[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
76
[April 13.]
SECTION 1.
Mr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received April 13.) (No. 61.) My Lord,
Peking, February 16, 1903. WITH reference to Sir E. Satow's despatch No. 254 of the 5th September, 1902, upon the subject of the Whangpoo Conservancy Board, the constitution of which has not yet been completed by the appointment of a Chinese Delegate, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copy of a letter which has been addressed to Mr. Conger, as Senior Minister, by the General Chamber of Commerce of Shanghae.
In this letter the Chairman, Mr. Inglis, points out that the outer bar at Woosung has so much deteriorated of late that foreign shipping is seriously affected, and additional expense is incurred by ship-owners; and that there is even a danger that foreign steamers bound for Shanghae will not be able to enter the river at all.
At a meeting of the Diplomatic Body subsequently held at the United States' Legation to discuss this and other questions, it was decided that a joint note, copy of which I have the honour to inclose, should be addressed to Prince Ching for the purpose of representing the state of the bar at Woosung to His Highness' attention, and of requesting him to lose no time in moving the Imperial Government to instruct the Viceroy of Nanking to nominate without delay a Delegate to represent China on the Commission.
I have also the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copy of a letter addressed to the United States' Minister by the Senior Consul at Shanghae, notifying him that the Consul-General for Sweden and Norway has claimed that his country is entitled to a seat on the Whangpoo Conservancy Board, under paragraph (h) of section 4 of the Final Protocol.
Mr. Goodnow at the same time points out that the condition of the river grows daily worse, and that the Board is still unorganized, although sixteen months have elapsed since the signing of the Protocol.
I have, &c. (Signed)
WALTER TOWNLEY.
Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Shanghae General Chamber of Commerce to Mr. Conger.
Shanghae, January 9, 1903. ON the 22nd July I had the honour to address your Excellency concerning the delay caused to conservancy work on the Whangpoo, because the Viceroy at Nanking had failed to appoint a Representative on the Conservancy Board, and the assistance of the Diplomatic Corps was sought by this Chamber to have this remedied.
I have no desire to unnecessarily trouble your Excellency about this matter, but it is my duty to point out to you that the outer bar has of late so much deteriorated that foreign shipping is seriously affected owing to the difficulties and delays in discharging cargo outside Woosung, while the additional expense thereby entailed to ship-owners is a great burden.
There is even a danger that steamers bound for this port will be unable to enter the river at all, owing to the present state of the waterway, and, therefore, in the interest of foreign trade, the Committee of this Chamber earnestly beg the assistance of your Excellency and your colleagues in urging the Chinese authorities to carry out the terms of Annex 17 of the Protocol without delay.
I have, &c. (Signed) R. INGLIS, Chairman.
(1934-1)
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
76
[April 13.]
SECTION 1.
Mr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received April 13.) (No. 61.) My Lord,
Peking, February 16, 1903. WITH reference to Sir E. Satow's despatch No. 254 of the 5th September, 1902, upon the subject of the Whangpoo Conservancy Board, the constitution of which has not yet been completed by the appointment of a Chinese Delegate, I have the honour to transinit to your Lordship herewith copy of a letter which has been addressed to Mr. Conger, as Senior Minister, by the General Chamber of Commerce of Shanghae.
In this letter the Chairman, Mr. Inglis, points out that the outer bar at Woosung has so much deteriorated of late that foreign shipping is seriously affected, and additional expense is incurred by ship-owners; and that there is even a danger that foreign steamers bound for Shanghae will not be able to enter the river at all.
At a meeting of the Diplomatic Body subsequently held at the United States' Legation to discuss this and other questions, it was decided that a joint note, copy of which I have the honour to inclose, should be addressed to Prince Ching for the purpose of representing the state of the bar at Woosung to His Highness' attention, and of requesting him to lose no time in moving the Imperial Government to instruct the Viceroy of Nanking to nominate without delay a Delegate to represent China on the Commission.
I have also the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copy of a letter addressed to the United States' Minister by the Senior Consul at Shanghae, notifying him that the Consul-General for Sweden and Norway has claimed that his country is entitled to a seat on the Whangpoo Conservancy Board, under paragraph (h) of section 4 of the Final Protocol.
Mr. Goodnow at the same time points out that the condition of the river grows daily worse, and that the Board is still unorganized, although sixteen months have elapsed since the signing of the Protocol.
1 have, &c. (Signed)
WALTER TOWNLEY.
Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Shanghae General Chamber of Commerce to Mr. Conger.
Shanghae, January 9, 1903. ON the 22nd July I had the honour to address your Excellency concerning the delay caused to conservancy work on the Whangpoo, because the Viceroy at Nanking had failed to appoint a Representative on the Conservancy Board, and the assistance of the Diplomatic Corps was sought by this Chamber to have this remedied.
I have no desire to unnecessarily trouble your Excellency about this matter, but it is my duty to point out to you that the outer bar bas of late so much deteriorated that foreign shipping is seriously affected owing to the difficulties and delays in discharging cargo outside Woosung, while the additional expense thereby entailed to ship-owners is a great burden.
There is even a danger that steamers bound for this port will be unable to enter the river at all, owing to the present state of the waterway, and, therefore, in the interest of foreign trade, the Committee of this Chamber earnestly beg the assistance of your Excel- lency and your colleagues in urging the Chinese authorities to carry out the terms of Annex 17 of the Protocol without delay.
I have, &c. (Signed) R. INGLIS, Chairman.
(1934 -1]
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