Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Consul-General Sir P. Warren to Sir J. Jordan,
(No. 129.) Sir,
ON receipt of your Confidential telegram of the 1st instant, instructing me to Shanghae, November 20, 1907. endeavour to obtain from the Chamber of Commerce or other sources a list of British trade-marks counterfeited and used in China by Japanese, I at once addressed a letter embodying your request to the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, who replied on the 13th instant that so far they had received no complaints on the subject from any British firms. He pointed out, however, that it seemed unlikely that the Japanese would use imitated marks at Shanghae or the coast ports, and suggested that Consular officers should tour the interior, where they would find that methods far from scrupulous were being employed by the Japanese in their bid for trade. I inclose a copy of the Chairman's letter.
Messrs. A. R. Burkill and Sons, to whom I also addressed a letter on the subject, replied yesterday that in the spring they had sent a man specially to Changsha to inquire into this question, but, although he brought back samples of various imitations of their soap chops, he was unable to get positive proof that they were of Japanese origin. In Shanghae itself they only knew of one instance of a fraudulent imitation of their chops in which a Japanese was concerned.
The only really satisfactory reply that I received was from the British-American Tobacco Company, who state that most of their brands are being imitated by Japanese, and have sent me three specimens of the counterfeits and the originals, which I have the honour to inclose herewith.
I have, &c.
-Sir,
(Signed)
PELHAM L. WARREN.
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Shanghae Chamber of Commerce to Consul-General Sir P. Warren.
Shanghae, November 13, 1907.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your favour of the 6th instant, and in reply beg to state that the Chamber has so far received no complaints from any British firms of their trade-marks being imitated,
I would, however, point out that it seems most unlikely that the Japanese would use imitated marks in Shanghae or the coast ports, and would respectfully suggest that a member or members of the Consular or Diplomatic Service be detached from places, say like Changsha, and any of the far Manchurian towns, to make a tour of the surrounding country, as there can be no doubt that methods far from scrupulous have been employed by the Japanese in their bid for trade.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
WILLIAM D. LITTLE, Chairman.
British trade-mark of this sort—that of Breidenbach and Co., 157B, New Bond Street, London.
A more serious fraud on the Chinese purchaser and the British maker is the competitor of Price's candles; the wrappers of the original and the counterfeit are inclosed. It will be noticed that the Japanese article does not conceal its origin, and that a junk instead of a ship in full sail distinguishes it; but it must be borne in mind that the Chinese ask for "ch'uan p'ai" ("Boat" brand) candles, and cannot distinguish what seem to us palpable differences in picture, colour, and printing. This remark applies to all the counterfeits, which I am forwarding with a list by parcel post, and I would suggest that the burden of explanation should lie on the Japanese who uses a foreign language on the labels of his wares instead of patriotically emphasizing their origin by the use of Japanese or its near ally Chinese, a course also which would ensure the native customer against possibility of being misled.
The other counterfeit of a British well-known product is that of the tape-measure in leather case of Chesterman of Sheffield. The imitation, of which I have obtained a sample, is larger than the original, badly sewn together and with loose winding apparatus. Its feet are marked fairly correctly, but are divided into 10 inches instead of 12 inches. The marking on the case is a copy of Chesterman's, except that the capital "C" is replaced by a "G," "England" is omitted, though "Sheffield" remains, and "Y. O." takes the place of "J. C."
I am assured that the Japanese shops here contain many foreign patent medicines and toilet preparations, which presumably do not come from the West; but it would cost a considerable sum to acquire a full line of samples, and such clever imitations as that of Mühlen's "Jungendborn" scent would be detected only by chemical analysis at home.
The native shops welcome the cheap Japanese products, as they are able, by selling them to their countrymen at the price of the foreign genuine product, to make a vastly increased profit. Thus the Japan candle manufactory's "Junk" brand is stopping the sale of Price's candles, and "Moushun" rose tooth powder is gaining a wider consumption than Mouson and Co.'s.
