[ { "id": 249736, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-078 - Sir Robinson - 1860 [7-12]", "page_number": 378, "title": "CO129-078 - Sir Robinson - 1860 [7-12]", "content_text": "China concluded at Peking in October last; copy of the Treaty of Tientsin of the year 1855, and of the Protocol and rules, which form part of the said Treaty.\n\nI hope to be able very shortly to take steps for completing the transfer to Your Majesty of that portion of the Kowloon Peninsula which has been ceded to the British Crown by the Emperor of China.\n\nI have &c.\n\n(True Copy) (Signed) Elgin & Kincardine.\n\nMuir\nColonial Secretary.\n\nPage 369", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-078 - Sir Robinson - 1860 [7-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 328248, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-221 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [4-6]", "page_number": 23, "title": "CO129-221 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [4-6]", "content_text": "# Enclosure \n8th April, 1885.\n\n## QUESTIONS--The Honourable T. JACKSON\nPursuant to notice, asked the following questions:\n\n1st. Has the Blockade of Pakhoi been legally notified? \n2nd. Is it an effective blockade? \n3rd. Can your Excellency suggest any remedies for the existing evils under which the trade of this Colony with Pakhoi, and the surrounding district is at present suffering, in consequence of the reported blockade?\n\nHis Excellency the Governor addressed the Council as follows:\n\n**HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL**\n-My Honourable friend who represents the Chamber of Commerce has, in the exercise of his undoubted privilege as a Member of this Council, put questions to the Government on a subject of the gravest importance to the interests of this community. I am very glad indeed that my Honourable friend has taken this course, because it enables me to lay before the Council a Minute giving the fullest information which I have been able to collect on all the subjects connected with the matter to which he refers. Before reading that minute, I will, with the permission of the Council, inform you of a telegram which I have during the last half hour received from Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking:\n\n## H.B.M. CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES AT PEKING TO THE GOVERNOR OF HONGKONG\n(Received 8th April at 3.30 p.m.)\n\nProtocol restoring peace between France and China has been signed in Paris, and would probably be submitted to the French Legislative Chambers on the 7th April. Armistice with prohibition of contraband of war continues till definitive signature of Treaty. Please communicate to Admiral in command.\n\nThis, of course, I at once did. Favourable as is the prospect of peace, still as the present state of affairs seems likely to continue for a short time, I think it better that I should read to the Council the Minute to which I have referred:\n\nWhen the French Consul announced to me the blockade of Pakhoi and of the neighbouring Coast, I immediately (on the 6th March ultimo), telegraphed this intelligence to Her Majesty's Government, and on the following day (March 7th), I addressed to Lord DERBY the subjoined despatch:\n\n### GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 7th March, 1885.\n\n\"MY LORD,---I have the honour to report that I yesterday telegraphed to your Lordship in the following terms: 'The French Consul informs me that a blockade will be established from March the 7th on Pakhoi and the neighbouring coast of China, from the frontier of Tonquin to the 107th meridian of longitude.' \n\n2. This blockade was announced to the French Consul at Hongkong by a telegram from Captain DE BEAUMONT, commanding the French Naval Forces in Tonquin, dated at Haiphong on the 5th instant. It was added that no notice of the blockade could be given to the Foreign Consuls at Pakhoi, as no communications were possible between the French Naval Forces and that port. Consequently, I telegraphed to the above effect to the British Consul at Pakhoi (Mr. ALLEN).\n\n3. It appears that the longitude referred to is reckoned by the French from Paris; and therefore, the blockade would seem to extend from the Frontier of Tonquin to a short distance to the East of the Treaty Port of Pakhoi, which contains about 25,000 inhabitants and is the outlet of a large district. Public Notice (By Proclamation in the Hongkong Government Gazette of March 7th, 1885) of the blockade has been given at Hongkong, which carries on a considerable trade with Pakhoi; and Admiral Sir W. DOWELL has despatched thither the British Gun-boat Espoir.\n\n4. It will be understood that the French are now blockading parts of the coast of China both to the North and to the South of Hongkong.\"\n\nAs is mentioned in this despatch, I lost no time in causing public notice of the blockade to be given in the Hongkong Government Gazette of March 7th, and there was a further notice in the Gazette of March 28th, when the British Consul at Pakhoi had sent me, under flying seal, a letter addressed to Her Majesty's Minister at Peking, to the effect that the blockade was then in active operation, being carried on by two French Men-of-war. This is all that I know concerning the blockade of Pakhoi.