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the harbour are to be carried out by the Imperial Maritime Customs, and, if this had been done in the case of the bunding scheme, foreign supervision would obviously have been provided. Viceroy Ts'en has not met my suggestion in a friendly manner, but bas contented himself with giving instructions to the Bunding Commissioners that care must be taken. If his successor, Viceroy Chou, takes the same line, I shall have to apply to you for support.
I wrote to Mr. Mayers, Acting Commissioner of Customs, acquainting him with the circumstances of the case, and pointing out that it seemed to be one which fell within the Harbour-master's province. Copy of his reply is herewith inclosed. address later on with regard to interference with the Imperial Maritime Customs in I may have to matters which have hitherto been entirely under their control.
Sir,
you
I have, &c.
(Signed) R. W. MANSFIELD.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Acting Commissioner Mayers to Consul-General Mansfield.
Custom-house, Canton, November 3, 1906. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch of the 1st instant, informing me that you had addressed a protest to his Excellency the Viceroy against the construction of the bunding in the vicinity of British-owned wharves unless the work is done under the supervision of a qualfied foreign engineer.
As you are aware, I have endeavoured ever since I have been in Canton to persuade the Chinese authorities to place the entire bunding works under the supervision of a competent foreign engineer. At one time I even thought that I had succeeded in doing so, as in the early part of this year the bunding Weiyuans showed a strong desire to engage Mr. S. J. Powell, C.E., as their consulting engineer. An agreement was actually drawn up, but when it was submitted to the Shan Hou Chu for final approval, that Board absolutely refused to have anything to do with foreign engineers.
During the past two years the bunding-completed or under construction---has been inspected and reported upon by several engineers, including Mr. J. L. Houston, C.E., of Messrs. Punchard, Lowther, and Co.; Mr. D. C. Dick, C.E, now Acting Engineer-in-chief to the Customs; and Captain C. W. Mead, then Engineer-in-chief of the Canton-Hankow Railway, the two former under instructions from myself, and the latter under instructions from his Excellency the Viceroy. The work has invariably been strongly condemned, and I have repeatedly requested his Excellency the Viceroy to issue orders that the work should be properly carried out under competent supervision; but though, as a result of my representations, some slight improvement in methods has taken place, still nothing has been done towards providing skilled supervision.
A branch of the Coast Inspector's office was established in Canton a couple of years ago, and close attention is paid to all conservancy questions. The band line was laid down by that Department, and the construction of the bund from its very commencement has been under its constant observation, but, unfortunately, the Chinese authorities bave almost entirely ignored all the advice and suggestions of the Coast Inspector and his staff. It has been difficult even to keep the line of the bund as designed, as the Chinese do not understand the importance of closely following the lines laid down for them.
I entirely concur in the opinion that the Harbour-master's duties include the protection of the public shipping interests in the harbour, but, as was clearly shown by their action in interfering with the Harbour-master's functions by establishing a water police force, which has caused endless trouble, the Chinese authorities are apparently not disposed to support the Harbour-master's authority, or to pay much attention to his advice.
1 have, &c. (Signed) F. J. MAYERS.
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Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Consul-General Mansfield.
(No. 27.) Sir,
Peking, December 7, 1906. I BEG to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 50 of the 11th ultimo, respecting the unsatisfactory manner in which the bunding work along the river frontage at Canton has been carried out.
I think we have a right, in the general interests of our trade and shipping, to ask that the work in the portion of the bund which adjoins the British wharves should be done under the supervision of a competent surveyor, and I entirely approve your having addressed a representation in this sense to the Viceroy. Should the present Viceroy refuse to accede to your request, I shall be prepared to press the matter upon the attention of the Wai-wu Pu.
I am doubtful, however, how far we can rely upon Article V of the 1902 Treaty to support our contention. That Article stipulated that the cost of effecting and maintaining improvements in the harbour at Canton should be defrayed by a tax on goods landed by British and Chinese alike, and, so far as my information goes, no arrangement has ever been made for enforcing this provision or obtaining the assent of the other Powers to the levy of such a tax. Under these circumstances I am afraid the Central Government would dispute the application of the Article.
I shall be glad, however, to receive any observations which you may desire to make on this point.
I am, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
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