(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.)
# CHINA TRADE.
## CONFIDENTIAL,
[27476]
No. 1.
678
[August 13.]
## SECTION
35009
## RECE
Mr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received August 13.) REG 27 SEP 06
(No. 278.) Sir,
Peking, June 25, 1906,
Ever since the year 1860, when Tien-tsin was first opened to foreigners under Treaty, the access to that port from the sea has always been a matter of difficulty and anxiety to the merchants resident there. The chief obstacles to navigation are the narrow and tortuous river called the Pei Ho or Hai Ho, and at its mouth the Taku Bar, a bank of mud some 3 miles broad, which is often covered by only 3 or 4 feet of water for days together. Great improvements in the former have been effected during the last few years, so that now ships of considerable size, once over the bar, can reach Tien-tsin with comparative ease.
The bar, however, still remains to be dealt with, for although many schemes have been proposed for making a navigable channel, they have hitherto all been abandoned, owing either to opposition or to the lack of money.
In 1903 proposals were made for raising funds for improving the bar by the imposition of an additional tax not exceeding per mille (equivalent to 1 per cent, of the customs duties) on the value of goods landed at Tien-tsin. These proposals (see Inclosure 5, Sub-Inclosure 3) received the support of the Consular Body and of the national authorities who hold Concessions at Tien-tsin, and were approved by the Foreign Representatives (see Mr. Townley's despatch to Lord Lansdowne, No. 247 of the 30th June, 1903), but as the Shipping Companies did not see their way to co-operate the question was dropped then, but only to be raised again in 1905, when a new scheme was elaborated which was unanimously approved by the above-mentioned authorities in Tien-tsin.
The Shipping Companies were again approached, with the result that at the beginning of this year they agreed to the imposition of a tax on shipping, and after some negotiations with the Conservancy Board, the Landrenters of the British Concession finally passed a Resolution (Inclosure 3) which obtained the general approval of all foreigners. I moreover ascertained from Mr. Hopkins that he had every reason to believe that the Viceroy of Chihli was also strongly in favour of the proposed measures. Nothing more, therefore, was required for bringing the scheme into effect except the sanction of the Diplomatic Body, to whom the Resolution was submitted (Inclosure 5).
A meeting of the foreign Representatives took place on the 11th ultimo in order to discuss the matter. The precise proposals which the Diplomatic Body was called on to sanction will be found in the Memorandum which I have the honour to inclose (Inclosure 12). It had been expected that the proceedings would be purely formal, as no opposition to the scheme had been raised in any quarter, and the American, German, and Japanese Representatives and myself, who represent the principal interests in Tien-tsin, were all warm supporters of it. The French and Belgian Chargés d'Affaires, however, displayed marked hostility to the whole project, to general surprise, but from their remarks it was evident that they were unacquainted with its details, which subsequent conversation with my French colleague showed to be the case, as far as he was concerned. I have endeavoured in vain to discover the reason of this unexpected opposition, and I asked His Majesty's Consul-General in Tien-tsin if he could account for it, but he states that, after making confidential inquiries, he finds it difficult to assign any reasonable grounds for the French and Belgian action. The whole question is therefore again in abeyance, to the great disappointment of the residents of Tien-tsin.
The scheme for the improvement of the bar is intimately connected with the work which has been carried out on the river. It is unnecessary for me to give an account of all the financial operations which the execution of these improvements has entailed, as they will be found set forth in considerable detail both in Inclosure 3, Sub-Inclosure 1, and in Inclosure 12, but there is one point to which I venture to draw your attention.
It will be seen that the cost of these river works has been defrayed by means of loans, secured by the river dues, which were levied in the British Concession under the
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Page 678
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(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[27476]
No. 1.
678
[August 13.]
SECTION
35009
RECE
Mr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received August 13.) REG 27 SEF 06
(No. 278.) Sir,
Peking, June 25, 1906, EVER since the year 1860, when Tien-tsin was first opened to foreigners under Treaty, the access to that port from the sea has always been a matter of difficulty and anxiety to the merchants resident there. The chief obstacles, to navigation are the narrow and tortuous river called the Pei Ho or Hai Ho, and at its month the Taku Bar, a bank of mud some 3 miles broad, which is often covered by only 3 or 4 feet of water for days together. Great improvements in the former have been effected during the last few years, so that now ships of considerable size, once over the bar, can reach Tien-tsin with comparative ease:
The bar, however, still remains to be dealt with, for although many schemes have been proposed for making a navigable channel, they have hitherto all been abandoned, owing either to opposition or to the lack of money.
In 1903 proposals were made for raising funds for improving the bar by the imposition of an additional tax not exceeding per mille (equivalent to 1 per cent, of the customs duties) on the value of goods landed at Tien-tsin. These proposals (see Inclosure 5, Sub-Inclosure 3) received the support of the Consular Body and of the national authorities who hold Concessions at Tien-tsin, and were approved by the Foreign Representatives (see Mr. Townley's despatch to Lord Lansdowne, No. 247 of the 30th June, 1903), but as the Shipping Companies did not see their way to co-operate the question was dropped then, but only to be raised again in 1905, when a new scheme was elaborated which was unanimously approved by the above-mentioned authorities in Tien-tsin,
The Shipping Companies were again approached, with the result that at the beginning of this year they agreed to the imposition of a tax on shipping, and after some negotiations with the Conservancy Board, the Landrenters of the British Concession finally passed a Resolution (Inclosure 3) which obtained the general approval of all foreigners. I moreover ascertained from Mr. Hopkins that he had every reason to believe that the Viceroy of Chihli was also strongly in favour of the proposed measures. Nothing more, therefore, was required for bringing the scheme into effect except the sanction of the Diplomatic Body, to whom the Resolution was submitted (Inclosure 5).
A meeting of the foreign Representatives took place on the 11th ultimo in order to discuss the matter. The precise proposals which the Diplomatic Body was called on to sanction will be found in the Memorandum which I have the honour to inclose (Inclosure 12). It had been expected that the proceedings would be purely formal, as no opposition to the scheme had been raised in any quarter, and the American, German, and Japanese Representatives and myself, who represent the principal interests in Tien-tsin, were all warm supporters of it. The French and Belgian Chargés d'Affaires, however, displayed marked hostility to the whole project, to general surprise, but from their remarks it was evident that they were unacquainted with its details, which subse- quent conversation with my French colleague showed to be the case, as far as he was concerned, I have endeavoured in vain to discover the reason of this unexpected opposition, and I asked His Majesty's Consul-Geveral in Tien-tsin if he could account for it, but he states that, after making confidential inquiries, he finds it difficult to assign any reasonable grounds for the French and Belgian action. The whole question is therefore again in abeyance, to the great disappointment of the residents of Tien-tsin.
The scheme for the improvement of the bar is intimately connected with the work which has been carried out on the river. It is unnecessary for me to give an account of all the financial operations which the execution of these improvements has entailed, as they will be found set forth in considerable detail both in Inclosure 3, Sub-Inclosure 1, and in Inclosure 12, but there is one point to which I venture to draw your attention.
It will be seen that the cost of these river works has been defrayed by means of loans, secured by the river dues, which were levied in the British Concession under the
[2105 n-2]
B
WE F
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