In the course of my inquiry I discovered that a Wuchang factory under official patronage and managed by a student returned from Japan is turning out a close imitation of Gossage's "Fragrant honey soap," stamping each counterfeit cake with the inscription of the hong name of Messrs. Burkill and Co., Shanghae, who are the agents of the British makers. I propose to call the Viceroy's attention to this flagrant fraud on the Chinese public.
I have also been assured that British Portland cement bags arrive here full of German inferior cement; but whether the empty bags are sent from China or elsewhere I cannot say.
The samples I am now forwarding cost 7 dol. 40 c., which, pending your instructions, I have myself paid,
I have, &c. (Signed)
E. H. FRASER,
(No. 89. Confidential.) Sir,
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
Consul-General Fraser to Sir J. Jordan.
Hankow, November 11, 1907. ON receipt of your telegram No. 45, Confidential, of the 1st instant, I instituted inquiries among British firms as to Japanese violations of British trade-marks in China. The Chamber of Commerce being an international body with a German chairman at present, it did not seem advisable to approach it.
As regards piece-goods, the direct import here is so insignificant, even from Japan itself, that I can obtain no instances of wrongful use of our marks.
Among miscellaneous articles the attention of the Japanese appears to be principally turned to German and French soaps, perfumes, and tooth powders. I have obtained only one example, purchased in a Japanese shop in the native town, of an imitation of a
Inclosure 5 in No. 1.
Consul-General Hopkins to Sir J. Jordan.
(No. 66.) Sir,
Tien-tsin, November 14, 1907. WITH reference to your telegram of the 1st instant, I have the honour to inclose herewith a list of articles which I have procured at Japanese shops counterfeiting British or American goods.
I am informed by a British merchant that a number of Manchester piece-goods (greys and whites) are counterfeited by the Japanese, and he is trying to get some examples for me.
I regret that it has not been possible to procure specimens of the original articles (except in one case) of which the Japanese counterfeits were procured here.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
L. C. F. HOPKINS.
(2813 b5)
B 2
479
1
2
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Consul-General Sir P. Warren to Sir J. Jordan,
(No. 129.) Sir,
ON receipt of your Confidential telegram of the 1st instant, instructing me to
Shanghae, November 20, 1907. endeavour to obtain from the Chamber of Commerce or other sources a list of British trade-marks counterfeited and used in China by Japanese, I at once addressed a letter embodying your request to the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, who replied on the 13th instant that so far they had received no complaints on the subject from any British firms. He pointed out, however, that it seemed unlikely that the Japanese would use imitated marks at Shanghae or the coast ports, and suggested that Consular officers should tour the interior, where they would find that methods far from scrupulous were being employed by the Japanese in their bid for trade. I inclose a copy of the Chairman's letter.
Messrs. A. R. Burkill and Sons, to whom I also addressed a letter on the subject, replied yesterday that in the spring they had sent a man specially to Changsha to inquire into this question, but, although he brought back samples of various imitations of their soap chops, he was unable to get positive proof that they were of Japanese origin. In Shanghae itself they only knew of one instance of a fraudulent imitation of their chops in which a Japanese was concerned.
The only really satisfactory reply that I received was from the British-American Tobacco Company, who state that inost of their brands are being imitated by Japanese, and have sent me three specimens of the counterfeits and the originals, which I have the honour to inclose herewith.
I have, &c.
-Sir,
(Signed)
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
PELHAM L. WARREN.
Shanghae Chamber of Commerce to Consul-General Sir P. Warren.
Shanghue, November 13, 1907.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your favour of the 6th instant, and in reply beg to state that the Chamber has so far received no complaints from any British firms of their trade-marks being imitated,
I would, however, point out that it seems most unlikely that the Japanese would use imitated marks in Shanghae or the coasts ports, and would respectfully suggest that a member or members of the Consular or Diplomatie Service be detached from places, say like Changsha, and any of the far Manchurian towns, to make a tour of the surrounding country, as there can be no doubt that methods far from scrupulous have been employed by the Japanese in their bid for trade.
