713
not.
2
He tried hard to get me to agree that the camphor should be accepted back, but to this I declined to accede, as I explained that it had been so long in the yamêns up-country, where, in all probability, it had not been properly cared for, it had doubtless deteriorated; besides, there was no guarantee that it had not been tampered with by the underlings, and in any case, as the merchants absolutely declined to have anything to do with it, I could not coerce them. I also pointed out that the market value of camphor had considerably declined since the confiscations had taken place, and therefore the merchants had a perfect right to refuse to accept it back. If the officials were desirous of disposing of it independently, I said, there was little doubt British merchants would be ready to purchase it at the present market value, and if he would let me know I would endeavour to assist them; I could not, however, discuss that phase of the question.
After much beating about the bush in attempts to make me commit myself to some specific amount, against which I took care to guard myself, the Hai Fang Ting at last suggested a sum of 20,000 dollars in full satisfaction of all claims. I stated that I did not consider this was a fair treatment of the question, as the total value of the camphor seized, at the price we had all along taken it at, came to over 15,000 dollars, and therefore there was little margin for compensation for the wrong done.
I should mention that the 15,000 dollars included both Messrs. Odell and Co.'s case and also another seizure of Messrs. Cave-Thomas and Co.'s camphor (13 piculs odd) which occurred at Sui Kow under circumstances analogous to the previous seizures, reference to which was made by me in my despatch No. 21 of the 28th July, when describing the high-handed action of the Japanese.
The Sub-Prefect begged me to reconsider my refusal, as he urged he was most anxious to come to a settlement, but I informed him that British merchants had suffered very serious pecuniary loss by reason of the loss of their goods, and it need not surprise him if I now, after nearly a year's delay and vexatious wrangling, demanded that they be adequately compensated. I reminded him that for months I had merely demanded the return of the camphor, and had made no mention of compensation, and that it was only when I found that all my efforts to induce the authorities to settle matters in a just and friendly manner were in vain that I reported the cases to you and recommended an indemnity. Messrs. Cave-Thomas and Co., I said, were seriously embarrassed in their business, and Mr. Bucknall had been obliged to relinquish the camphor trade owing to fear of being ruined if he persisted in it, and all this was the result of the action of the Chinese officials, and I added that if the facts were generally known, i.e., the extent to which merchants had been interfered with, there would be an outcry which would not be calmed by the mere payment of the compensation which I now demanded.
The Hai Fang Ting admitted that I had been most fair in the way I had treated the cases, but sought to make excuses, arguing that the blame lay with the Japanese. I was forced to remind him, however, that even the camphor which the local officials had taken, and which had not got into the possession of the Japanese, had not been restored to the rightful owners, and therefore I could not admit that it had been out of their power to deal with at least some of the cases that had been reported by me. Moreover, I said, the officials had made such good use of the time that had elapsed since the seizures had occurred, and had so thoroughly intimidated the native dealers, that it seemed to me an irreparable injury had been done to the trade, which it would take the latter a long time to recover from. At present, as must be well known to him, the Chinese in the interior were so frightened that only the most daring of them ventured to manufacture the article, or have anything to do with it, and as a consequence British merchants were the sufferers, as they could only procure it with the utmost difficulty. I added that I was not satisfied that official opposition had even yet been entirely removed. The Sub-Prefect protested that no interference was being placed in the way of either native or foreign merchants, but I remarked that the Japanese were still in the interior, and so long as they remained native dealers would not have the hardihood to engage in the trade, and most likely have their property seized without any prospect of redress; besides, I said, it had been reported to me that the Camphor Bureaux had been reopened. The Sub-Prefect denied this, and I replied that I sincerely hoped so, but that I was making inquiries, and if it proved to be a fact it would be a very serious breach of faith after the despatches which the Consular Body had received from the Foreign Board.
I had learnt from Messrs. Odell and Co. that, though the signboards had been taken down from the Bureaux, the lanterns still remained suspended, and hence the reason for my mentioning the subject to the Sub-Prefect. I am further endeavouring to obtain more information in the matter.
