CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907 — Page 10

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(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.}

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Res

[April 6. REG 2 MAY CO

SHOTION 7.

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL,

[10909]

(No. 80.) Sir,

No. 1.

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received April 6.)

Peking, February 14, 1907. WITH reference to my despatch No. 38 of the 22nd January, I have the honour to inclose, for your information, copies of further correspondence respecting the right of British merchants to open places of business within the city of Changsha.

The errors and inconsistencies of the Governor of Hunan are dealt with suffi- On the 18th January ciently in the replies sent to him by the Acting British Consul. Mr. Giles returned his Excellency's note of the 21st December, denying the right of foreign merchants to reside and trade inside the city, but five days later (23rd January) the Governor sent it back with another argumentative despatch. I then instructed Mr. Giles by telegram to return the note of the 21st December once more, and to inform the Governor that he must decline to accept similar communications in future. My Japanese colleague sent an identical telegram to Changsha, and both Consuls carried these instructions out on the 28th January.

It is at least satisfactory that in actual practice the Chinese authorities at Changsha take care to avoid pushing the Governor's views to their logical conclusion, and that British goods are allowed to enter the city without hindrance and free of

I have, &c.

li-kin.

(Signed)

J. N. JORDAN,

(No. 2.) Sir,

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

Acting Consul Giles to Sir J. Jordan.

Changsha, January 11, 1907. IN continuation of my despatch No. 24 of the 27th December, on the subject of Treaty port limits, I have the honour to forward herewith copies and translations of a further despatch addressed by the Japanese Consul and myself to the Governor (Inclosure No. 2), and of the latter's reply thereto (Inclosure No. 3).

It will be noted that the Governor now denies having received any instructions to recognize the right of British merchants to reside and trade inside the city. This statement is, however, directly at variance with his own words to the Japanese Consul and myself at our interview of the 27th November, and with the Customs Taotai's statement to me on the 4th December, as reported in my despatch No. 23 of the 5th December.

I have, &c. (Signed)

BERTRAM GILES.

Sir,

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Japanese and British Consuls at Changsha to Governor of Hunan.

Changsha, December 28, 1906. WE have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's despatch of the 21st December, in reply to our communication asking for a clear statement as to the right of foreign merchants to start business establishments and to trade inside the city of Changsha.

Your Excellency states that, in 1903, when foreign merchants claimed the free right of residence in the ports, the cities, and the towns, the Treaty Commissioners declined to agree to this; and that you are consequently unable to comply with the request of the British Minister that you should recognize the right of foreign merchants to open business establishments inside the city of Changsha.

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