لا لا
42
This, it will readily be seen, entails heavy expenditure, and in view of the fact that there is a minimum of business doing, my Committee venture to point out that, with certain safeguards, coded telegrams might be accepted for transmission to Great Britain and the Colonies.
There are many instances which could be recorded where merchants trying to gain German trade have had to telegraph for prices for certain commodities and found that telegraphic charges come abnormally high, and with this charge added to first cost makes the Chinese dealer think that English goods are so much dearer than purchases from the Continent. A case that might be instanced is that of a tiran telegraphing an order for glass wherein certain dimensions and number of panes of each size had to be given, with the result that a difference of some 20% to 25% was shown over Continental costs.
It appears, however, as pointed out above, that with certain safeguards code telegraphy might be again allowed, and in this connection I might be allowed to suggest that all telegrame in code would have to be subject to "franking" at the Consulate- General. The question of fees for this service might also be considered, as was done during the Revolution of 1910 with regard to the Chinese Telegraph Administration,
My Committee are of opinion that the matter is of sufficient importance to warrant their asking you to draw the attention of His Majesty's Minister to the subject by cable.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) C. E ANTON,
H M. Consul-General, Shanghai.
Chairman.
Sir E. D. H. Fraser, K,C.M.G.,
DEAR SIR,
+3
China Association, Shanghai, to China Association, Tientsin.
China Association,
Shanghai, 29th October, 1914.
I have to acknowledge receipt of your telegram of the 28th instant, as follows :—
CC
+
"Committee propose address Minister with view endeavour secure "admission code messages to London to code addresses which have first been registered by local firms with Consul, and transmitted by him to Home Government Firms so registering to be approved by Consul under security 'substantial guarantee if thought advisable. Believe above course cannot prejudice Imperial interests and present conditions great hindrance revival "trade. Will you support."
To this I have to-day replied: ---
"Telegraph we will support."
In connection with this subject I am instructed to point out that at the beginning of the war verbal representations were made to His Majesty's Consul-General here with regard to the restrictions imposed, and more particularly to the lack of any method of protection to Banks; the outcome of which was the stoppige of telegraphic transfers, This latter point was overcome by authority being given to British Banking Institutions to include one cypher word in all their messages as a check.
Official representations were made on the 21st September, as per the copies of letters which have been forwarded to you.
I now beg to enclose copy of further latter sent to H.M. Consul General to-day after the receipt of your telegram under acknowledgment.
SIR,
H.B.M. Consul-General to China Association, Shanghai.
H.B.M. Consulate General,
Shanghai, September 22nd, 1914.
In reply to your letter of yesterday's date on the subject of the restrictions at present in force against sending code messages to Europe, I beg to inform you that I have already approached His Majesty's Minister on the subject by telegraph.
A copy of your despatch under acknowledgement has also been forwarded to Peking.
C. E. Anton, Esq.,
Chairman, China Association, Shangbai.
I am, &e.,
(Signed) E. H. FRASER,
Consul General,
I am, &c.,
P. H. Kent, Esq.,
L. E CANNING,
Chairman, China Association, Tientsin.
Secretary.
STR,
China Association, Shanghai, to Sir E. D. H. Fraser.
China Association,
Shanghai, 29th October, 1914.
With further reference to the Association's letter of the 21st September, on the question of code telegraphy, I have the honour to point out that under present
454
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.