[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[31686]
Sir,
No. 1.
761 [September 27.]
SECTION 1.
C O 39437
REC PE 26 OCT 06
Foreign Office, September 27, 1906.
I am directed by Secretary Sir Edward Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th instant on the subject of the Imperial Edict of the 9th May last in regard to the administration of the Chinese Maritime Customs.
I am to point out that your letter appears to have been written under a misapprehension as to the position of the Inspector-General. Practically no change has taken place so far as Sir R. Hart's position is concerned; he has always been, and remains, an official in Chinese service under the orders of the Chinese Government.
The effect of the Edict has been to transfer the Customs Administration from the Wai-wu Pu to the Board of Revenue, but this change is not necessarily more than a change of form. If it remains nothing more than this, His Majesty's Government would have no valid ground for objecting to the Edict. Should it appear, however, that the change is one not of form, but of substance, and that there is interference which prevents the Customs from being administered on the lines hitherto followed by Sir R. Hart, His Majesty's Government may be relied upon promptly to take such action as may be possible, and likely to be effective.
The question of securing the co-operation of other Powers in the representations which it might be necessary in that event to make to the Chinese Government would then at once be considered.
I am, &c.
(Signed) F. A. CAMPBELL.
[2146 dd-1]
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[31686]
Sir,
No. 1.
761 [September 27.]
SECTION 1.
C O 39437
REC PE 26 OCT 06
your
Foreign Office to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. I AM directed by Secretary Sir Edward Grey to acknowledge the receipt of
Foreign Office, September 27, 1906. letter of the 18th instant on the subject of the Imperial Edict of the 9th May last in regard to the administration of the Chinese Maritime Customs.
I am to point out that your letter appears to have been written under a misappre- hension as to the position of the Inspector-General. Practically no change has taken place so far as Sir R. Hart's position is concerned; he has always been, and remains, an official in Chinese service under the orders of the Chinese Government.
The effect of the Edict has been to transfer the Customs Administration from the Wai-wu Pu to the Board of Revenue, but this change is not necessarily more than a change of form. If it remains nothing more than this, His Majesty's Government would have no valid ground for objecting to the Edict. Should it that the change is one not of form, but of substance, and that there is interference appear, however, which prevents the Customs from being administered on the lines hitherto followed by Sir R. Hart, His Majesty's Government may be relied upon promptly to take such action as may be possible, and likely to be effective.
The question of securing the co-operation of other Powers in the representations which it might be necessary in that event to make to the Chinese Government would then at once be considered.
I am, &c.
(Signed) F. A. CAMPBELL.
[2146 dd-1]
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