CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905 — Page 162

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

CHINA TRADE,

CONFIDENTIAL.

No. 1.

[July 31.]

SECTION 2.

1578

X

X

(No. 204.) My Lord,

Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.~(Received July 31.)

Peking, June 12, 1905. WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch No. 28 of the 16th February instructing me to keep the attention of the Chinese Government directed to the framing of new Mining Regulations in accordance with Article IX of the Treaty of 1902, have the honour to inclose further correspondence with Prince Ch'ing.

In consequence of the delay in His Highness' reply to my note of the 18th April, I referred to the question ou several occasions in conversation with members of the Foreign Board, and on the 5th instant complained to Nat'ung of the neglect of the Chinese Government to carry out this Article of the Treaty, reminding him that there was no excuse for the inaction of the Wuchang Viceroy, in whose hands I knew the draft had been for some months past, seeing that Sir James Mackay had personally discussed all the Articles of the Treaty with him, as well as with the late Viceroy of Nanking, Liu Kun-yi, in addition to the Plenipotentiaries appointed to negotiate that instrument.

My remonstrances have now drawn from the Prince an intimation that the revised draft may be expected to reach Peking in about a month's time, when it will be considered by the Boards of Foreign Affairs and Commerce.

I have, &c. (Signed) ERNEST SATOW.

Your Highness,

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

Sir E. Satow to Prince Ch'ing.

Peking, April 18, 1905. ON the 11th December, 1904, I had the honour to receive a letter from your Highness in reply to my inquiry as to what was being done with regard to the framing of Mining Regulations, in which your Highness informed me that these Regulations had already been drawn up by his Excellency Wu Ting-fang, but that it was necessary to consult with the Viceroy Chang Chih-tung before they could be definitely settled.

As more than four months have now elapsed, I have the honour to request information as to whether any progress has been made in this matter since that date.

I avail, &c. (Signed) ERNEST SATOW.

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

(Translation.) Your Excellency,

Natung to Sir E. Satow.

7: 5: xxxi (June 9, 1905.) REFERRING to our conversation of some days ago regarding the Mining Regulations, I have the honour to inform your Excellency that we telegraphed without delay to the Viceroy Chang Chih-tung, and that we have now received his Excellency's reply.

His Excellency says that in view of the importance attaching to the Mining Regulations, which will be binding on foreigners and Chinese alike, he placed

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