The Hai Fang Ting then asked me to withdraw Mr. Bucknall's claim, as he said his camphor was in his yamên and could be returned at any moment, but I repeated that, considering the gross way in which Mr. Bucknall had been treated, and the length of time he had been kept out of his property, namely, since February last, when it might easily have been restored to him, as I had so often suggested, and looking also to the fact that the price of the article had dropped since he undertook his journey up-country to purchase it—the expense he had been put to by being obliged to take this step being also a factor in the case—it was impossible for me to agree to this method of settlement, or to expect him to forego his just claim for damages.
The Hai Fang Ting repeatedly pressed me to state what I considered a fair indemnity, but I still declined to commit myself, as I knew my doing so would only lead to useless argument, and in this way the interview was protracted, until I at last said it was futile to continue it, and we had better leave it to the decision of the authorities in Peking.
Finally, however, as we appeared to have come to an impasse, I told him that I would state my terms, but that he must understand that once I did so I would not recede from them, and therefore he should think twice before pressing me. He replied that he was extremely anxious to settle the matter as it had been intrusted to him, and if my demands were not unreasonable he would be able to accept them. Urged in this way, I at last took up my notes of the claims, and, after going over them with him, I stated that I would be prepared to accept a round sum of 30,300 dollars—15,062 dollars of which represented actual loss, and the balance the compensation which I considered the merchants were justly entitled to.
The Sub-Prefect raised no objection whatever; in fact, he seemed relieved at my having formulated my demand, and at once agreed to it without the least hesitation.
I asked him several times if he had fully understood me, and each time he replied in the affirmative. I then put it to him whether I might consider the matter definitely settled on these lines, to which he emphatically replied yes, and promised that I should have the arrangement come to between us confirmed in writing by the Viceroy the next day, and the money should be paid over to me the day following.
The only condition attaching to the settlement was a promise which the Sub-Prefect extracted from me, under an appeal to our friendship, that I should use my influence with Mr. Bucknall to induce him to take back his camphor at a fair valuation; this I promised to do, explaining, however, that I could use no compulsion, and my action must be confined to simply urging him to meet the Hai Fang Ting's wishes—the question of the price to be paid was a matter I could not interfere in. The Hai Fang Ting laid stress upon the fact that he knew Mr. Bucknall personally, he being a tenant of his, and all that was needed was a hint from me that he should not leave the camphor on his hands.
Nothing more was said, and soon afterwards the Sub-Prefect took his departure, thanking me profusely for the friendly way I had discussed the question, and making me promise to dine with him at his yamên before I left Foochow. On going out of the door I again inquired if he fully understood our arrangement, to which he replied he did thoroughly, and that I should receive the Viceroy's letter the next day and the money the day following.
To my surprise, however, on the morning of the 8th I received a letter from the Foreign Board, copy and translation of which I have the honour to inclose, stating that, as the amount agreed upon between the Hai Fang Ting and myself was so large, the settlement of the question would have to await the arrival of the new Viceroy, Li Ta-jen being unable to attend to it, as he was on the eve of his departure for Nanking.
I at once telegraphed to you the substance of the letter, and I received your reply last night, in which you instructed me to reply to the Foreign Board that you would not consent to any delay, and that unless the claims were paid at once you would be obliged to communicate with the Chinese Government.
To-day I sent in a despatch to the Foreign Board in the above sense, and I also communicated your decision to the Viceroy, as I considered it was only courteous to do so, as he was primarily responsible for all that had occurred. I inclose copies of these despatches for your information.
You will notice that there is a difference of close on 6,000 dollars between the compensation I have agreed to accept and that originally suggested in my despatch No. 20 of the 6th July—that is, if the last case of Messrs. Cave-Thomas and Co. (1,726 dollars) and Messrs. Odell and Co. (300 dollars) be included, as of course they must be. I made this reduction in order to show I was ready to lower my demand somewhat, and in the hope that it might have the effect of bringing about a prompt settlement.
I have, &c.
(Signed) HERBERT F. BRADY,
2236
B 2
713
not.
