70-7 Ju
Mrs Dominant is the Property of His chains Mojolly's unscrament.j
CHINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[16210]
No. 1.
364
[May 12 1906 SECTIO
TRES 9 JUN 061
Sir,
China League to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 12.)
28, Queen Anne's Chambers, Broadway, London, May 11, 1906.
ON behalf of the China League, I beg to ask for further information with regard to Chinese Mining Regulations, which, by an undertaking given by the Chinese Government under Article IX of the Treaty of 1902, should have been issued at least two and a-half years ago.
In a Foreign Office Memorandum, dated the 6th October, 1905, addressed to the Shanghae merchants by His Majesty's Legation at Peking, it is stated that as far back as June of that year the Wuchang Viceroy was only awaiting a detailed Report on Mr. Broad's proposals to embody it in a Memorial for the consideration of the Board of Foreign Affairs and Commerce.
I should be glad to know if any progress has been made in this matter, and to ask as a favour for a copy of such Mining Regulations if they have been received by His Majesty's Government.
His Majesty's Minister at Peking expressed the opinion in the said Memorandum that "there are good grounds for complaining of the dilatory proceedings of the Chinese authorities with regard to this question," but beyond and above such a well-grounded complaint there is a further and still more serious one of the obstructions which are now placed in the way of all foreign-conducted mining enterprises in China by the local officials.
Article IX contains not only a promise on the part of the Chinese Government to revise existing Mining Regulations so as to bring them into line with those generally accepted in foreign countries, but also a spontaneous recognition of the desirability of attracting foreign capital to embark in mining enterprises.
It contains also a specific promise that such Mining Regulations shall offer no impediment to the attraction of foreign capital, &c.
With the definite encouragement which is afforded by the above clause, British capitalists have expended considerable sums in obtaining concessions for mining operations in various provinces of the Empire and in the necessary prospecting and preliminary work, only to find that their mining operations proper are obstructed and hindered by the local officials.
For example, a Company known as the "Anhui Concession" is now suffering serious loss and practical forfeiture of its rights as a British Company under Article IX by reason of the dilatory and obstructive tactics of the central and provincial authorities.
The case of the "Anhui Concession" appears to be only one of numerous instances (though a flagrant one) of organized opposition to foreign undertakings, a policy which, originally initiated by students and the literati, has lately been fostered and encouraged by the official class for their own purposes.
The present attitude of the Chinese officials towards foreign enterprise, whether mining or railway, is imposing considerable hardship and monetary loss on British subjects, whose indisputable rights are not only specially safeguarded by Treaties, but who have relied on the encouragement to embark in such enterprises which certain clauses of the Treaties afford.
It is unnecessary to point out the regrettable effect which this policy, if persisted in, must have upon the commercial and political relations of Great Britain and China.
The China League is chiefly concerned with the immediate effect upon British interests as represented by investors and others interested in foreign undertakings in China, and respectfully solicits the intervention of His Majesty's Government on their behalf to secure to them the peaceable enjoyment of their Treaty rights.
I have, &c.
(Signed) A. R. BURKILL, Hon. Sec.
[1981 m--]
--1]
70-7 Ju
Mrs Dominant is the Property of His chains Mojolly's unscrament.j
CHINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[16210]
No. 1.
364
[May 120765 SECTIO
"TRES 9 JUN 061
Sir,
China League to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 12.)
28, Queen Anne's Chambers, Broadway, London, May 11, 1906. ON behalf of the China League, I beg to ask for further information with regard to Chinese Mining Regulations, which, by an undertaking given by the Chinese Govern- ment under Article IX of the Treaty of 1902, should have been issued at least two and a-half years ago.
In a Foreign Office Memorandum, dated the 6th October, 1905, addressed to the Shanghae merchants by His Majesty's Legation at Peking, it is stated that as far back as June of that year the Wuchang Viceroy was only awaiting a detailed Report on Mr. Broad's proposals to embody it in a Memorial for the consideration of the Board of Foreign Affairs and Commerce.
I should be glad to know if any progress has been made in this matter, and to ask as a favour for a copy of such Mining Regulations if they have been received by His Majesty's Government.
His Majesty's Minister at Peking expressed the opinion in the said Memorandum that "there are good grounds for complaining of the dilatory proceedings of the Chinese authorities with regard to this question," but beyond and above such a well- grounded complaint there is a further and still more serious one of the obstructions which are now placed in the way of all foreign-conducted mining enterprises in China by the local officials.
Article IX contains not only a promise on the part of the Chinese Government to revise existing Mining Regulations so as to bring them into line with those generally accepted in foreign countries, but also a spontaneous recognition of the desirability of attracting foreign capital to embark in mining enterprises.
It contains also a specific promise that such Mining Regulations shall offer no impediment to the attraction of foreign capital, &c.
With the definite encouragement which is afforded by the above clause, British capitalists have expended considerable sums in obtaining concessions for mining operations in various provinces of the Empire and in the necessary prospecting and preliminary work, only to find that their mining operations proper are obstructed and hindered by the local officials. For example, a Company known as the "Anhui Con- cession" is now suffering serious loss and practical forfeiture of its rights as a British Company under Article IX by reason of the dilatory and obstructive tactics of the central and provincial authorities.
The case of the "Anhui Concession " appears to be only one of numerous instances (though
a flagrant one) of organized opposition to foreign undertakings, a policy which, originally initiated by students and the literati, has lately been fostered and encouraged by the official class for their own purposes.
The present attitude of the Chinese officials towards foreign enterprise, whether mining or railway, is imposing considerable hardship and monetary loss on British subjects, whose indisputable rights are not only specially safeguarded by Treaties, but who have relied on the encouragement to embark in such enterprises which certain clauses of the Treaties afford. It is unnecessary to point out the regrettable effect which this policy, if persisted in, must have upon the commercial and political relations of Great Britain and China. The China League is chiefly concerned with the immediate effect upon British interests as represented by investors and others interested in foreign undertakings in China, and respectfully solicits the intervention of His Majesty's Government on their behalf to secure to them the peaceable enjoyment of their Treaty rights.
I have, &c.
(Signed) A. R. BURKILL, Hon. Sec.
[1981 m--]
--1]
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