CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 126

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.] 124

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CHINA TRADE.

RECO

Rro 28 JAN 10

[December 30.]

CONFIDENTIAL.

[47229]

No. 1.

SECTION 1.

Mr. Whitelaw Reid to Sir Edward Grey.- (Received December 30.)

Sir,

American Embassy, London, December 29, 1909. REFERRING to previous correspondence on the subject of China's desire to implement her treaty provisions with regard to an increase in her tariff and the abolition of li-kin, I have the honour to inform you that recent despatches from the American legation at Peking intimate a willingness on the part of the Chinese Government to appoint a plenipotentiary to discuss with representatives of the treaty Powers not only the question of the abolition of li-kin and the increase of the import tariff in compensation therefor, but all questions of fiscal and financial reform related thereto.

The Commercial Treaty of 1903 between the United States and China provides for the abolition of li-kin and for a surtax upon imports in lieu thereof. This treaty also engages China to introduce certain important reforms, which for various reasons have not yet been negotiated. Provisions similar to the American treaty are found in the British treaty of 1902 and the Japanese treaty of 1903.

It is the opinion of the United States that the proposed discussion should take into consideration not only the subject of the abolition of li-kin and the increase of import dues, but that of the fulfilment of these treaty pledges, and that the representatives of

· China and of the other Powers concerned should agree upon plans that will ensure the introduction, so far as practicable, of the most urgent of these promised reforms at the same time that the revised tariff shall become effective.

As the Government of the United States is of opinion that the present is a most opportune time for such a discussion as China has proposed, I am instructed to enquire in regard to the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards the views set forth, and to express the hope that they may be in sympathy with those of my Government.

I have, &c.

WHITELAW REID.

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