to control the 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 tons of British shipping entering the port, or survey and dredging contracts might be given away to serve national and political interests rather than the conservation of the river and the advancement of Shanghae. It must be borne in mind that up to the present moment there is no real plan for doing the work at all. There have been many schemes put forward, but the effect of these has been left in great uncertainty. It is, however, well known that immense injury may result from the erection of artificial works, except under the very best advice that can be obtained, and in the opinion of the China League the proposed Conservancy Board will naturally be anxious to justify its appointment, and so will be disposed to undertake extensive works without due consideration.
Special attention should be given to the present position of the local government of Shanghae, which, from a British point of view, is most satisfactory. In the first place there is a Municipal Council consisting of nine members; of these, no less than seven are always British, one American, and (as a matter of grace) one German. Next is the fact that the Commissioner of Customs is British, and next the further fact, which is also important, that the Inspector-General of Customs is British, and by the official guarantee of China must remain British so long as British trade predominates. The whole legal jurisdiction of Shanghae, therefore, as regards the collection and spending of revenue, is in British hands, and the status in that respect is most satisfactory, and it will be a matter of great misfortune if it is in any way weakened or interfered with. The creation of this International Board will very seriously affect the position of the Shanghae Municipality.
The Board is to have control of the River Whangpo and the Soochow Creek, both water-ways running right through the Shanghae Settlements. The Board will have its own staff of officials and a body of police, and it is obvious that possibilities of frequent friction between the Board and the Municipal Council will exist. This raises a very unfortunate probability of conflict of jurisdiction right in the heart of the foreign Settlement of Shanghae.
In the event of trouble arising, it may be safely assumed that the sympathy of the foreign Consular Body is more likely to be in favour of the International Board than of the Municipal Council.
From the point of view, therefore, of Chinese sovereign rights, as well as of British interests at Shanghae, my Committee conclude that the adoption of the Viceroy's scheme, carefully safeguarded by foreign supervision, is infinitely preferable to placing the control of the improvement of the River Whangpo in the hands of an International Board.
They are convinced that the arrangement set out in Annex 17 of the Protocol will, if carried into effect, unquestionably prove most disastrous to British interests. I have, &c.
A. R. BURKILL, Honorary Secretary.
(Signed)
[Comment is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
C. O.
[95342]
SECTION 1.
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received July 4.)
377 1
Red 18 JUL 04
Peking, May 18, 1904. (No. 178.) My Lord,
I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith a translation of a note which I have received from the Chinese Government announcing the preliminary steps taken, on the motion of the Superintendent of Northern Trade and the Governor of Shantung, for the opening of two ports in that province as branch Customs stations of China.
I have not yet heard what views the German Government take of this proposal to open to foreign trade and residence places which they possibly consider to be within their exclusive zone of influence.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
Inclosure in No. 1.
Prince Ching to Sir E. Satow.
ERNEST SATOW.
Peking, May 17, 1904
I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that in the third month of the present year (17th March to 15th April) the Superintendent of Northern Trade and the Governor of Shantung presented a joint Memorial to the Throne asking that outside the city of Chinan, in Shantung, China, should herself open a port, and that Wei Hsien, east of the provincial capital, and Chou Ts'un, within the jurisdiction of Chang Shan, should also be made commercial marts as branch Customs stations of Chinan. Their proposal having been approved by this Board on the 1st instant (15th May), we also memorialized the Throne, and an Imperial Rescript has been issued indorsing the suggestion.
As soon as the necessary Regulations have been drawn up and a date fixed on which they shall have come into force, I shall again have the honour to address your Excellency.
I avail, &c.
[2056 d-1]
2
to control the 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 tons of British shipping entering the port, or survey and dredging contracts might be given away to serve national and political interests rather than the conservation of the river and the advancement of Shanghae. It must be borne in mind that up to the present moment there is no real plan for doing the work at all. There have been many schemes put forward, but the effect of these has been left in great uncertainty. It is, however, well known that immense injury may result from the erection of artificial works, except under the very best advice that can be obtained, and in the opinion of the China League the proposed Conservancy Board will naturally be anxious to justify its appointment, and so will be disposed to undertake extensive works without due consideration.
Special attention should be given to the present position of the local government of Shanghae, which, from a British point of view, is most satisfactory. In the first place there is a Municipal Council consisting of nine members of these, uo less than seven are always British, one Americau, and (as a matter of grace) one German. Next is the fact that the Commissioner of Customs is British, and next the further fact, which is also important, that the Inspector-General of Customs is British, and by the official guarantee of China must remain British so long as British trade predominates. The whole legal jurisdiction of Shanghae, therefore, as regards the collection and spending of revenue, is in British hands, and the status in that respect is most satisfactory, and it will be a matter of great misfortune if it is in any way weakened or interferred with. The creation of this International Board will very seriously affect the position of the Shanghae Municipality.
The Board is to have control of the River Whangpo and the Soochow Creek, both water-ways running right through the Shanghae Settlements. The Board will have its own staff of officials and a body of police, and it is obvious that possibilities of frequent This raises a very friction between the Board and the Municipal Council will exist. unfortunate probability of conflict of jurisdiction right in the heart of the foreign Settle- ment of Shanghae.
In the event of trouble arising, it may be safely assumed that the sympathy of the foreign Consular Body is more likely to be in favour of the International Board than of the Municipal Council.
From the point of view, therefore, of Chinese sovereign rights, as well as of British interests at Shanghac, my Committec conclude that the adoption of the Viceroy's scheme, carefully safeguarded by foreign supervision, is infinitely preferable to placing the control of the improvement of the River Whangpo in the hands of an International Board.
They are convinced that the arrangement set out in Annex 17 of the Protocol will, if carried into effect, unquestionably prove most disastrous to British interests. I have, &c.
A. R. BURKILL, Honorary Secretary.
(Signed)
comment is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
C. O.
[95342
SECTION 1.
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received July 4.)
377 1
Red 18 JUL 04
Peking, May 18, 1904. (No. 178.) My Lord,
I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith a translation of a note which I have received from the Chinese Government announcing the preliminary steps taken, on the motion of the Superintendent of Northern Trade and the Governor of Shantung, for the opening of two ports in that province as branch Customs stations of Chinao.
I have not yet heard what views the German Government take of this proposal to open to foreign trade and residence places which they possibly consider to be within their exclusive zone of influence.
I have, &c.
Your Excellency,
(Signed)
Inclosure in No. 1.
Prince Ching to Sir E. Satow.
ERNEST SATOW.
Peking, May 17, 1904 I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that in the third month of the present year (17th March to 15th April) the Superintendent of Northern Trade and the Governor of Shantung presented a joint Memorial to the Throne asking that outside the city of Chinan, in Shantung China, should herself open a port, and that Wei Hsien, east of the provincial capital, and Chou Ts'un, within the jurisdiction of Chang Shan, should also be made commercial marts as branch Customs stations of Chinan. Their proposal having been approved by this Board on the 1st instant (15th May), we also memorialized the Throne, and an Imperial Rescript has been issued indorsing the suggestion.
As soon as the necessary Regulations have been drawn up and a date fixed on which they shail bave come into force, I shall again have the honour to address your Excellency.
I avail, &c.
[2056 d-1]
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.