Ts Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[6133]
No. 1.
[February 22.]
SECTION 7.
(No. 599.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received February 22, 1908.)
Peking, December 31, 1907.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 446 of the 5th ultimo, in which you ask me to explain what is meant by the system of "extra-Treaty" privileges alluded to in the third paragraph of Mr. Parlett's despatch of the 24th September last, and, in reply, beg to make the following statement:--
Shipping firms in the Treaty ports in China are in the habit of entering into bonds with the Customs authorities, under which they receive special facilities for the working of cargo and the clearance of vessels at hours when the custom-house is closed to ordinary business in return for certain obligations which they undertake towards the Customs as regards payment of duties, co-operation in the prevention of smuggling, and other matters.
The Customs authorities in China are generally very reluctant to prosecute a foreign vessel in the Consular Court of her nationality, and occasionally make use of this bond as a means of obtaining compliance with their wishes in matters which it does not directly cover. The Customs, for instance, instead of proceeding against a vessel for some offence for which the Treaty provides a penalty, give the agents or owners the option of paying a fixed fine or of being deprived of the privileges secured by the bond, and as the withdrawal of these privileges penalizes the ship to such an extent that further trading may become impossible, the fine is generally paid.
My despatch No. 487 of the 10th October last, which dealt with a case of the kind that occurred at Chefoo, and in which a copy of the bond was enclosed, will have already illustrated the working of the system which, however, it is fair to state, is exercised very sparingly and, so far as I know, without discrimination of any kind.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
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Ts Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[6133]
No. 1.
[February 22.]
SECTION 7.
(No. 599.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received February 22, 1908.)
Peking, December 31, 1907.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 446 of the 5th ultimo, in which you ask me to explain what is meant by the system of "extra- Treaty" privileges alluded to in the third paragraph of Mr. Parlett's despatch of the 24th September last, and, in reply, beg to make the following statement :--
Shipping firms in the Treaty ports in China are in the habit of entering into bonds with the Customs authorities, under which they receive special facilities for the working of cargo and the clearance of vessels at hours when the custom-house is closed to ordinary basiness in return for certain obligations which they undertake towards the Customs as regards payment of duties, co-operation in the prevention of smuggling, and other matters.
The Customs authorities in China are generally very reluctant to prosecute a foreign vessel in the Consular Court of her nationality, and occasionally make use of his bond as a means of obtaining compliance with their wishes in matters which it does not directly cover. The Customs, for instance, instead of proceeding against a ressel for some offence for which the Treaty provides a penalty, give the agents or owners the option of paying a fixed fine or of being deprived of the privileges secured by the bond, and as the withdrawal of these privileges penalizes the ship to such n extent that further trading may become impossible, the fine is generally paid.
My despatch No. 487 of the 10th October last, which dealt with a case of the kind hat occurred at Chefoo, and in which a copy of the bond was inclosed, will have lready illustrated the working of the system which, however, it is fair to state, is xercised very sparingly and, so far as I know, without discrimination of any kind.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
[2842 y-7]
112
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