2
He tried hard to get me to agree that the camphor should be accepted back, but to this I declined to accede, as I explained that it had been so long in the yamêos up- country, where, in all probability, it had not been properly cared for, it had doubtless deteriorated; besides, there was no guarantee that it had not been tampered with by the underlings, and in any case, as the merchants absolutely declined to have anything to do with it, I could not coerce them. 1 also pointed out that the market value of camphor had considerably declined since the confiscations bad taken place, and therefore the merchants had a perfect right to refuse to accept it back. If the officials were desirous of disposing of it independently, I said, there was little doubt British merchants would be ready to purchase it at the present market value, and if he would let me know I would endeavour to assist them; I could not, however, discuss that phase of the question.
After much beating about the bush in atterupts to make me commit myself to some specific amount, against which I took care to guard myself, the Hai Fang Ting at last suggested a sum of 20,000 dollars in full satisfaction of all claims. I stated that I did Lot consider this was a fair treatment of the question, as the total value of the camphor seized, at the price we had all along taken it at, came to over 15,000 dollars, and therefore there was little margin for compensation for the wrong done.
I should mention that the 15,000 dollars included both Messrs. Odell and Co.'s case and also another seizure of Messrs. Cave-Thomas and Co.'s camphor (13 piculs odd) which occurred at Sui Kow under circumstances analogous to the previous seizures, reference to which was made by me in my despatch No. 21 of the 28th July, when describing the high-handed action of the Japanese.
The Sub-Prefect begged me to reconsider my refusal, as he urged he was most anxious to come to a settlement, but I informed him that British merchants had suffered very serious pecuniary loss by reason of the loss of their goods, and it need not surprise bim if I now, after nearly a year's delay and vexatious wrangling, demanded that they be adequately compensated. I reminded him that for months I had merely demanded the return of the camphor, and had made no mention of compensation, and that it was only when I found that all my efforts to induce the authorities to settle matters in a just and friendly manner were in vain that I reported the cases to you and recommended an indemnity. Messrs. Cave-Thomas and Co., I said, were seriously embarrassed in their business, and Mr. Bucknall had been obliged to relinquish the camphor trade owing to fear of being ruined if be persisted in it, and all this was the result of the action of the Chinese officials, and I added that if the facts were generally known, ie, the extent to which merchants had been interfered with, there would be an outcry which would not be calmed by the mere payment of the compensation which I now demanded.
The Hai Fang Ting admitted that I had been most fair in the way I had treated the cases, but sought to make excuses, arguing that the blame lay with the Japanese. I was forced to remind him, however, that even the camphor which the local officials had taken, and which had not got into the possession of the Japanese, had not been restored to the rightful owners, and therefore I could not admit that it had been out of their power to deal with at least some of the cases that had been reported by me. officials bad made such good use of the time that had elapsed since the seizures had Moreover, I said, the occurred, and had so thoroughly intimidated the native dealers, that it seemed to me an irreparable injury had been done to the trade, which it would take the latter a long time to recover from. At present, as must be well known to him, the Chinese in the interior were so frightened that only the most daring of them ventured to manufacture the article, or have anything to do with it, and as a consequence British merchants were the sufferers, as they could only procure it with the utmost difficulty. I added that I was not satisfied that official opposition had even yet been entirely removed. The Sub-Prefect protested that no interference was being placed in the way of either native or foreign merchants, but I remarked that the Japanese were still in the interior, and so long as they remained native dealers would not have the hardihood to engage in the trade, and most likely have their
property seized without any prospect of redress; besides, I said, it had been reported to me that the Camphor Bureaux had been reopened. The Sub-Prefect denied this, and I replied that I sincerely hoped so, but that I was making inquiries, and if it proved to be a fact it would be a very serious breach of faith after the despatches which the Consular Body had received from the Foreign Board,
I had learnt from Messrs. Odell and Co. that, though the signboards had been taken down from the Bureaux, the lanterns still remained suspended, and hence the reason for my mentioning the subject to the Sub-Prefect. I am further information in the matter.
now endeavouring to obtain
The Hai Fang Ting then asked me to withdraw Mr. Bucknall's claim, as he said his
Q
3
camphor was in bis yamên and could be returned at any moment, but I repeated that, considering the gross way in which Mr. Bucknall had been treated, and the length of time he had been kept out of his property, namely, since February last, when it might easily have been restored to him, as I had so often suggested, and looking also to the fact that the price of the article had dropped since he undertook his journey up-country to purchase it--the expense be had been put to by being obliged to take this step being also a factor in the case-it was impossible for me to agree to this method of settlement, or to expect him to forego his just claim for damages.