I have, &c.
3
British trade-mark of this sort-that of Breidenbach and Co., 157B, New Bond Street, London.
A more serious fraud on the Chinese purchaser and the British maker is the competitor of Price's candles; the wrappers of the original and the counterfeit are inclosed. It will be noticed that the Japanese article does not conceal its origin, and that a junk instead of a ship in full sail distinguishes it; but it must be borne in mind that the Chinese ask for "ch'uan p'ai" ("Boat" brand) candles, and cannot distinguish what seem to us palpable differences in picture, colour, and printing. This remark applies to all the counterfeits, which I am forwarding with a list by parcel post, and I would suggest that the burden of explanation should lie on the Japanese who uses a foreign language on the labels of his wares instead of patriotically emphasizing their origin by the use of Japanese or its near ally Chinese, a course also which would ensure the native customer against possibility of being misled.
The other counterfeit of a British well-known product is that of the tape-measure in leather ease of Chesterman of Sheffield. The imitation, of which I have obtained a sample, is larger than the original, badly sewn together and with loose winding apparatus. Its feet are marked fairly correctly, but are divided into 10 inches instead of 12 inches. The marking on the case is a copy of Chesterman's, except that the capital "C" is replaced by a "G, "England" is omitted, though "Sheffield "remains, and Y. O." takes the place of "J. C."
I am assured that the Japanese shops here contain many foreign patent medicines and toilet preparations, which presumably do not come from the West; but it would cost a considerable sum to acquire a full line of samples, and such clever imitations as that of Mühlen's "Jungendborn" scent would be detected only by chemical analysis at home.
The native shops welcome the cheap Japanese products, as they are able, by selling them to their countrymen at the price of the foreign genuine product, to make a vastly increased profit. Thus the Japan candle manufactory's "Junk" brand is stopping the sale of Price's candles, and " Moushun" rose tooth powder is gaining a wider consumption than Mouson and Co.'s.
In the course of my inquiry I discovered that a Wachang factory under official patronage and managed by a student returned from Japan is turning out a close imitation of Gossage's "Fragrant honey soap," stamping each counterfeit cake with the inscription of the hong name of Messrs. Burkill and Co., Shanghae, who are the agents of the British makers. I propose to call the Viceroy's attention to this flagrant fraud on the Chinese public.
I have also been assured that British Portland cement bags arrive here full of German inferior cement; but whether the empty bags are sent from China or elsewhere I cannot say.
The samples I am now forwarding cost 7 dol. 40 c., which, pending your instructions, I have myself paid,
I have, &c. (Signed)
E. H. FRASER,
(No. 89. Confidential.) Sir,
(Signed)
WILLIAM D. LITTLE, Chairman.
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
Consul-General Fraser to Sir J. Jordan.
Hankow, November 11, 1907. ON receipt of your telegram No. 45, Confidential, of the 1st instant, I instituted inquiries among British firms as to Japanese violations of British trade-marks in China. The Chamber of Commerce being an international body with a German chairman at present, it did not seem advisable to approach it.
As regards piece-goods, the direct import here is so insignificant, even from Japan itself, that I can obtain no instances of wrongful use of our marks.
Among miscellaneons articles the attention of the Japanese appears to be principally turned to German and French soaps, perfumes, and tooth powders. I have obtained only one example, purchased in a Japanese shop in the native town, of an imitation of a
Inclosure 5 in No. 1.
Consul-General Hopkins to Sir J. Jordan.
(No. 66.) Sir,
Tien-tsin, November 14, 1907. WITH reference to your telegram of the 1st instant, I have the honour to inclose herewith a list of articles which I have procured at Japanese shops counterfeiting British or American goods.
I am informed by a British merchant that a number of Manchester piece-goods (greys and whites) are counterfeited by the Japanese, and he is trying to get some examples for me.
I regret that it has not been possible to procure specimens of the original articles (except in one case) of which the Japanese counterfeits were procured here.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
L. C..F
HOPKINS.
(2813 b5)
B 2
479
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