CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907 — Page 444

Co.

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

438

CHINA TRADE.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[6029]

No. 1.

[February 23.19764

SECTION

EGE 18 MAR 07)

(No. 20.) Sir,

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received February 23.)

Peking, January 8, 1907. WITH reference to my despatch No. 461 of the 8th November of last year, regarding the tendency of the Chinese authorities to differentiate between the places in Manchuria opened to foreign trade and other Treaty ports, I have the honour to inclose a copy of a despatch from Ifis Majesty's Consul-General at Mukden, reporting the issue of Regulations by the Tartar General, under Imperial sanction, imposing a consumption tax of 2 per cent. ad valorem on all foreign and native goods consumed within the Province of Fengtien.

Mr. Fulford has united with his colleagues in pointing out that they cannot recognize the right of China to levy dues in the open ports or quarts of Manchuria on foreign goods which have already paid import duty, and that they consider the towns in question to be opened on exactly the same footing as ordinary Treaty ports.

I have approved Mr. Fulford's action, and, in conjunction with my American colleague, I have addressed a note to Prince Ching protesting against these Regula- tions, and demanding that foreign goods, upon importation and the payment of duty at the Maritime Customs, should be granted exemption certificates on being conveyed to any of the inland cities of Manchuria which have been opened to foreign trade.

A copy of my note to Prince Ch'ing is also inclosed.

I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

(No. 9.) Sir,

Consul General Fulford to Sir J. Jordan.

Mukden, December 23, 1906. I HAVE the honour to inform you that on the 30th November, 1906, the Board of Foreign Affairs, Mukden, sent identical despatches to all the foreign. Consuls in Mukden--these are the Consuls-General for Japan, America, and Great Britain, and the Consul for Germany-inclosing Regulations for taxation of goods native and foreign in Mukden, and requesting them to instruct their nationals to observe the same.

I inclose copy of this despatch and trauslation.

The Regulations prescribe two taxes-a production tax of 14 per cent, ad valorem on native goods produced in the province, and a consumption tax of 2 per cent. ad valorem on foreign and native goods consumed in the province. These taxes are to take the place of all internal taxes, such as li-kin, destination tax, &c., on all goods, articles, and animals, with certain exceptions, for which there are special Regulations and taxes. These exceptions are carts, cattle, tobacco, wine, wood, salt, native opium, boiled opium, grain contracts, and boats on the Liao River.

The Consular Body held a meeting to consider the question as soon as it was possible to assemble all the members. This was on the 21st instant. It was resolved to send identical replies addressed to the Tartar General, to the effect that, as the Consular Body considered that the whole town of Mukden was open to the trade and residence of their nationals, they could not order the observance of these Regulations.

I inclose a copy of my despatch to the Tartar General in English and Chinese,

I have, &c. (Signed) H. E. FULFORD.

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