CO129-395 - Public Offices - 1912 — Page 529

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registered with its seat in Shanghai. In the

absence at the Consulate of any public list of

British companies doing business in China the

Chinese public suffered until I took the risk of

disclaiming the Company's nationality in the native

press.

This latter incident suggests the advisability

of a provision that no British or colonial company

shall under heavy penalty open a branch or agency

in a consular district without the sanction of the

Shanghai registry which shall intimate the fact to

the Consul conce med in order that the company's

name be inserted in a list in English and Chinese

of such companies distinguishing between China,

British and Colonial companiesto be kept displayed

in a part of his office open to the public.

1 venture to comment on the proposals of the

Judges of the Supreme Court because dissatisfaction

amongst foreigners and Chinese with our arrange-

ments as to any trade relations is directed against

our executive officers, at any rate in the first

instance; and to aliens the idea of a Colony dic-

tating