CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 550

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goods from China to Tonkin less than at Treaty Ports. (Article III).

An export duty was authorised on Chinese goods which had paid an import duty on enter- ing Tonkin, and has passed through Tonkin for conveyance to a third Country. (Article IV).

The most favoured nation clause was extended so as to govern future political and commercial relations between China and the countries situated to the South and South West of the Chinese Empire. (Article VII).

While the negotiation of this Additional Convention was in progress Sir J. Walsham in- timated that, in the event of advantages being given thereby to France over other countries, he should take steps to protect Eritish inter- ests and Treaty privileges, to which the Chin- ese Government replied that the existing Treaties referred solely to the ports, and could not be made available in connexion with overland intercourse. (Confidential 5789.p.9.)

After communication with the India Office Lord Selisbury instructed Sir J. Walsham to protest against this limitation of the scope of the Most Favoured Nation Articles of our Treaties with China. (June 28th 1888).

Lord Salisbury further observed that it would be useless to press for a reduction of the Tariff at the ports corresponding with

that

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that granted to the French Frontier Trade, and that it would be better policy to take advantage

of it in order to obtain concessions in regard to Burmah. Sir J. Walsham was accordingly in- structed to inform the Chinese Government that the question of Treaty rights at the ports would not be further pressed if they would give a written statement that they accepted the ex- plicit reservation of the right of this country to Most Favoured Nation Treatment elsewhere than in Burmah as a basis for the abstention of Her Majesty's Government from raising the question of their rights in the present instance, and further agreeing that in the Commercial ar- rangements respecting Burmah they would give to this country similar advantages and an identical Most Favoured Nation Clause which should apply to the French Convention.

They should also, His Lordship added, agree that such facilities would be granted for the Navigation of the Canton River and other water- ways of Southern China as would place British Trade on fairly equal terms with the trade open- ed to France across the frontier of Tonkin (To

Sir J. Walsham June 28th 1888).

Sir J. Walsham does not appear to have re- ported whether he obtained this assurance from

the Chinese Goverment.

In the meantime, however, a convention was signed between this Country and China on July

24th

(10,100). Wt. 5683-41. 5000. 5/09. A.& E.W.

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