CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 7

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

CHINA TRADE.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[20116]

No. 1.

REC

5

Race 5 JUL 09

[May 29.]

SECTION 2.

(No. 151.) Sir,

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey,-(Received May 29.)

Peking, April 10, 1909. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's consul-general at Mukden enclosing copy of an arrangement made by the director-general of Chinese customs with regard to the export from Manchuria of wheat, maize, and millet.

My despatch No. 486 of the 30th September last reported to you a decision of a similar nature, applying, however, to wheat only, which had been taken by the customs authorities at Newchwang. The reasons for the decision were fully dealt with in that despatch. It is perhaps hardly necessary to recall that the export of all grains to foreign countries was prohibited by the terms of rule 5, article 3, of the agreement made in pursuance of article 26 of the Tien-tsin treaty, and that the prohibition also finds its place at the end of article 14 of the commercial treaty of 1902.

I have, &c.

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

J. N. JORDAN,

No. 12.) Sir,

Consul-General Fulford to Sir J. Jordan,

Mukden, April 6, 1909.

I HAVE the honour to enclose copy and translation of a despatch, dated the 4th instant, which I have received from the Mukden Foreign Office communicating an arrangement made by the director-general of Chinese customs, permitting the export of wheat, maize, and millet by way of the Southern Manchurian seaports.

I have, &c.

H. E. FULFORD,

Inclosure z in No. 1.

Sir,

Mukden Foreign Office to Consul-General Fulford.

Mukden, April 4, 1909.

I BEG to inform you that I have received instructions conveying the details of a concessionary arrangement made by the director-general of customs with regard

to wheat, maize, and millet produced in Manchuria as follows:-

In any year in which there is an abundant crop of wheat, maize, and tall millet ("kaoliang"), export of these three kinds of grain will be permitted by South Manchurian be sea routes on payment of the regulation li-kin and duty. If hereafter there should a year of poor crops, the export must be forbidden beforehand. Again, if the export is excessive, and the local officials, on account of a scarcity of the people's food, wish to prohibit the export, one month's notice will be given, on expiration of which period the prohibition will be strictly enforced. This arrangement cannot be quoted as a precedent in regard to any other kind of grain or the grain products of other provinces.

Having been directed to communicate this arrangement, I have the honour to address you, and beg you to take note thereof.

[2274 -2]

I have, &c.

D