This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C.O.
5402
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[3003]
No. 1.
16 FEB 06
SECTION 1.
141
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received January 25, 1906.)
(No. 406. Confidential.) My Lord,
Peking, November 27, 1905.
WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch No. 218 of the 29th September, I have already had the honour to communicate, in my despatch No. 378 of the 13th instant, such information on the subject of the German-Chinese Commercial Treaty as I then possessed.
In private conversation with Na-t'ung and Wu Ting-fang since the date of this despatch the matter has been touched on without eliciting any additional information of importance.
My German colleague informs me that the Article respecting li-kin, of which a translation was given in my despatch No. 378, underwent some trifling verbal alteration, but that the principle of referring the question to agreement among the Powers had been adhered to. The German negotiator had also obtained the concession of permission for steamers to tow cargo-boats on the Yang-tsze River. Generally speaking, the result of discussion with the Chinese Commissioners was that the latter desired to obtain all the concessions made in the previous new Commercial Treaties, and to give to Germany only the minimum of what they contained. He did not at all regret the suspension of negotiations, which, if he had been listened to, would never have been initiated.
Rumours in the Chinese press of negotiations between China and Russia for the revision of the Treaty of 1881 and for the conclusion of a new Commercial Treaty led me to make inquiries, but I am assured from more than one quarter that no such proposals have yet been broached.
I have, &c. (Signed)
ERNEST SATOW.
[1830 bb—1]
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C.0.
5402
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[3003]
No. 1.
¡REC
[January 25. 16 FEB 061
SECTION 1.
141
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received January 25, 1906.)
(No. 406. Confidential.) My Lord,
Peking, November 27, 1905.
WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch No. 218 of the 29th September, I have already had the honour to communicate, in my despatch No. 378 of the 13th instant, such information on the subject of the German-Chinese Commercial Treaty as I then possessed.
In private conversation with Na-t'ung and Wu Ting-fang since the date of this despatch the matter has been touched on without eliciting any additional information of importance.
My German colleague informs me that the Article respecting li-kin, of which a translation was given in my despatch No. 378, underwent some trifling verbal alteration, but that the principle of referring the question to agreement among the Powers had been adhered to. The German negotiator had also obtained the concession of permission for steamers to tow cargo-boats on the Yang-tsze River. Generally speaking, the result of discussion with the Chinese Commissioners was that the latter desired to obtain all the concessions made in the previous new Commercial Treaties, and to give to Germany only the minimum of what they contained. He did not at all regret the suspension of negotiations, which, if he had been listened to, would never have been initiated.
Rumours in the Chinese press of negotiations between China and Russia for the revision of the Treaty of 1881 and for the conclusion of a new Commercial Treaty led me to make inquiries, but I am assured from more than one quarter that no such proposals have yet been broached.
I have, &c. (Signed)
ERNEST SATOW.
[1830 bb—1]
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