[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C.O.
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
8783
[February 1.]
RECO
SECTION 3.
REGE 12 MAR OS
"
[4229]
(No. 18.) Šir,
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received February 1.)
Peking, January 10, 1909. WITH reference to my telegram No. 207 of the 29th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a note from the Wai-wu Pu in which they request the co-operation of His Majesty's Government in bringing into operation the provision of the Commercial Treaties concluded with Great Britain, America, and Japan for the abolition of li-kin and the increase of the Customs Tariff.
The Wai-wu Pu state that China finds this measure necessary to enable her to carry out the task in which she is engaged of reorganizing her finances, and it is suggested that the question should be dealt with in Peking by a Commission composed of members of the Board and Delegates from the various Legations.
It is well known that the enforcement of the 8th Article of the Mackay Treaty was one of the principal objects of Tong Shoa-yi's Mission to America and Europe. Tong's own view of the question is set forth in the inclosed memorial from him, which was written shortly before he left this, but which has only recently been published. In this he lays stress upon the necessity of give effect to the other Articles of the Commercial Treaties relating to currency reform, Mining Regulations, and other matters, in order to enable China to negotiate successfully for an increased Customs Tariff, which would, he estimates, yield an additional annual revenue of from 20,000,000 taels to 30,000,000 taels.
Subsequent events have, however, largely detracted from the importance of Tong's Mission. The project of sending him abroad was conceived and carried out by Prince Ching and Yuan Shih-k'ai. The latter is now no longer in office and the former's tenure of power is precarious. Tong is, therefore, left without any influence behind him, and his Mission seems likely to degenerate into a more or less formal tour of the principal European Courts.
In my telegram No. 207, I expressed the opinion that our compliance with the Chinese request should be conditional upon China's undertaking to carry out practical measures for the reform of the currency, the introduction of Mining Regulations, and the enforcement generally of the various provisions of the 1902 Treaty, and on the receipt of your telegram No. 1 of the 1st instant, approving this course and authorizing me to communicate your views to Yuan Shih-k'ai, I sought an interview with his Excellency for this purpose. My letter reached him on the day of his downfall and was communicated by him to the Wai-wu Pu, who sent me an informal message I doubt, stating that they would be prepared to see me on the subject at any time. however, if any useful purpose would be served by pursuing the matter further until we see more clearly what is likely to be the effect of the recent changes in the Government..
The Japanese and American Ministers are both sympathetic to the Chinese proposal, but my Russian and French colleagues are not disposed to view it with much favour. The Russian Minister thinks it would give China an opening for raising the question of imposing duties upon the overland trade with Russia which is free under the Treaty of 1881, and the French Minister has, I understand, suggested to his Government that they should make their acceptance of the Chinese proposal conditional on the fulfilment of the engagement respecting the Postal Administration, which is recorded in the correspondence publishe I in Rockhill's Treaties," pp. 250, 251. It seems to me doubtful whether the adoption of this suggestion would be altogether in keeping with the conditions under which is Majesty's Government negotiated the 8th Article of the 1902 Treaty as laid down in section 14 (2) of the Article itself.*
All the Foreign Representatives are practically in agreement in thinking that the Chinese proposal can hardly be seriously considered until China has given actual proof
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* L., that the assent of the Powers who enter into the same engagements "is neither directly nor indirectly made dependent on the granting by China of any political concession, or of any exclusive commercial concession.”
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