CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908 — Page 507

į

At

:

2

and Vice-Admiral Sir A. Moore suggested that we should inform the Viceroy, in connection with a proposed scheme for the prevention of piracy, that we would take steps to prevent the irregular use of the British flag. Sir J. Jordan told the Admiral that the Chinese had never raised the question before, and that it would be enough to say, if the Viceroy pressed the point, that new Regulations as to registration were under consideration. Sir J. Jordan added that the Judge's views as to revised Regulations were being forwarded. In reply, Sir J. Jordan was informed that we should not let the British flag be abused under cover of bogus registrations.

Sir H. de Sausmarez, while on a visit to Canton, discussed the question of registration with the Admiral and the Consul-General, and advised the issue of urgent and provisional King's Regulations, to be made applicable to Canton inland waters on the following lines ---

(a.) Registration shall be limited to launches towing passenger junks. Launches carrying passengers on approved routes.

Launches towing properly registered lighters and junks.

(b.) Registration shall not be granted to launches engaged on irregular work,

.., plying for hire (not necessarily towing) or using unauthorized routes.

(c.) No charter of a British-owned and registered launch shall be granted by the owner to any other than a British subject.

If chartered by Chinese or other foreign subject, certificate of registry to be cancelled.

(d.) The master of every launch, when absent from port of registration, shall be held responsible that all Rules and Regulations are complied with, and for the proper running of his launch.

(e.) In order that the approximate whereabouts of every launch shall be known, each launch shall run on a known route, and shall not transfer to another route without the Consul-General being notified.

(f) The master and engineer to be registered at the Consulate, and to be respectable, capable, and qualified men, and, when feasible, British subjects. Auy change in either master or engineer to be notified to His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton.

Before registering a master and engineer, the man's village and family should be ascertained, if possible.

The issue of these Regulations provisionally was sanctioned.

On the 24th November, 1907, Sir J. Jordan forwarded Sir II. de Sausmarez' explanation of his previous telegraphic recommendations together with his (Sir J. Jordan's) own comments; but, since the receipt of this communication, the Judge has telegraphed that his views have been modified on better information and that he was sending that day a full despatch containing his views.

Sir E. Grey proposes to await the receipt of this despatch before taking any further action, both in this matter and in that of the registration of ships owned by British registered Companies having their principal place of business in China. This question, as the Board is aware, formed the subject of the letter from your Depart- ment of the 12th November, 1907.

A copy of Sir H. de Sausmarez' despatch will be forwarded to you as soon as received, and Sir E. Grey would be obliged if he could then be favoured with the views of the Board of Trade on the whole question.

I am, &c. (Signed) F. A. CAMPBELL.

504 0.0.

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Governme6160

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL,

[3485]

No. 1.

Rec

Jan 20 FEB 08:

[February 1

SECTION 1.

Mr. Bryce to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received February 1.) (No. 16.) Sir,

Washington, January 18, 1908. WITH reference to my despatch No. 149 of the 30th June, 1907, reporting the departure from the United States of Sir Cheutung Liang Chang, Minister of China at Washington, and the offer made by the President that the United States' Government should waive its claim to the capital and interest of some 13,000,000 dollars due to it by China on account of damages incurred during the Boxer rising, I have now the honour to inform you that the Senate yesterday unanimously approved of the measure, which was introduced by Senator Lodge in the form of a Joint Resolution.

The total sum due to the United States' Government on this account was 24,440,778 dol. 81 c., which has now been reduced to 11,655,492 dol. 69 c.

I inclose an extract from the "New York Tribune" of to-day," relative to the passage of the Resolution by the Senate.

JAMES BRYCE.

I have, &c. (Signed)

* Not printed.

[2846 a-

-]}