CO129-469 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1921 [9-12] — Page 440

Tong ong.

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if there were no rival but Chefoo id there already. In fact the pos- ition is the reverse of that of Hongkong. Weihaiwei is almost in the position of Whampoa and Chefoo in that of Hongkong.

Our leased territory is too small to be ul any account commercially, Trade would have to look to the interior. This might certainly be reached from Weihaiwel by railway but it could equally well be reache from Chefoo. Goods imported via Weihaiwei would have to pay the Chinese Customs dues on the land frontier and ao would have no advant age ever goods imported into Chefoo, unless we kept our harbour dues below those of Chefoo in which case we could not repay the expense of the necessary harbour works; and, indeed, merchants would probably prefer to import via Chefoo, even if it cost a little more, in order to avoid the nuisance of a Customs examination on the land frontier Bailar considerations ply to exporte feom the interior and the

exports from the Territory itself will never amount to Luch,

(or cou. we there are no railwaye from either place now out it would be as easy to build one from Chefoo as from Weihaiwei.

.

Politically, the pose. ion of wein iwei is of advantage to us:;

Father the contrary as ite state ol decrepitude is a bad advertisement.

As indicated in my report, we might by spending fairly large sums of

Boney cause it to cease to be a discredit to us but what should we

gain? I ve ponuered over the question and I find no answer,

strategically it is admittedly useless,

Therefore we

come down to the fact that its only possible use is

ad a nealth resort fur une Navy And for British people in China.

I think is advantage can be over-rated. Admittedly it is very plea8-

ant for the Navy to have a place to go to in the summer where the

their

en can play cames anu the officers can have 117 wives but it is not

really so useful as to justify much expenditure on this account,

jongkong is a perfectly healthy place. It is hot in the summer in