CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908 — Page 350

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

CHINA TRADE.

CONFIDENTIAL.

0.0.

1799 [December 28.]

RESOJAN 08

[42342]

No. 1.

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.~(Received December 28.)

(No. 520.) Sir,

Peking, November 8, 1907. IN my despatch No. 487 of the 10th ultimo, I had the honour to bring to your notice the action of the Customs authorities at Chefoo in imposing a fine on a British steamer.

I have now the honour to forward to you copy of a further despatch from His Majesty's Consul at that port reporting the return by the Commissioner of Customs of the fine imposed, and his own decision of the question.

I have approved the action taken by Mr. Brady as reported in his despatch.

I have, &c. (Signed)

J. N. JORDAN,

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

(No. 14) Sir,

Consul Brady to Sir J. Jordan.

Chefoo, October 25, 1907. REFERRING to your despatch No. 10 of the 7th instant, I have the bonour to inform you that the fine of 100 taels imposed by the Commissioner of Customs on the steam-ship "Lienshing" has now been returned, and the matter amicably arranged to the satisfaction of both Mr. Unwin and Messrs. Cornabe. Eckford and Co, on the lines suggested by you and Sir Robert Hart. There was a difficulty in regard to the holding of a joint investigation as the contraband cargo over which the dispute arose had not been seized, and the Customs had no desire to press the charge under Article XLVIII of the Tien-tsin Treaty; therefore, the only alternative short of the one adopted, was to bring the case into Court under Article 70 (iii) of the Order in Council, 1904. The Customs, however, as you are aware, have always had a rooted objection to appear as prosecutors before His Majesty's Courts, and in the present instance Mr. Unwin preferred I should deal with the matter out of Court.

I inclose copies of the correspondence that has taken place. I have had no official acknowledgment of my despatch to the Commissioner, but he has written to me privately expressing his thanks for the action taken by me, and explaining that he deferred writing officially until he had had an opportunity of seeing the Taotai, who is at present absent in Peking. The case, however, can now be considered closed,

I have, &c.

(Signed)

HERBERT F. BRADY.

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Sir,

Customs to Consul Brady.

Custom-house, Chefoo, October 16, 1907.

AS you are aware, the steam-ship "Lienshing" received on board on the 1st August last twenty cases containing gunpowder and other ammunition without Customs permit. The circumstances under which this shipment took place and the Customs action that followed are known to you, and have been the subject of correspondence between yourself and His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking. As a result of this corre- spondence I have now received instructions from the Inspector-General of Customs to return to the agents of the vessel the fine of 100 Haikwan taels paid by them in settle- ment of the case on the 29th August, and to request you to punish the vessel concerned for taking in contraband cargo without a permit.

[2765 ee-

-1]

348