This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.] C. O.
# CHINA TRADE
## CONFIDENTIAL
No. 1.
35858
RECO333
[August 7.]
## SECTION 1.
REGE 28 SEP
The Marquess of Lansdowne to Mr. Townley.
(No. 228.) Sir,
Foreign Office, August 7, 1903. I HAVE received from His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton a copy of a despatch, No. 18, addressed to you on the 1st June last, reporting further particulars in connection with the attempt on the part of the Chinese authorities at Canton to impose an additional tax on foreign opium.
I request that you will convey to Mr. Scott the expression of my approval of his action in obtaining the withdrawal of the Proclamation sanctioning the commencement of the new taxation.
No. 2.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
LANSDOWNE.
Sir,
Foreign Office to Board of Trade.
Foreign Office, August 7, 1903, WITH reference to my letters of the 1st and 5th instant, I am directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to transmit to you, to be laid before the Board of Trade, a copy of a telegram from His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking,* stating that he has addressed repeated remonstrances to the Chinese Government, both on the subject of the further attempt on the part of the local authorities at Canton to impose an additional tax on opium and of the establishment by the provincial authorities of the Province of Kiangsi of a new opium li-kin station at Kan-chou-fu for the collection of a new tax on opium, passing into that province from Canton.
It will be observed that Mr. Townley considers that no argument will be effective, except a warning to the Central Government that the "Additional Article" to the Chefoo Convention will be abrogated, if such taxation is persisted in.
In these circumstances, an inquiry has been made of the Secretary of State for India whether he still adheres to the view expressed in the India Office letter of the 19th November last, a copy of which is inclosed herewith,† that it would be undesirable to address a warning to the Chinese Government of the nature suggested by Mr. Townley.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
T. H. SANDERSON.
No. 3.
Sir,
Foreign Office to India Office.
Foreign Office, August 7, 1903.
I AM directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to transmit to you, to be laid before the Secretary of State for India, copies of two despatches from His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking, and from His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton,§ relative to a further attempt on the part of the Chinese local authorities to impose an additional tax on opium.
It will be seen from Mr. Scott's despatch that the provincial authorities, in spite of their promise not to proceed further with the matter until it has been discussed at Peking, issued a Proclamation sanctioning the commencement of the taxation, but that His Majesty's Consul-General succeeded in obtaining its withdrawal.
*Mr. Townley, No. 195, Telegraphic, August 1, 1903.
†Mr. Townley, No. 223, June 4, 1903.
[2091 g−1]
↑ India Office, November 19, 1902.
§ Mr. Scott, No. 18, June 1, 1903.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.] C. O.
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
35858
RECO333
[August 7.]
SECTION 1.
REGE 28 SEP
The Marquess of Lansdowne to Mr. Townley.
(No. 228.) Sir,
Foreign Office, August 7, 1903. I HAVE received from His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton a copy of a despatch, No. 18, addressed to you on the 1st June last, reporting further particulars in connection with the attempt on the part of the Chinese authorities at Canton to impose an additional tax on foreign opium.
I request that you will convey to Mr. Scott the expression of my approval of his action in obtaining the withdrawal of the Proclamation sanctioning the commencement of the new taxation.
No. 2.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
LANSDOWNE.
Sir,
Foreign Office to Board of Trade.
Foreign Office, August 7, 1903, WITH reference to my letters of the 1st and 5th instant, I am directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to transmit to you, to be laid before the Board of Trade, a copy of a telegram from His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking,* stating that he has addressed repeated remonstrances to the Chinese Government, both on the subject of the further attempt on the part of the local authorities at Canton to impose an additional tax on opium and of the establishment by the provincial authorities of the Province of Kiangsi of a new opium li-kin station at Kan-chou-fu for the collection of a new tax on opium, passing into that province from Canton.
It will be observed that Mr. Townley considers that no argument will be effective, except a warning to the Central Government that the "Additional Article" to the Chefoo Convention will be abrogated, if such taxation is persisted in.
In these circumstances, an inquiry has been made of the Secretary of State for India whether he still adheres to the view expressed in the India Office letter of the 19th November last, a copy of which is inclosed herewith,† that it would be undesirable to address a warning to the Chinese Government of the nature suggested by Mr. Townley.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
T. H. SANDERSON.
No. 3.
Sir,
Foreign Office to India Office.
Foreign Office, August 7, 1903.
I AM directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to transmit to you, to be laid befor the Secretary of State for India, copies of two despatches from His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking, and from His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton,§ relative to a further attempt on the part of the Chinese local authorities to impose an additional tax on opium.
It will be seen from Mr. Scott's despatch that the provincial authorities, in spite of their promise not to proceed further with the matter until it has been discussed at Peking, issued a Proclamation sanctioning the commencement of the taxation, but that His Majesty's Consul-General succeeded in obtaining its withdrawal.
*Mr. Townley, No. 195, Telegraphic, August 1, 1903.
Mr. Townley, No. 223, June 4, 1903.
[2091 g−1]
↑ India Office, November 19, 1902.
§ Mr. Scutt, No. 18, June 4, 1903.
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