CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907 — Page 208

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Trusting that your Imperial Highness will be in a position to supply the Diplo matic Body with the information it desires, I avail, &c.

(Signed) The Dean of the Diplomatic Body.

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Prince Ch'ing to the Doyen of the Diplomatic Body.

J'AI l'honneur de vous accuser réception de la lettre du 12 Juin dernier concernant l'introduction d'un système monétaire uniforme en Chine, et me demandant si les mesures maintenant en considération donnaient à espérer une solution favorable et prompte, avec prière d'une réponse.

Notre Département s'est empressé de se mettre en communication avec le Ministère des Finances, qui nous a fait parvenir la communication suivante :---

"Considérant que le prix de l'or et de l'argent est exposé à des hausses et des baisses, notre Département est justement en train de chercher un moyen pour avoir un système monétaire uniforme en Chine.

"Le 10 Mai dernier un Mémorandum fut présenté au Trône, et, en réponse, un Décret Impérial ordonnait aux fonctionnaires du Grand Secrétariat et des divers Départements de se concerter et d'en faire un Rapport au Trône.

St

que

Après les pourparlers auront eu lieu et le Rapport avec les moyens à employer sera envoyé au Trône, nous vous ferons savoir les détails, avec un compte rendu

exact.

Nous avons l'honneur de porter ce qui précède à la connaissance de votre Excellence.

Le 10 Juillet, 1907.

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government. 205

CHINA TRADE.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[30098]

No. 1.

34798

S1 OCT 07

[September 9.]

SECTION 2.

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received September 9.)

(No. 341.) Sir,

Peking, July 16, 1907. IN my despatch No. 285 of the 12th ultimo, on the subject of the practice to be adopted in the case of foreign goods conveyed between the open ports and the recently opened marts in the interior of Manchuria, I expressed the opinion that, in view of the distance of some of the marts and the various means of transport which might be employed, the period of one month for the return of the exemption certificates to the ports of issue might prove to be inadequate, and I stated that I proposed to request His Majesty's Consul-General at Mukden to furnish me with his views on the point.

Mr. Fulford agreed that, having regard to the above-mentioned circumstances, the period was unduly short, and suggested that a time limit of two months would be more appropriate.

I accordingly laid these views before the Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu, and I have now the honour to inclose copy of their reply, stating that the Revenue Council have agreed to the proposed alteration to two months of the period for the duration of such exemption certificates,

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

(Translation.) Sir,

Inclosure in No. 1.

Wai-mu Pu to Sir J. Jordan.

Peking, Kwang Hsü, 33rd year,

6th moon, 3rd day (July 12, 1907).

IN reply to your Excellency's note of the 27th ultimo, in which your Excellency states that it has been pointed out to you that the time limit of one month fixed by the Revenue Council for the duration of exemption certificates will be found too narrow in the case of the more remote open marts and of consignments of goods conveyed by cart or boat, and that its alteration to two months has been suggested, I have the honour to inform your Excellency that the Revenue Council have now replied to a communication addressed to them on the subject by this Board, that they agree to the proposed alteration of the time limit for the duration of such exemption certificates to two months.

While notifying your Excellency accordingly, I avail, &c.

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