The ignorant masses may thereby be roused from their old prejudices by which they hinder the production of wealth. If mutual confidence exists between high and low, peaceful relations between natives and foreigners, our mineral wealth will be developed, the indigent will be provided for, commodities will be freely exchanged, and agriculture, industry, and commerce will mutually benefit. What a trifling sum in rents and royalties is exacted for so great and far-sighted a measure? This is the object on which my thoughts have been concentrated.
In March last year, the Board of Commerce, when submitting the Provisional Mining Regulations to the Throne, stated that when my special Memorandum on the subject was ready, the former should be merged into the latter, which would then be put into operation. It accordingly became my duty to make this comparison and revision, and I now respectfully transmit herewith a copy of the Regulations, principal and supplementary, on which I have decided, for Imperial consideration, and humbly pray that the Boards of Commerce and Foreign Affairs may be directed to once more carefully review them. When they have come to a decision, the Throne will be prayed to issue a Decree promulgating them, the principal Regulation becoming the Mining Law and the supplementary the detailed Mining Rules. Thus, mining development will be daily advanced, the sources of wealth multiplied, and prosperity will attend the footsteps of both State and people.
The Mining Regulations for China, which have been framed in obedience to Imperial Decree, are respectfully submitted herewith for Imperial consideration, and the Boards of Commerce and Foreign Affairs are at the same time being informed thereof.
C:0
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
(13507)
(No. 109.) Sir,
No. 1,
18674
[April
SECTION 4
RES 26 MAY OE
346
Sir E. Satow to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 21.)
WITH reference to my despatch No. 91 of the 3rd instant and to my telegram Peking, March 8, 1906, No. 47 of yesterday, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a note from the Wai-wu Pu, in reply to my note of the 1st instant, on the subject of the importation of morphia into China. They point out the difficulty of effecting an alteration in the Customs Tariff, which has been assented to by all the Treaty Powers, and inquire whether the prohibition of the manufacture of morphia in China is intended to apply to Government hospitals and kindred institutions as well as to the people and commercial classes.
I had the honour to telegraph the gist of this note to you yesterday, and, while expressing the opinion that the prohibition would apply only to the manufacture of morphia for commercial purposes, requested to be informed whether the reduction of duty should be pressed for. In Lord Lansdowne's instructions to Mr. Townley of the 20th April, 1903, it was stated that this point should not be urged, but the Board of Trade letter to the Foreign Office of the 4th January last takes no notice of this particular point.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.
Inclosure in No. 1.
(Translation.) Your Excellency,
Wai-wu Pu to Sir E. Satow.
Peking, March 5, 1906.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's note of the 1st instant respecting the conditions under which His Majesty's Government would be willing to consent to the adoption of measures for preventing the importation of morphia, except for medical purposes, into China.
[Note of the 1st instant quoted at length.]
In reply, the Board have the honour to observe that, while the conditions proposed by His Majesty's Government are in general accord with Article XI of the Anglo-Chinese Commercial Treaty of 1902, the duty of 3 taels per English ounce on morphia is laid down in the new Customs Tariff, which is a document approved and assented to by all the Treaty Powers, and which therefore cannot be readily altered.
If, however, the general importation be forbidden, as contemplated by the Treaty, there would only be the morphia used for medical purposes, the amount of which is small; and even if some smuggling is attempted, the Customs at the various Treaty ports would take measures to watch for it, and it should be easy to guard against such abuses.
With regard to the second condition, to the effect that China shall take effective measures to prevent the manufacture of morphia and instruments for its injection, I have the honour to observe that what China agreed to do in the Anglo-Chinese Treaty was to prevent Chinese shopkeepers from manufacturing morphia—a stipulation applying to the people and commercial classes, who will not be allowed to manufacture morphia as a private undertaking. But if Government-established hospitals and kindred institutions apply for and receive permission to manufacture, we presume that they would not be included in this prohibition.
We would beg for a reply on these points, so that we may then proceed to invite the agreement of the Powers.
