The Basement is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government. 10.
23446
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
[June 10
334
Bed 2 JUL 04/
SECTION
Memorandum communicated to M. Cambon, June 15, 1904.
BY Article 11 (b) of the Final Protocol, signed at Peking on the 7th September, 1901, between the foreign Powers and China, a Conservancy Board, charged with the management and control of the works for the improvement of the Whang-po, was created.
Annex No. 17 of the Protocol which contained the stipulations concerning the composition of the Board, provided for three Chinese members:
1. The Taotai,
2. The Commissioner of Customs,
3. A Chinese Delegate to be appointed in virtue of § 4 (h) of Annex No. 17.
The Viceroy has delayed the appointment of the last-named official on various pretexts during a period which has now extended over a year and nine months.
On the 9th January, 1903, the Shanghae General Chamber of Commerce pointed out to the Senior Minister at Peking that foreign shipping was seriously affected owing to the difficulties and delays in discharging cargo outside Woosung due to the state of the outer bar, while the additional expense thereby entailed to shipowners was a great burden.
The Diplomatic Body thereupon addressed a note to Prince Ch'ing, bringing these representations to his notice, and requesting that the Viceroy of Nanking might be instructed to appoint the Chinese Delegate without delay.
As no progress was made in the matter the British, German, and United States' Ministers in December last addressed a Circular to the Diplomatic Body proposing that renewed representations should be made to the Chinese Government, and that they should be informed that unless the Chinese Delegate were nominated without delay the Board would be constituted and enter upon its duties without their participation.
The French Minister at Peking requested the instructions of his Government with regard to this proposal, but as he only asked for them by post it was evident that much time must elapse before they could be received.
His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris was therefore instructed to represent to the French Government that the Chinese Government should not be permitted to render nugatory by their obstruction one of the provisions of a Protocol which they had signed with Representatives of all the Powers, and to express the hope that the French Government would take the same view and telegraph to that effect to the French Minister at Peking.
Sir E. Monson addressed a communication to the French Government on the subject on the 12th January, and on the 16th February he received a note to the effect that the French Minister at Peking had promised to forward further particulars, and that it was hoped before long to be able to furnish the reply of the French Government and thus expedite the settlement of the question.
At the end of April Sir E. Monson, in reply to an inquiry, was informed that he might expect an early answer. The answer has, however, not yet been received.
His Majesty's Minister recently reported that the Viceroy at Nanking had proposed a scheme, to take the place of the scheme embodied in Annex 17 to the Final Protocol.
With the exception of the French Minister, who has stated that he must await instructions, all the Representatives at Peking of the Powers have accepted the view that the Viceroy has no locus standi for making proposals to set aside arrangements formally concluded between China and the Powers, and that the Consular Body at Shanghae, through whom the scheme had been forwarded to the Diplomatic Body, cannot discuss it unless specially authorized.
They consider that if the Chinese Government nominate their Delegate under Article 11 of the Protocol, that Government would then be in a position to put forward proposals, but must present them to the Diplomatic Representatives. If they do not avail themselves of their right to nominate a Delegate the Representatives consider that the Board can meet without the Chinese Delegate and proceed to work.
It is probable that if the French Minister would act with the other foreign Representatives in this matter China would be obliged to abandon her obstructive attitude and
Page 1082
The Basement is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government. 10.
23446
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
[June 10
334
Bed 2 JUL 04/
SECTION
Memorandum communicated to M. Cambon, June 15, 1904.
BY Article 11 (b) of the Final Protocol, signed at Peking on the 7th September, 1901, between the foreign Powers and China, a Conservancy Board, charged with the manage- ment and control of the works for the improvement of the Whang-po, was created.
Annex No. 17 of the Protocol which contained the stipulations concerning the composition of the Board, provided for three Chinese members :---
1. The Taotai,
2. The Commissioner of Customs,
3. A Chinese Delegate to be appointed in virtue of § 4 (h) of Annex No. 17.
The Viceroy has delayed the appointment of the last-named official on various
pretexts during a period which has now extended over a year and nine months.
On the 9th January, 1903, the Shanghae General Chamber of Commerce pointed out to the Senior Minister at Peking that foreign shipping was seriously affected owing to the difficulties and delays in discharging cargo outside Woosung due to the state of the outer bar, while the additional expense thereby entailed to shipowners was a great
burden.
The Diplomatic Body thereupon addressed a note to Prince Ch'ing, bringing these representations to his notice, and requesting that the Viceroy of Nanking might be instructed to appoint the Chinese Delegate without delay.
As no progress was made in the matter the British, German, and United States' Ministers in December last addressed a Circular to the Diplomatic Body proposing that renewed representations should be made to the Chinese Government, and that they should be informed that unless the Chinese Delegate were nominated without delay the Board would be constituted and enter upon its duties without their participation,
The French Minister at Peking requested the instructions of his Government with regard to this proposal, but as he only asked for them by post it was evident that much time must elapse before they could be received.
His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris was therefore instructed to represent to the French Government that the Chinese Government should not be permitted to render nugatory by their obstruction one of the provisions of a Protocol which they had signed with Representatives of all the owers, and to express the hope that the French Govern- ment would take the same view and telegraph to that effect to the French Minister at Peking.
Sir E. Monson addressed a communication to the French Government on the subject on the 12th January, and on the 16th February he received a note to the effect that the French Minister at Peking had promised to forward further particulars, and that it was hoped before long to be able to furnish the reply of the French Government and thus expedite the settlement of the question,
At the end of April Sir E. Monson, in reply to an inquiry, was informed that he might expect an early answer. The answer has, however, not yet been received.
His Majesty's Minister recently reported that the Viceroy at Nanking bad proposed a scheme, to take the place of the schenie embodied in Annex 17 to the Final Protocol.
With the exception of the French Minister, who has stated that he must await instruc- tions, all the Representatives at Peking of the Powers have accepted the view that the Viceroy has no focus standi for making proposals to set aside arrangements formally concluded between China and the Powers, and that the Consular Body at Shanghae, through whom the scheme had been forwarded to the Diplomatic Body, cannot discuss it unless specially authorized.
They consider that if the Chinese Government nominate their Delegate under Article 11 of the Protocol, that Government would then be in a position to put forward proposals, but must present them to the Diplomatic Representatives. If they do not avail themselves of their right to nominate a Delegate the Representatives consider that the Board can meet without the Chinese Delegate and proseed to work.
It is probable that if the French Minister would act with the other foreign Represen- atives in this matter China would be obliged to abandon her obstructive attitude and
(1082 p-
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