CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904 — Page 586

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there be no objection, the Board should take steps, as they may think fit, to bring the Regulations to the notice of the public.

Additional copies of the Regulations and the detailed Rules are forwarded for the convenience of the Board, and I am to say that applicants from whom his Lordship has received inquiries on this subject will be informed that the Regulations are in the possession of your Department.

I am, &c.

(Signed) F. A. CAMPBELL

* Extra copies of Regulations.

(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

C. O.

CHINA TRADE.

CONFIDENTIAL.

583

36070

Thee.

[September 23.1

SECTION 1.

- 20 OCT 04

No. 1.

Acting Consul-General Campbell to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received September 23.)

(No. 16. Confidential.)

Canton, August 20, 1904. My Lord,

I HAVE the honour to inclose, for your Lordship's information, a copy of a Confidential despatch which I addressed to-day to His Majesty's Minister at Peking, on the subject of the removal of the artificial obstructions in the Canton River. also inclose a copy of a private letter sent to Sir Ernest Satow on the 18th July, which will help to explain the delay which has occurred.

I understand from His Majesty's Minister that copies of my despatches Nos. 23 of the 6th April, No. 25 of the 11th April, No. 31 of the 29th April, and No. 48 of the 20th June on this subject have already been sent to your Lordship from Peking.

I have, &c. (Signed) C. W. CAMPBELL.

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

Acting Consul-General Campbell to Sir E. Satow.

(No. 70. Confidential.) Sir,

Canton, August 20, 1904. WITH reference to my despatch No. 48, Confidential, of the 20th June, I had the honour to telegraph to you on the 4th July suggesting that Sir Robert Hart should be moved to send telegraphic instructions to the Commissioner of Customs to commence work on the barriers without further delay. I was informed privately at the time that nothing was being done, and that the delay was caused by the insufficient authority of the Commissioner of Customs.

Shortly afterwards I ascertained that Mr. Tyler had commenced a thorough survey of the barrier reaches of the river, with the assistance of the revenue cruiser "Fei Hu" and a Chinese gun-boat lent by the Viceroy. This survey was conducted assiduously, and was completed only a few days ago. While it was in progress an arrangement was, I am informed, come to between Sir Robert Hart and the Provincial Govern- ment under which a sum up to 100,000 taels is to be loaned, if necessary, out of the tonnage dues fund for the barrier works. On the 17th instant advertisements, a copy of which I have the honour to inclose, were published in the Hong Kong press calling for offers in connection with the removal of the barriers in the Canton River."

The offers invited indicating a partial removal of the barriers only, I have ascertained that they are intended to include such portions as obstruct the navigable channel, and I take it that, in view of the Imperial Maritime Customs, this is all that is necessary to fulfil the terms of Article V of the Commercial Treaty.

There is no doubt that a considerable proportion of the barriers do not affect the navigable channel directly. Sections of them lie in shoal water or on tidal flats, over which steamer traffic is out of the question. An objection to leaving these portions untouched might arise from the probable effect on the navigable channel, but I must add that such technical opinion as I have had an opportunity of hearing would appear to favour a partial removal of the barriers and not a total removal.

I would, therefore, not be inclined at this stage to raise any question of the interpretation of Article V. A discussion might create further delay, and in any case, neither the Customs nor the Viceroy have stated that the works for which offers are invited are final. I would propose, with your approval, to wait until these works are completed, or are near completion, and then to submit my observations on the extent to which they fulfil the Treaty undertaking.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

C. W. CAMPBELL.

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