[1951 -4]
I avail, &c.
ignorant masses may thereby be roused from their old prejudices by which they his the production of wealth. If mutual confidence exists between high and low peaceful relations between natives and foreigners, our ruineral wealth will be develop the indigent will be provided for, commodities will be freely exchanged, and agricult industry, and commerce will mutually benefit. What a trifling sum in rents a royalties is exacted for so great and far-sceing a measure? This is the object which my thoughts have been concentrated.
In March last year the Board of Commerce, when submitting the Provision Mining Regulations to the Throne, stated that when my special Memorandum ont subject was ready the former should be merged into the latter, which would then put into operation. It accordingly became my duty to make this comparison a revision, and I now respectfully transmit herewith a copy of the Regulations, in principal and supplementary, on which I have decided, for the Imperial consideratio and humbly pray that the Boards of Commerce and Foreign Affairs may be direct to once more carefully review them. When they have come to a decision the Thre will be prayed to issue a Decree promulgating them, the principal Regulatio becoming the Mining Law and the supplementary the detailed Mining Rules. Th will mining development be daily advanced, the sources of wealth multiplied, a prosperity attend the footsteps of both State and people.
The Mining Regulations for China which have been framed in obedience Imperial Decree are respectfully submitted herewith for Imperial consideration, a the Boards of Commerce and Foreign Affairs are at the same time being inform thereof.
C:0
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.To
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
(13507]
(No. 109.) Sir,
No. 1,
18674
[April
SECTION 4
RES 26 MAY OE
346
Sir E. Satow to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 21.)
WITH reference to my despatch No. 91 of the 3rd instant and to my telegram
Peking, March 8, 1906. No. 47 of yesterday, I have the honour to transmit to you copy of a note from the Wai-wu Pu, in reply to my note of the 1st instant, on the subject of the importation of morphia into China. They point out the difficulty of effecting an alteration in the Customis Tariff, which has been assented to by all the Treaty Powers, and inquire whether the prohibition of the manufacture of morphia in China is intended to apply to Government hospitals and kindred institutions as well as to the people and commercial classes.
I bad the honour to telegraph the gist of this note to you yesterday, and, while expressing the opinion that the prohibition would apply only to the manufacture of morphia for commercial purposes, requested to be informed whether the reduction of duty should be pressed for. In Lord Lansdowne's instructions to Mr. Townley of the 20th April, 1903, it was stated that this point should not be urged, but the Board of Trade letter to the Foreign Office of the 4th January last takes no notice of this particular point.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.
0
Inclosure in No. 1.
(Translation.) Your Excellency,
Wei-wu Pu to Sir E. Satow.
Peking, March 5, 1906. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's note of the 1st instant respecting the conditions under which His Majesty's Government would be willing to consent to the adoption of measures for preventing the importation of morphia, except for medical purposes, into China.
[Note of the 1st instant quoted at length.]
In reply, the Board have the honour to observe that, while the conditions proposed by His Majesty's Government are in general accord with Article XJ of the Anglo- Chinese Commercial Treaty of 1902, the duty of 3 taels per English ounce on morphia is laid down in the new Customs Tariff, which is a document approved and assented to by all the Treaty Powers, and which therefore cannot be readily altered.
If, however, the general importation be forbidden, as contemplated by the Treaty, there would only be the morphia used for medical purposes, the amount of which is small; and even if some smuggling is attempted, the Customs at the various Treaty ports would take measures to watch for it, and it should be easy to guard against such abuses.
With regard to the second condition, to the effect that China shall take effective measures to prevent the manufacture of morphia and instruments for its injection, I have the honour to observe that what China agreed to do in the Anglo-Chinese Treaty was to prevent Chinese shopkeepers from manufacturing morphia--a stipulation applying to the people and commercial classes, who will not be allowed to manufacture morphia as a private undertaking. But if Government-established hospitals and kindred institutions apply for and receive permission to manufacture, we presume that they would not be included in this prohibition.
the
We would beg for a reply on these points, so that we may then proceed to invite agreement of the Powers.
[1951 -4]
I avail, &c.
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