CO129-431 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [1-2] — Page 466

BRITISH CONSULAR

REPRESENTATIVE AT ANTUNG.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMERCIAL ATTACHE IN CHINA.

SIR,

China Association to Foreign Office.

China Association,

99, Cannon Street, E.C.

3rd December, 1914.

At a Committee Meeting held here last Tuesday a letter was read from the Shanghai Branch of this Association in which attention was drawn to the absence of any British Consular representative at Antung.

It would seem that the post originally established in 1907, and "temporarily" discontinued in 1909, has remained vacant ever since.

My Committee is informed that the only Consular official at Antung is the American representative, British interests being in charge of the British Consul at Mukden.

The increasing importance of Antung and the advantages which the Japanese have recently acquired there in the reduction of duties and discrimination in railway rates, tend, in the opinion of our Shanghai Branch, to make an adjustment of the position from a British point of view, most desirable. The Committee is in entire agreement with this view and suggest the re-appointment of a resident British Consul at Antung at the earliest moment which His Majesty's Government may consider opportune.

H.M. Under Secretary of State

I have, &c,

H. C. WILCOX,

Secretary.

for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Office.

NOTE-The reply to this letter dated the 8th April, 1915, is confidential, and for that reason cannot be published. It is apparent, however, that the question has received very careful consideration, both in London and at Peking, and the decision arrived at, is that there is no justification under existing conditions for the re-opening of the Consulate at Antung a decision which, in the light of the information supplied, the Committee

cannot contest.

SIR,

China Association to the Foreign Office.

China Association,

99, Cannon Street, E.C.,

20th October, 1914.

At their last meeting my Committee had under consideration the Memorandum of Sir John Jordan relating to the office of Commercial Attaché in China and the Memorandum of the Shanghai Branch of this Association in reply thereto, together with a letter from our Tientsin Branch, of which I beg to enclose a copy for your information.

Both the Shanghai and Tientsin Branches appear to be now of opinion that the beadquarters of the Commercial Attaché should remain at Peking. There is, however, a general consensus of opinion that the work and duties cover so large a field that the time has come for enlarging the scope of the office, with a view to the extension of its sphere of influence,

It is felt to be practically impossible for one official stationed at Peking to cover so large an area as the whole of China, at a time when the expansion of her commercial relations with foreign countries may be expected to develop in various directions; and it is obviously desirable in our national interests to give every encouragement to British subjects to combat the position and influence established by German competitors in China-more especially in their dealings with the Central and Provincial Governments.

To this end the Association would welcome the appointment of three Assistants to the Commercial Attaché, whose sphere of action would be north, central and south

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