This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[31045]
No. 1.
560
0
34816
[September 20
SECTION 6,
23 2 08
(No. 336.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 7.)
Peking, July 21, 1908. WITH reference to my despatch No. 205 of the 11th May, I have the honour to report that I have continued to urge on the attention of the Wai-wu Pu the necessity of dealing with the question of li-kin levied on merchandise on the Shanghae-Nanking Railway.
To my note of the 9th May the Board replied on the 26th May, to the effect that while the Acting Inspector-General of Customs had been instructed to draw up Rules for the prevention of abuses, it must be borne in mind that the conditions in Kiangsu differed from those in Manchuria, and it did not therefore follow that the system of special certificates adopted in the north will necessarily be suitable in another locality.
On the 28th May I alluded to this reply in conversation with Mr. Liang Tun-yen at the Wai-wu Pu, and informed him that I must maintain the principle that Treaty provisions and the precedents of other railways should be followed in any arrangements which the Imperial Maritime Customs may evolve.
I confirmed this in writing on the 2nd June, and also drew attention to Article 14 of the Shanghae-Nanking Railway Loan Agreement, by which equality of advantages was guaranteed to this line in the enjoyment of any arrangements for the levy of li-kin prevailing on other railways.
The question was pursued in several interviews with the Wai-wu Pu without material result, and on the 10th July I addressed a further note to Prince Ch'ing, notifying the Chinese Government that any li-kin exacted on duty-paid goods between two Treaty Ports would involve claims for refunds which would be supported by His Majesty's Government.
I have the honour to inclose copies and translations of the correspondence to which I have alluded.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Wai-wu Pu to Sir J. Jordan.
(Translation.) Sir,
May 26, 1908. I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that your note of the 9th May, regarding li-kin on the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, was communicated to the Revenue Council, whose reply to this Board is to the following effect :-
"As regards the carriage by the Shanghae-Nanking Railway of foreign goods which have paid import duty under exemption certificates issued by the Imperial Maritime Customs, we instructed the Acting Inspector-General of Customs some time ago to draw up satisfactory Rules for the prevention of smuggling, but have not yet received his proposals.
"On receipt of the Board's last despatch, we shall now, of course, instruct the Acting Inspector-General of Customs to deal with it in conjunction with the previous papers; but it must be observed that the Regulations governing the issue at Tien-tsin and other ports of special certificates for the carriage of goods to the marts of Manchuria, and the procedure now determined upon under special Rules for the carriage of goods by the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, presents points of difference which cannot be arbitrarily reconciled. It is therefore necessary to examine the conditions prevailing in the localities concerned, and to take into consideration the differences between them. The Customs in the Shanghae-Nanking region have
[1940 g-6]
:
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[31045]
No. 1.
560
0
34816
[September 20
SECTION 6,
23 2 08
(No. 336.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 7.)
Peking, July 21, 1908. WITH_reference to my despatch No. 205 of the 11th May, I have the honour to report that I have continued to urge on the attention of the Wai-wu Pu the necessity of dealing with the question of li-kin levied on merchandize on the Shanghae-Nanking Railway.
To my note of the 9th May the Board replied on the 26th May, to the effect that while the Acting Inspector-General of Customs had been instructed to draw up Rules for the prevention of abuses, it must be borne in mind that the conditions in Kiangsu differed from those in Manchuria, and it did not therefore follow that the system of special certificates adopted in the north will necessarily be suitable in another locality.
On the 28th May I alluded to this reply in conversation with Mr. Liang Tun-yen at the Wai-wn Pu, and informed him that I must maintain the principle that Treaty provisions and the precedents of other railways should be followed in any arrangements which the Imperial Maritime Customs may evolve.
I confirmed this in writing on the 2nd June, and also drew attention to Article 14 of the Shanghae-Nanking Railway Loan Agreement, by which equality of advantages was guaranteed to this line in the enjoyment of any arrangements for the levy of li-kin prevailing on other railways.
The question was pursued in several interviews with the Wai-wu Pu without material result, and on the 10th July I addressed a further note to Prince Ch'ing, notifying the Chinese Government that any li-kin exacted on duty-paid goods between two Treaty Ports would involve claims for re-funds which would be supported by His Majesty's Government.
have the honour to inclose copies and translations of the correspondence to which I have alluded.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Wai-wu Pu to Sir J. Jordan.
(Translation.) Sir,
May 26, 1908. I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that your note of the 9th May, regarding li-kin on the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, was communicated to the Revenue Council, whose reply to this Board is to the following effect :-
"As regards the carriage by the Shanghae-Nanking Railway of foreign goods which have paid import duty under exemption certificates issued by the Imperial Maritime Customs, we instructed the Acting Inspector-General of Customs some time ago to draw up satisfactory Rules for the prevention of smuggling, but have not yet received his proposals.
"On receipt of the Board's last despatch, we shall now, of course, instruct the Acting Inspector-General of Customs to deal with it in conjunction with the previous papers; but it must be observed that the Regulations governing the issue at Tien-tsin and other ports of special certificates for the carriage of goods to the marts of Manchuria, and the procedure now determined upon under special Rules for the carriage of goods by the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, presents points of difference which cannot be arbitrarily reconciled. It is therefore necessary to examine the conditions prevailing in the localities concerned, and to take into consideration the differences between them. The Customs in the Shanghae-Nanking region have
[1940 g-6]
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