CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 549

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The Government of India were of opinion that the Commercial privileges conceded to the French would act prejudicially upon the develop- ment of the Trade with Yünnan via Bhamo and the

Irrawady River, which would be diverted from that river to the Red River route; but, at the same time, the chief obstacle lay in the inter- position of the independent kingdom of Burmah between British Burmah and Yünnan, and the then pending arrangements might tend to remove the disadvantage, when the consequences of the French Treaty might not prove so serious as was anticipated. (India Office February 3rd 1866).

On the 26th April 1886 à Commercial Con- vention in pursuance of Article VI of the Treaty of Peace &c of the 9th June 1885, was concluded between France and China.

It did not specify the spots where the Frontier-Trade should be carried on, because the frontier was not then settled, but it de- clared what duties should be levied on the mer- chandize crossing the frontier.

These were:-

For the Import Transit Trade (in accord- ance with existing Regulations at the Treaty Ports) on payment of half the Maritime tariff duty.

Import Duties: one fifth less than the Maritime Tariff. In the case of goods not enumerated in the Tariff, 5% ad valorem (as in the Treaty Ports)

(Article VI).

Export Transit Duties: the same as on goods

exported from the Maritime ports.

Export Duty from the Frontier Ports: two-

thirds of the Maritime export duty.

Most Favoured Nation Treatment was also 8c-

corded to France in case of a Frontier Trade Con- vention being concluded between China and Eng- land for the Burmah Frontier (Article VII).

The right of France to impose a Protective Tariff on imports crossing the frontier into Tonkin was recognised (Article IX).

Article 111 of the Convention gave to the

French and Annamese at the Frontier Ports the

same privileges as in Articles VIII, IX, XI and XII of the French Treaty with China of 1858.

These had reference to passports, houses,

burial grounds, employment of interpreters, teaching foreign languages, sale and purchase of books, inviolability of property of French citizens, prohibition of embargoes on French

vessels &c.

On Monsieur Constans afterwards proceeding

to China as French Minister, this Convention was revised, and an Additional Convention was signed

on June 26th 1887 modifying its terms.

It specified the places open to French Trade in the Provinces of Kwang-si and Yunnan. (Article

II).

The import and export duties were further

reduced. Goods passing from Tonkin to China were to pay less than Treaty port rates and

goods

Export

(10,100). Wt. 5683-41, 3000. 5/09. A. & E.W.