CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905 — Page 91

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

CHINA TRADE.

CONFIDENTIAL.

No. 1.

90

[May 30,]

SEOTI ON 1.

Sir,

Foreign Office to Treasury.

Foreign Office, May 30, 1905.

I AM directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to transmit to you herewith, for the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, a copy of a letter from the China Association, advocating the adoption by the Chinese Government, without further delay, of a uniform national coinage in conformity with their obligations under Article II of the Anglo-Chinese Commercial Treaty of 1902.

Lord Lansdowne proposes, subject to the concurrence of the Lords Commissioners, to forward a copy of the letter to His Majesty's Minister at Peking, with the request that he will remind the Chinese Government of their undertaking, under Article II of the Treaty of 1902, to take the necessary steps to provide for a uniform national coinage.

Sir E. Satow right, Lord Lansdowne thinks, at the same time, be instructed to call their attention to the recent action of the Viceroy of Wnchang in notifying the adoption of a new silver currency of Hupoh Treasury taels, which formed the subject of his despatch No. 49 of the 5th February last, of which a copy is inclosed for con- venience of reference.†

The Chinese Association suggest, in their letter, that the Chinese Government should be requested, if they are not prepared to establish one central mint, to insist on the several provincial mints coining dollars of identical value, so that those dollars may all bear the same ratio to the Haikwan tael, in which duties are at present payable. The Association also suggest that the ratio should be officially communicated to the Treaty Fowers, and that instructions should be issued to all enstom-houses to accept those dollars at the ratio proclaimed.

I am to inquire whether the Lords Commissioners would recommend that the adoption of the above-mentioned suggestions should be urged upon the Chinese Government.

I am, &c.

F. A. CAMPBELL.

* China Association, May 23, 1905.

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(Signed)

↑ Sir E. Satow, No. 49, February 5, 1905.