This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[4361]
No. 1.
481
[February 8.]
SECTION 1.
(No. 591.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received February 8, 1908.)
Peking, December 24, 1907. IN continuation of my despatch No. 577 of the 11th instant, I have the honour to forward to you herewith copy of a further despatch which I have addressed to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokio on the subject of Japanese infringements of trade-marks in China.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir C. MacDonald.
Peking, December 23, 1907. WITH reference to my despatch of the 9th instant on the subject of Japanese infringements of trade-marks in China, I have the honour to inclose copies of despatches from His Majesty's Consul-General at Hankow, dated the 29th November and 11th December, dealing with a counterfeit of Messrs. Bryant and May's matches and of British-manufactured salt, American soap, condensed milk, &c., and also a Copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghae giving the result of his correspondence with the China Association upon this question.
Your Excellency will observe that the answer of the China Association does not add much to the information already placed before you.
The main point to which I would invite attention is the recognition, in paragraph 2 of the Memorandum drawn up by the Secretary of the Association in London, of the fact that "these Japanese infringements are to be looked for alone among classes of goods such as soap, candles, matches, biscuits, cigarettes, and whisky-the proprietors of which are not organized for mutual protection," and that the piece-goods trade is comparatively free from such infringements. In spite of the proofs in this matter falling far short of expectation, sufficient evidence is forthcoming, in my opinion, to justify British merchants in China in objecting to the dishonest imitation of their wrappers and marks, whether such dishonesty be legal or not, and in viewing with apprehension the introduction of registration laws by China before an understanding is arrived at with Japan, whereby British marks in China will be protected against infringement by Japanese on a still larger scale.
A copy of this despatch is being sent to the Foreign Office.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
P.S-I should add that specimens of the imitations dealt with in Hankow despatch No. 97 will be forwarded to your Excellency.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Consul-General Fraser to Sir J. Jordan.
J. N. J.
Hankow, November 29, 1907.
(No. 94.) Sir,
IN continuation of my despatch No. 89 of the 11th instant on the subject of Japanese counterfeits of British goods, I have the honour to forward the cover of a box of matches, purporting to be Bryant and May's, which I myself bought as of British provenance, and was led to examine by the difficulty of lighting the matches in damp weather.
[2842, -1]
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[4361]
No. 1.
481
[February 8.]
SECTION 1.
(No. 591.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received February 8, 1908.)
Peking, December 24, 1907. IN continuation of my despatch No. 577 of the 11th instant, I have the honour to forward to you herewith copy of a further despatch which I have addressed to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokio on the subject of Japanese infringements of trade-marks in China.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Sir,
Bir J. Jordan to Sir C. MacDonald.
Peking, December 23, 1907. WITH reference to my despatch of the 9th instant on the subject of Japanese infringements of trade-marks in China, I have the honour to inclose copies of despatches from His Majesty's Consul-General at Hankow, dated the 29th November and 11th December, dealing with a counterfeit of Messrs. Bryant and May's matches and of British-manufactured salt, American soap, condensed milk, &c., and also a Copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghae giving the result of his correspondence with the China Association upon this question.
Your Excellency will observe that the answer of the China Association does not add much to the information already placed before you.
The main point to which I would invite attention is the recognition, in paragraph 2 of the Memorandum drawn up by the Secretary of the Association in London, of the fact that "these Japanese infringements are to be looked for alone among classes of goods such as soap, candles, matches, biscuits, cigarettes, and whisky-the pro- prietors of which are not organized for mutual protection," and that the piece-goods trade is comparatively free from such infringements. In spite of the proofs in this matter falling far short of expectation, sufficient evidence is forthcoming, in my opinion, to justify British merchants in China in objecting to the dishonest imitation of their wrappers and marks, whether such dishonesty be legal or not, and in viewing with apprehension the introduction of registration laws by China before an under- standing is arrived at with Japan, whereby British marks in China will be protected against infringement by Japanese on a still larger sale.
A copy of this despatch is being sent to the Foreign Office.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
P.S-I should add that specimens of the imitations dealt with in Hankow despatch No. 97 will be forwarded to your Excellency.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Consul-General Fraser to Sir J. Jordan.
J. N. J.
Hankow, November 29, 1907.
(No. 94.) Sir,
IN continuation of my despatch No. 89 of the 11th instant on the subject of Japanese counterfeits of British goods, I have the honour to forward the cover of a box of matches, purporting to be Bryant and May's, which I myself bought as of British provenance, and was led to examine by the difficulty of lighting the matches in damp weather.
[2842, -1]
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