The Hai Fang Ting repeatedly pressed me to state what I considered a fair indemnity, but I still declined to commit myself, as I knew my doing so would only lead to useless argument, and in this way the interview was protracted, until I at last said it was futile to continue it, and we had better leave it to the decision of the authorities in Peking.
Finally, however, as we appeared to have came to an impasse, I told him that I would state my terms, but that he must understand that once I did so I would not recede from He replied that he them, and therefore he should think twice before pressing me.
was extremely anxious to settle the matter as it had been intrusted to him, and if my demands were not unreasonable he would be able to accept them. Urged in this way, I at last took up my notes of the claims, and, after going over them with him, I stated that I would be prepared to accept a round sum of 30,300 dollars-15,062 dollars of which represented actual loss, and the balance the compensation which I considered the merchants were justly cutitled to.
The Sub-Prefect raised no objection whatever; in fact, be seemed relieved at my having formulated my demand, and at once agreed to it without the least hesitation.
1 asked him several times if he had fully understood me, and each time he replied in the affirmative. I then put it to him whether I might consider the matter definitely settled on these lines, to which he emphatically replied yes, and promised that I should have the arrangement come to between us confirmed in writing by the Viceroy the next day, and the money should be paid over to me the day following.
The only condition attaching to the settlement was a promise which the Sub-Prefect extracted from me, under an appeal to our friendship, that I should use my influence with Mr. Bucknall to induce him to take back his camphor at a fair valuation; this I promised to do, explaining, however, that I could use no compulsion, and my action must be confined to simply urging him to meet the Hai Fang Ting's wishes-the question of the price to be paid was a matter I could not interfere in. The Hai Fang Ting laid stress upon the fact that he knew Mr. Bucknall personally, he being a tenant of his, and all that was needed was a bint from me that he should not leave the camphor on his hands.
Nothing more was said, and soon afterwards the Sub-Prefect took his departure, thanking me profusely for the friendly way I had discussed the question, and making me promise to dine with him at his yamên before I left Foochow. On going out of the door I again inquired if he fully understood our arrangement, to which he replied he did thoroughly, and that I should receive the Viceroy's letter the next day and the money the day following.
To my surprise, however, on the morning of the 8th I received a letter from the Foreign Board, copy and translation of which I have the honour to inclose, stating that, as the amount agreed upon between the Hai Fang Ting and myself was so large, the settle- ment of the question would have to await the arrival of the new Viceroy, Li Ta-jen being unable to attend to it, as he was on the eve of bis departure for Nanking.
I at once telegraphed to you the substance of the letter, and I received your reply last night, in which you instructed me to reply to the Foreign Board that you would not consent to any delay, and that unless the claims were paid at once you would be obliged to communicate with the Chinese Government.
To-day I sent in a despatch to the Foreign Board in the above sense, and I also com- municated your decision to the Viceroy, as I considered it was only courteous to do so, as he was primarily responsible for all that bad occurred. I'inclose copies of these despatches for your information.
You will notice that there is a difference of close on 6,000 dollars between the com- pensation I have agreed to accept and that originally suggested in my despatch No. 20 of the 6th July-that is, if the last case of Messrs. Cave-Thomas and Co. (1,726 dollars). and Messrs. Odell and Co. (300 dollars), be included, as of course they must be. I made this reduction in order to show I was ready to lower my demand somewhat, and in the, hope that it might have the effect of bringing about a prompt settlement.
I have, &c. (Signed) HERBERT F. BRADY,
(2236
B 2
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