CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903 — Page 72

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now ply,

within the waters of a port,

or from one open port or ports to another open

port or ports,

or from one open port or ports to places inland

and thence back to such port or ports,

she may land or ship passengers or cargo at any

recognised places of trade passed in the course of the

voyage that is to say she may trade at all places

where native craft trade.

The only restriction now placed upon a steamer

trading on the inland waters of China, so far as

the Chinese Government.

places of trade goes, is that she may not ply exclu-

sively between inland places without the consent of

That is to say suppose A,

B, C, and D, are treaty ports she may not ply between

two places between A. and B., or between B. and C., or

between C. and D., or between places higher up than

D., without returning to one of the treaty ports, un-

less she has the authority of the Chinese Government.

The Chinese professed to be afraid that foreign

vessels might establish themselves on stations away

from the Treaty ports and away from Consular control,

and occasion trouble, and this objection was surmount-

ed by my proposing that they should allow us to trade

at places between and beyond Treaty ports provided

that the steamers returned to Treaty ports, unless

specially permitted to remain away, a condition which

would involve no practical interference with trade.

As Your Lordship surmises the stipulation in rule

No.8 was expressly framed to guard against any at-

tempt on the part of the Chinese to continue the

prohibition which under the old rules prevented re-

gistered vessels from trading at places between

Treaty ports when passing such places in the course

of their voyages, and it will only be necessary to

adhere to the new rule No.8 to prevent a return to

the former disability.

(Signed)

I have, &c.,

Jas. L. Mackay.

vessels