CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921 — Page 66

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Flad of information with regard to merchants' views.

December 20th 1920: Sir B. Alston to Sir R. Stubbs (semi-officia) Suggests that as it is now too late to take the views of the Conferen- ce of Chambers the Commercial Secretary at Hongkong should wit. the Governor's approval consult the chamber of Coerce at Hon kong on the subject.

January 8th,1931: Sir R.Alston to Commercial Secretary, Hong kong (Lr.E.G.Jamieson): Telegram: Instructs him to take above action if

Sir R.Stubbs has no objection.

January 17th. 1921. Kr. Jamieson to Sir B. Alston: Telegram and letter Hes Jiscussed matter with Governor, who sees no reason for consulting Chamber. Sir R. Stubbs considers that he already knows views of commercial community and in any case would not be prepared to agree to a tax on salt. Sir R. Stubbs has informed him confidential -ly that the Colonial Secretary has been in touch with the Carton authorities and that there was reason to hope that another agreement, having no reference to salt, would be brought forward. Mr.amieson had not consulted the Chamber, but from private enquiries gathered that the majority of merchants were not in favour of the rgrement.

January 24th 1921. Sir F. A len to Ir. Rose (semi-official): States that so far as he knows Chinese Goverment is not likely to bring forward any revised agreement. The reference in lir.Jamieson's letter may be to conversations between the Colonial Secretary at Hongkong and Dr. Harris, but the latter is now stationed at Amoy and has no authority whatever to touch the matter.

February 1st.191: Sir R. Stubbs to Sir B. Alston (Semi- official): Replies to linister's letter of December 20th 1920: states that he understand that Inspector-General is considering suggestions put forward informally for "odifying agreement: that Mr. Jamieson Ahad left Hongkong and could not, therefore, consult the Chamber of Commerce; that the Chamber would probably support the agreement as

the merchants would get some thing-although very little out of it,

but that he (Sir R. Stubbs) was not prepared under any circumstances

agree to tax the food of the poor. He also express the view that as

the question at issue concerned the trade in Kuangtung it we useless

to attempt to deal with it by means of an agreement negotiatedin