CO129-367 - Acting Governor May - 1910 [6-7] — Page 512

as well not to all Cherie what it is as

proposed to to with Itk. sabidean, comis,

JRD

242.

Te. cú

Hongkong.

My Lord,

C O 27045

13P 10,

510

Government House,

Hongkong, 29th. July, 1910.

Mr. Fiddes

I believe the Chinese Cort. are acting in

this matter under American advice. They could not have

elaborated the scheme themselves. If the Americans

control it the scheme will no doubt be worked out

with efficiency and fairness, and I don't think

H.M.G. need tender advice on elementary principles.

But we must try to come to some arrangement in the

matter of our H.K. coins now circulating in China.

I submit draft to Treas. F.0 should have

copy of corresp.

AEC

919

I have the honour to forward for

Your Lordship's information the enclosed copy, furnished

to me by the courtesy of Mr. Max Müller, of a despatch

addressed by him to the Becretary of State for Foreign

Affairs giving cover to a translation of a Decree, and of

Regulations to give effect to it, establishing in China a

currency on the basis of a Silver Dollar.

2.

This innovation if carried out by

a strong hand guided by expert financial advice would, I

need scarcely point out, be a great boon to trade and

commerce generally throughout China and would therefore

result in advantage to the trade of the Colony which is at

present considerably hampered by the chaotic state of the

currency in the neighbouring provinces.

But if the operation proposed

under the Decree is handled in a thoughtless and ignorant

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

THE EARL OF CREWE,

80...

&C.

manner