CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 353

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

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[39126]

34538

[October 27.

RECR

SECTION 1.

REG 1 NOV 10

No. 1.

Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 27.)

(No. 355. Confidential.) Sir,

Peking, October 8, 1910. WITH reference to my despatch No. 331 of the 23rd ultimo, I have the honour to transmit herewith copy of a despatch from the acting British consul at Harbin, reporting on the Russo-Chinese protocol governing the issue of the new regulations for the navigation of the Sungari River, Mr. Sly observes that, though the protocol contains no new departures of great importance, it strengthens the advantageous position acquired by Russia under the published regulations.

I have, &c.

W. G. MAX MÜLLER,

Enclosure in No. 1.

Acting Consul Sly to Mr. Max Müller.

(No. 33. Confidential.) Sir,

Harbin, October 1, 1910. MY despatch No. 27 of the 12th ultimo forwarded the text of the new regulations for the navigation of the Sungari. I now beg to report concerning the protocol governing the issue of the said regulations. I learn, in confidence, that the principal stipulations of this instrument are as follows :-

Article 3 provides that "all additions to, and modifications in, the said regulations, as long as they are in force, as well as all special regulations introduced on, or extended to, the Sungari will be settled by agreement between Russia and China.”

Article 4 reads: "It is considered as understood that the fact of the Imperial Maritime Customs functioning on the land of the Chinese Eastern Railway at Harbin will not in future give a cause to be quoted as a precedent when discussing any question of principle."

Article stipulates that "all articles and materials required for the construction, working, and repairs of the Chinese Eastern Railway line are exempted from all customs taxes and duties, as well as those levied inland. In these are also included all articles required for the protection of the line."

Article 6 requires that before the end of the present year rules shall be prepared for dealing with the through transport of grain products brought by the Sungari to Harbin in bulk or in bags, and transhipped immediately upon arrival at this Port from vessel to railway, or temporarily stored in storage places under the control of the Chinese Eastern Railway and Imperial Maritime Customs for subsequent export by rail. In both casos goods are to be exempt from a second duty at Manchuria or Suifenho,

The same article provides that the principle which allows a reduction of one-third duty on grain products brought by river to Harbin and thence exported by rail shall be extended to other goods similarly transported should a trade develop.

As regards tonnage dues and their withdrawal in favour of river dues, it is stated that the rates of the latter levy are to be arranged by the Commissioner of Customs at Harbin in co-operation with the chief of the navigation department of the Chinese Eastern Railway on the basis that the total assessment of river dues for the navigation period of the 18th June, 1909, to the 17th June, 1910 (Russian calendar), shall not exceed by more than 25 per cent, the amount of tonnage dues actually collected during that period.

The protocol was done in the Russian, Chinese, and English languages, and, in case of dispute, the English text is to be authoritative.

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