[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
712
[November 21.]
SECTION 1,
No. 1.
(No. 345,) My Lord,
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received November 21.)
Peking, September 29, 1904.
IN continuation of my despatch No. 325 of the 6th instant, and of previous correspondence on the subject of the Fukien camphor monopoly, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith a copy of a further despatch dealing with this subject, which I have received from His Majesty's Consul at Foochow.
In this despatch Mr. Brady reports the details of an arrangement arrived at with Hai Fang Ting and the subsequent action which he took in consequence of the repudiation of the arrangement by the Board of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Brady informed me yesterday by telegraph that the sum agreed upon by him with the Chinese authorities as compensation to the British firms interested had been paid, and that camphor is now coming down freely from the interior under transit pass.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
ERNEST SATOW.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul Brady to Sir E. Satow.
(No. 31.)
Foochow, September 10, 1904.
Sir,
YOUR telegram informing me that instructions had been sent by the Wai-wu Pu to the authorities here, directing them to arrange with me the amount of compensation to be paid to the British merchants whose camphor had been wrongfully seized by the local officials in the interior, reached me on the 20th ultimo, but I waited until the 30th before taking any steps in the matter, in order to give the authorities an opportunity of broaching the question themselves; finding, however, that they made no advances, I wrote to the Viceroy requesting to be informed when I might expect the matter to be taken up, as delay was inexpedient.
His Excellency replied that he had already given directions to the Foreign Board to lose no time in consulting me on the subject, and on the 5th instant I was notified by the Board that the Hai Fang Ting, Sub-Prefect, who forwarded the letter to me, had been specially deputed to represent them and arrange matters.
My first impulse was to resent so important a question being handed over for settlement to an official of the Sub-Prefect's rank, more especially as I felt there was no guarantee that any arrangement which he and I might come to would be carried out, supposing it did not meet with the approval of the Foreign Board; but as he is a man with whom officially Consuls come much in contact, and he has invariably shown himself most reasonable and obliging, I decided not to raise any objection on that score, and contented myself with writing to him to say that, unless he had full powers to settle terms, I could not consent to discuss the matter with him.
He replied that he had full authority to come to a settlement, and on that understanding I agreed to receive him.
Our interview took place on the 6th instant, and was marked by the utmost good-feeling and friendliness.
Before I would enter upon any discussion, I again inquired if he could positively assure me that any arrangement we might come to would be carried out, as it was only under those circumstances that I could possibly discuss matters; he assured me in the most emphatic manner that it would be, and that there was nothing to prevent our finally settling the case there and then, and I accordingly allowed the interview to proceed.
The Sub-Prefect's first inquiry was as to the terms I should propose, but I replied that, as he had been present at the last interview I had had with the Foreign Board, he must necessarily know what my views were, and there was therefore little use in my repeating them.
What was more to the point, I said, was for him to acquaint me with his proposals, and I would then tell him whether it was possible for me to accept them or not.
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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Unterne
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
712
[November 21.7
SECTION 1,
No. 1.
(No. 345,) My Lord,
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received November 21.)
Peking, September 29, 1904. IN continuation of my despatch No. 325 of the 6th instant, and of previous correspondence on the subject of the Fuhkien camphor monopoly, I have the bonour to transmit to your Lordship herewith a copy of a further despatch dealing with this subject, which I bave received from His Majesty's Consul at Foochow.
In this despatch Mr. Brady reports the details of an arrangement arrived at with Hai Fang Ting and the subsequent action which he took in consequence of the repudiation of the arrangement by the Board of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Brady informed me yesterday by telegraph that the sum agreed upon by him with the Chinese authorities as compensation to the British firms interested had been paid, and that camphor is now coming down freely from the interior under transit pass.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
ERNEST SATOW.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul Brady to Sir E. Satow.
(No. 31.)
Foochou, September 10, 1904. Sir,
YOUR telegram informing me that instructions had been sent by the Wai-wu Pu to the authorities bere, directing them to arrange with me the amount of compensation to he paid to the British merchants whose camphor had been wrongfully seized by the local officials in the interior, reached me on the 20th ultimo, but I waited until the 30th before taking any steps in the matter, in order to give the authorities an opportunity of broaching the question themselves; finding, however, that they made no advances, I wrote to the Viceroy requesting to be informed when I might expect the matter to be taken up, as delay was inexpedient. His Excellency replied that he had already given directions to the Foreign Board to lose no time in consulting me on the subject, and on the 5th instant [ was notified by the Board that the Hai Fang Ting, Sub-Prefect, who forwarded the letter to me, had been specially deputed to represent them and arrange matters. My first impulse was to resent so important a question being handed over for settlement to an official of the Sub-Prefect's rank, more especially as I felt there was no guarantee that any arrangement which he and I might come to would he carried out, supposing it did not meet with the approval of the Foreign Board; but as he is a man with whom officially Consuls come much in contact, and be has invariably shown himself most reasonable and obliging, I decided not to raise any objection on that score, and contented myself with writing to him to say that, unless he had full powers to settle terms, I could not consent to discuss the matter with him.
He replied that he had full authority to come to a settlement, and on that under- standing I agreed to receive him.
Our interview took place on the 6th instant, and was marked by the utmost good- feeling and friendliness. Before I would enter upon any discussion, I again inquired if he could positively assure me that any arrangement we might come to would be carried out, as it was only under those circumstances that I could possibly discuss matters; he assured me in the most emphatic manner that it would be, and that there was nothing to prevent our finally settling the case there and then, and I accordingly allowed the interview to proceed.
The Sub-Prefect's first inquiry was as to the terms I should propose, but I replied that, as he had been present at the last interview I had had with the Foreign Board, he must necessarily know what my views were, and there was therefore little use in my repeating them. What was more to the point, I said, was for him to acquaint me with his proposals, and I would then tell him whether it was possible for me to accept them or
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