaged goods, his obligation will be cancelled and bond returned, on his paying to the customs a sum equal to two and a-half times the diminished export duty.
RULE XII.
The last barriers nearest the port of Hankow are, for the present:
1. At the railway station, Hankow-fluviale.
2. At the railway station, Hankow-ville.
3. At Nan Kuan.
4. At Chiao K'ou.
Honkow, March 1, 1903.
(No. 117.) My Lord,
No. 2.
Mr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received May 9.)
IN my despatch No. 80 of the 7th instant I had the honour of transmitting to your
Peking, March 25, 1903. Lordship copy of a joint note to Prince Ching on the subject of prohibitions of the export of rice,
I have now the honour to forward a translation of his Highness' answer, in which he takes note of the declaration of the Diplomatic Body that they do not object to prohibitions where some special reason, such as local scarcity exists, and states that instructions have been issued "in accordance with the tenor" of the doyen's despatch.
The lack of precision in this latter statement seemed to the foreign Representatives unsatisfactory; and the doyen, the United States' Minister, was commissioned to remind the Prince that they were only prepared to waive their objections provided a prohibition of export were made effective and absolute.
I had occasion to call on the Prince the day on which this subject was discussed by the Diplomatic Body, and as I had received a few days' earlier the instructions contained in your Lordship's despatch No. 21 of the 27th January, I informed bis Highness of their tenor, and stated that His Majesty's Government would not recognize these prohibitions in future unless the conditions laid down in the joint note were strictly observed. To this his Highness answered that the Chinese Government were fully in agreement with the Diplomatic Body as to the necessity of a prohibition being made generally applicable, and that stringent instructions in this sense had been telegraphed that morning to the Nanking authorities.
a copy.
It
This assurance I placed on record in the note of which I bave the honour to inclose As will be seen from the Circular of the doyen, of which a copy is also inclosed, a similar assurance was given to him by the Ministers of the Board of Foreign Affairs. remains to be seen how far the actions of the Chinese Government correspond to these promises, but as they have now given assurances which practically amount to an acceptance of the proposal reported in Sir E. Satow's despatch No. 351, I propose for the present not to act on the instructions contained in your Lordship's despatch No. 21, except so far as to instruct His Majesty's Consular officers to report any evasions of existing prohibitions and to refuse their consent to the issue of any fresh ones unless the conditions laid down by the Diplomatic Body are satisfied. is unfortunately only too likely to be the case, that the Chinese Government do not act If experience proves, as up to their promises, I shall inform them that no prohibitions will be recognized by His Majesty's Government.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
WALTER TOWNLEY.
Inclosure 1 in No. 2.
Prince Ch'ing to Doyen of Diplomatic Body.
March 12, 1903.
(Translation.)
ON the 7th of the second moon of the 29th year of Kuang Hsü I had the honour to receive your despatch saying that the Vth Article of the Tariff Regulations of the Treaty of Tien-tsin concluded between China and Great Britain stipulates that the export of rice or other cereals, no matter whether native or foreign, without distinction as to the place whence imported to any foreign port is prohibited; but that these commodities may be shipped from one open port of China to another on the same terms, as regards payment of duty, as cash; that at present Chinese officials at the ports have repeatedly forbidden the shipment of rice from one port to another, notwithstanding such action is in violation of the Treaty stipulations, thus causing, moreover, serious losses to the shippers engaged in this coasting trade; that, if at any place there should be some special reason, such as a local scarcity and the proclamation of prohibition should be uniformly adhered to, it ought not to be objected to on the part of the various foreign Governments, but that every time such proclamation of prohibition is issued, there are Regulations in accordance with which those requesting a permit are allowed, upon the payment of an additional duty, to engage in such export; that recently the Taotai of Shanghae has issued a Proclamation prohibiting the export of rice, yet is granting permission to export to those who are willing to comply with his demand for additional duty in violation of the Treaties, that this has been brought to the attention of the Diplomatic Corps by the Consular Body and you request that instructions may be sent to the local officials of the various ports.
I find, upon examination, that with regard to the export of rice and other cereals, it inquiry be made into the origin of its prohibition by local authorities, it will appear that their first intention was that only in case of a dearth or anxiety lest the food supplies of the people should become exhausted was such action to be taken. Now, since your despatch has been received, clearly declaring that in case of any special reason therefor, such as a local scarcity of grain, a Proclamation of prohibition ought not to be objected to by the Powers, it is evident that your Excellencies the Ministers cherish just sentiments, and also show a disposition to consider the interests of both sides, which the other Ministers and myself very highly appreciate. I have, therefore, at once sent instructions to the Superintendent of Trade for the South, in accordance with the tenor of your despatch, that he may issue orders to the said Taotai.
As in duty bound, I send this reply to your Excellency, that you may transmit it to the Ministers of the various Powers for their information.
Inclosure 2 in No. 2.
Mr. Townley to Prince Ching.
Your Highness,
Peking, March 20, 1903. ON the 17th instant I had the honour to hold a conversation with your Highness respecting the question of the prohibition against the movement of grain from one port to another. I pointed out that in replying to the joint note of the foreign Representa- tives, the Board of Foreign Affairs, in their note of the 12th March, had expressed appreciation of the view held by the Diplomatic Body, that in cases such as a local searcity of grain a probibition should not be objected to, but that no mention was made in this note of the stipulation that such prohibition should be absolute.
I informed your Highness that the question had been the subject of discussion at a meeting of the Diplomatic Body that morning, and that as news had been received from Shanghae, stating that the prohibition had just been prolonged indefinitely under the same conditions, whereby rice could still be conveyed to other ports on payment of 200 cash per pieul, it had been decided that the doyen of the Diplomatic Body should shortly visit your Highness and again explain that the foreign Representatives could only consent to such prohibitions on the ground of local scarcity if they were made absolute, that is to say, if, during the period of such prohibitious, no rice whatever be allowed to leave the port.
Your Highness agreed that this view was entirely reasonable, and promised to issue instructions by telegram to the Shanghae Taot ́ai, laying stress upon this point.
[2001 2-1]
175
Page 180Page 181
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.