Gov. of Hangsling
3.0
31859
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[29873]
No. 1.
같은마
ree 25 SEP OC
[August 9.]
AYA
SECTION 8.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received August 9.)
(No. 219.) Sir,
Peking, June 22, 1909. I HAVE the honour to enclose copies of correspondence with His Majesty's consul at Newchwang respecting the establishment of an international settlement
at that port.
It would seem undoubted that such a settlement would greatly conduce to the comfort and well-being of the foreign community, even if it is not so necessary in the interests of trade as the merchants appear to think. I have accordingly authorised Mr. Wilkinson to enter into negotiations with the local authorities, but I have little hope that his efforts will be crowned with success, since the Chinese, in their present state of mind with regard to China's "sovereign rights," are not likely to agrée readily to any proposal to withdraw further territory from their immediate control.
may
have also the honour to enclose, in translation, the memorandum prepared by the German consul-general at Mukden upon the future of Newchwang, which has been furnished to me confidentially by the German Legation. Whatever truth there be in the German view of the question, it is not one to which we can readily subscribe, having regard to British vested interests at the port, and it is our manifest duty to do all in our power to prevent Newchwang suffering unfairly from the competition of its younger rivals. At present it is severely handicapped by several disadvantages, all of which admit of at least a partial remedy if the Chinese Govern- ment could be persuaded to take an enlightened view of its duties.
The Liao River has been allowed to fall into a state which has reduced the junk traffic with the interior from some 30,000 vessels a year to less than 3,000; and, as if this was not a sufficient drawback to the trade of the old-established port, its only other means of communication, the Chinese Imperial Northern Railway, has been penalised by the imposition of li-kin duties, from which the South Manchurian Railway, which leads to Dalny, is entirely exempt. It has been pointed out to the Chinese authorities time after time that such a policy is suicidal in the interests of their own Customs and railway revenue, but they are apparently resigned to the prospect of the extinction of the Newchwang trade.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul Wilkinson to Sir J. Jordan.
(No. 8.) Sir,
Newchwang, May 28, 1909. I HAVE the honour to enclose herewith a copy of a letter, dated the 15th instant, which has been addressed to me by the British residents at this port, requesting me to again approach you on the subject of the establishment at Newchwang of an international settlement.
The letter is the outcome of a meeting of British subjects and representatives of British interests at Newchwang, which was held here on the 12th instant to discuss the question. It was unanimously resolved by those present that the time had come to make a further effort to bring under international municipal control the area on the south bank of the Liao River, in which the foreign quarter is situated, and of which the major portion is already foreign owned.
In support of their application the British residents reiterate the pleas of political expediency submitted on the last occasion on which a similar demand was made by them, namely, on the 20th October, 1906, when they addressed my predecessor Mr. Fulford on the subject, and they point out further that, apart from the wider horizon of British trade interests embraced by this question, the internal administration of the section of the town referred to has, for lack of a proper system
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