[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[43515]
No. 1.
69
[December 29.]
SECTION 3. C.
2752
107
(No. 461.) Šir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received December 29.)
Peking, November 8, 1906. DURING a visit which he recently paid to Peking, Mr. Fulford, His Majesty's Consul-General at Mukden, informed me that the Chinese authorities there showed a decided tendency to limit the rights of foreigners to a "Settlement area," and he suggested that we should invite the co-operation of the Representatives of the Powers who were interested in the question, with the view of securing that the place should be opened on the same footing as other Treaty ports.
I have since had some private correspondence with Mr. Fulford on the same subject, and I have the honour to inclose an extract from one of his recent letters which fully describes the situation there.
After consultation with my American, Japanese, and German colleagues, I found that they were all agreed as to the necessity of combating the Chinese contention, and in a letter of instructions (copy of which I have the honour to inclose) I have informed Mr. Fulford that he may rely upon the co-operation of their respective Consuls in the matter.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
i
Dear Sir John,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul-General Fulford to Sir J. Jordan.
Newchwang, October 31, 1906. THANK you for your letter of the 27th re li-kin at Mukden. The German Consul, Dr. Mezger, who is appointed to Mukden, is quite willing to go with me in the question. Indeed, he is already in it, for his merchants, Arnhold, Karberg, and Co., refuse to pay the li-kin, and have been allowed so far (he informs me) to escape it-chiefly, I think, because they have opened a branch in Mukden and a foreigner goes there occasionally, The British American Tobacco Company is in the same position. But people who send their goods up to Chinese agents find that the agents have not the necessary backbone to resist payment. Butterfield and Swire are in this latter position, and their agent here, Ross Thomson, intends to visit Mukden and adopt the same attitude as the other two firms.
This seems more effective than academic discussion as to the status of the Treaty port, which has been going on for months between the Americans and Chinese, without result.
The Japanese naturally do not care to " discuss" the matter. They are in the town, and simply refuse to pay. The Chinese admit this, but say the Japanese escape payment for the present under the plea that the goods are "military supplies," and that this must end soon-in fact, should end at once.
It seems to me that, apart from the question as to what the opening of Mukden means, we can claim exemption from li-kin so long as the Japanese obtain it. The "military supplies" is too thin to be accepted.
The Standard Oil man
The Americans, I am afraid, will not try a concrete case. here talked of sending up a consignment of oil and refusing to pay li-kin, but does not do so, but sells locally to Chinese, who, of course, pay. He, I think, wants to run no risks of interference with his business, and thinks other people will fight the battle whilst he continues the old system. That is, in my experience, the usual American attitude in these matters: large talk, but little real action,
[2268 -3]
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.