CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903 — Page 393

330

4

Postal Agencies where their respective postage stamps surcharged with the word "China" are sold, and correspondence received for despatch and distribution to any part of the world.

France has been notably active in thus advertising herself, in the hope of augmenting her prestige.

At Canton a smart new Post Office has been erected on the Settlement, Shemeen, and boxes and offices for the sale of stamps and receipt of letters opened even in the native city. At Hoihow and Pakhoi, neither of which ports possess more than two or three French residents, French Postal Agencies have also been opened, and the stamps of Indo-China, surcharged respectively "Hoihow" and "Pakhoi" as per specimen enclosed, are offered for sale to the natives.

This Committee are not prepared to recommend that the British Government should enter into competition with this somewhat childish method of seeking for protégés and creating fictitious interests, but they think it well to point out the activity with which Continental Powers are working to make their influence felt in China, and they deem it desirable that British officials should be careful not to surrender any sign or symbol of authority now possessed in the Treaty Ports. More particularly on the British Concessions the privileges and advantages possessed should first of all be at the disposal of British subjects.

(Signed)

I am, &c.,

R. Chatterton Wilcox,

Acting Chairman.

Continental