CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907 — Page 690

C

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

CHINA TRADE.

CONFIDENTIAL.

30276

667

Rece (July 24.1AUG 07

SECTION 3.

[25163]

No. 1.

(No. 269.) Sir,

Sir J. Jordon to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received July 29.)

Peking, June 8, 1907. IN my despatch No. 199 of the 29th April, I had the honour to report upon the steps taken with regard to the Regulations issued by the Chinese authorities in connection with the opening of Nanning to foreign trade.

I now have the honour to inclose copies of further despatches from His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton, and His Majesty's Consul at Wuchow on this subject, together with a copy of a note which I have addressed to Prince Ching complaining of the action of the provincial authorities in issuing Regulations which are intended to be binding upon British subjects and vessels owned or chartered by them without prior consultation with His Majesty's Consul.

I have further pointed out to his Highness that the opening of a trade-mart at Nanning to foreign trade, under Regulations similar to those which have proved a hindrance to commercial development at Chinan-fu, can only create the impression that China is intentionally obstructing trade relations by such a proceeding; and I have requested that the modification of these Regulations may be discussed with His Majesty's Consul.

I have, &c.

J. N. JORDAN.

(Signed)

P.S.-Since writing the above I have received a reply from the Wai-wu Pu, copy of which I have the honour to inclose, and which may, I think, be taken to mean that the Board are prepared to have the Regulations modified.

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

J. N. J.

Acting Consul-General Sly to Sir J. Jordan.

(No. 23.) Sir,

Canton, May 15, 1907. REFERRING to your despatch No. 14 of the 22nd ultimo, I have the honour to inclose herewith copy of a communication which I addressed on the 10th instant to the Acting Commissioner of Customs at Nanning drawing attention to the objections as urged by His Majesty's Consul-General and the Wuchow Consul to the Provisional Customs Regulations for the Interport Traffic between Wuchow and Nanning. Copy of a Memorandum in the same sense submitted to the Viceroy is also forwarded.

I raised the question at an interview with his Excellency on the 8th instant; but owing to the short time which the Viceroy was able to devote to it, after the treatment of several other matters, a minute and careful discussion was not possible. The oppor- tunity, however, offered of putting the matter before Mr. Lo, and, as a result, the Viceroy telegraphed next day for information to the Governor of Kuangsi. It having appeared evident to me from the few words which I was able to exchange with his Excellency Choufu at the interview above mentioned, that he himself had little know- ledge of the state of things created by the Nanning Taotai's ruling as to the Kut Hing firm, the representatives in Nanning city of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co., and by the Provisional Customs Regulations, I deemed it expedient to submit to his Excellency, through the personal medium of his Secretary, the Memorandum to which allusion has already been made.

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

[2561 -3]

B

1

Page 690Page 691