CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904 — Page 676

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

Your Excellency,

2

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Prince Ching to Sir E. Satow.

August 29, 1904. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's note of the 18th instant, inquiring whether Article 20 of the Trade-mark Regulations is understood by the Chinese Government in the sense of the interpretation of the principle of joint investigation laid down in section 2 of the Chefoo Agreement.

In response to our inquiries, the Board of Commerce has replied that the principle laid down in sub-section 3, section 2, of the Chefoo Agreement with regard to judicial proceedings in mixed cases, being in itself so eminently reasonable, should, of course, be duly followed by both sides in questions affecting Article 20 of the Trade-mark Regulations, which Article was drafted with the above-mentioned Treaty provision in view.

I have the honour, therefore, to reply to your Excellency in the above sense.

I am, &c.

I

NA TRADE.

CONFIDENTIAL.

325.) Lord,

No. 1.

672

October 24.]

SECTION 2.

Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received October 24.)

Peking, September 6, 1904. IN continuation of my despatch No. 315 of the 25th ultimo, on the subject of Fukien Camphor Monopoly, I have the honour to inclose a copy of a further despatch from His Majesty's Consul at Foochow, transmitting copies of a Proclamation and instructions to his subordinates issued by the Prefect of Yen Ping, notifying the abolition of the monopoly. I have not yet heard of similar instructions being issued to other Prefectures.

I have, &c. (Signed)

ERNEST SATOW.

Inclosure 1. in No. 1.

Consul Brady to Sir E. Satow.

Foochow, August 23, 1904. REFERRING to your telegram No. 8 of the 20th instant, and to my reply thereto of the following day, I have now the honour to inclose herewith a copy and translation of the Proclamation posted by the Magistrate at Yen Ping, together with a specimen of the letters of instructions circulated amongst the various local officials, enjoining them to make it generally known that the Camphor Bureau had been dissolved, and that henceforth the trade in that commodity was free to all merchants. The actual wording of the Proclamation, as you will notice, is that "hereafter, foreign and native merchants and others are at liberty to proceed into the interior at their pleasure to purchase camphor, and must not be subjected to the least interference"; no reference is made to the right of natives to engage in its manufacture, but I take it that the permission to trade in the article naturally includes such permission, otherwise the arrangement now come to would be a farce.

I shall take an early opportunity of obtaining information on the point from the officials, and in the event of natives being still prohibited, I shall report the fact to you immediately.

I have not yet been approached by the officials on the subject of the claims.

I have, &c.

(Signed) HERBERT P. BRADY.

Translation.)

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Proclamation issued by the Yen Ping Prefect.

I HAVE been informed by the Viceroy of the abolition of the Camphor Bureau, and have received his instructions to remove all local branch offices. Hereafter foreign and native merchants and others are at liberty to proceed into the interior at their pleasure to purchase camphor, and must not be subjected to the slightest interference. If any one attempts to interfere or obstruct, on the pretence that he is employed by the Camphor Bureau, and causes trouble, it is the duty of the local officials fully to investigate the matter, and deal with it to the best of their ability, and in the interests of trade. Such are the Viceroy's instructions. This Proclamation is therefore issued for the guidance of the public and of the soldiery within this jurisdiction.

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