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-221 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 328322, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-221 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [4-6]", "page_number": 97, "title": "CO129-221 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [4-6]", "content_text": "## \npeace has caused general satisfaction at Hongkong, the centre of that vast trade which has suffered severely from the protracted Franco-Chinese hostilities. At the same \ntime, there is a general feeling that the fact of France having consented to an armistice and to negotiations for peace immediately after the serious reverse which her arms have recently suffered in Tonquin, is calculated to inflate the national pride of the Chinese, and to render them difficult of management by all European States. Assuredly, the last phase of the historical drama which has been played in the Far East during the last two years, is not the least grotesque. The protocol of peace is signed at Paris by a person employed in the Chinese Customs Department, and by a Clerk in the French Foreign Office, and is approved by Mr Freycinet, who was not at that time the Minister for Foreign Affairs. This transaction is communicated to the British Legation at Peking, and thence telegraphed", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-221 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 330007, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-224 - Foreign Office - 1885", "page_number": 330, "title": "CO129-224 - Foreign Office - 1885", "content_text": "# No. 54.\n## Mr. O'Conor to Earl Granville.—(Received May 19.)\n\n**C. O. 13437**\n**REC?**\n**REGO 30 JUL 85**\n\n**(No. 134. Secret and Confidential.)**\nMy Lord,\n\nPeking, March 29, 1885.\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 133 of yesterday's date, marked **Secret and Confidential**, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that the main difference now existing between France and China appears to be whether, as the Chinese contend, the status quo shall continue in Tonquin until the Definitive Treaty of Peace, or, as the French require, the whole of that country shall be given up to them as soon as the Preliminary Agreement or Protocol is signed.\n\nThe question of the stoppage of rice coming northwards is also, I believe, a much disputed point. The French argue that by allowing Peking and the northern provinces to re-victual, they not only lose all the advantages of the last six weeks, but afford China the means of continuing the war with greater ease should the present negotiations unhappily break down. The period intervening between the acceptance by both sides of the Protocol and the signature of the Definitive Treaty of Peace must be looked upon as a time of armistice, in which neither party should gain any advantage.\n\nI think it not improbable that the Chinese will give way on this point, as they attach great importance to the somewhat similar understanding respecting the Island of Formosa.\n\nOn the whole, the prospects of a speedy termination of the Franco-Chinese war seem very good at this moment.\n\nI cannot, however, wholly dismiss from my mind the fear that in the detailed negotiations France will seek some compensation for the lost indemnity in special commercial privileges likely to be injurious to England in proportion as they are exclusive and exceptional. There is reason to believe that after the Langson affair in August 1884 China was inclined to entertain proposals coming from the side of France by which the right of building railways throughout the country should be conceded exclusively to Frenchmen for a number of years, and that it was seriously offered and entertained as a basis of peace.\n\nWhat may be the nature of the special frontier commercial advantages claimed by France at the present moment I have failed to discover, though I gather from a Chinese source that, whatever they are, the Chinese Government has declared they must be limited by what they can afford to give to other nations who have the most-favoured-nation clause in their Treaties.\n\nI have also reason to think that certain definite commercial proposals of France are at this moment under the consideration of the Yamên, and I therefore thought it advisable in conversation with the Ministers this day to allude to the subject.\n\nI said that I had heard reports of negotiations for peace between France and China, and that I was sure Her Majesty's Government would hear with extreme satisfaction of the termination of a long and painful war, which they had viewed with so much concern. I then went on to observe that, while wishing every success to the pending negotiations for peace, I felt it my duty to express most earnestly the hope that, whatever might be the final terms, there would be found no commercial stipulations opposed to the rights or the legitimate interests of England.\n\nIt was, I understood, the duty of the British Representative to cement by every means in his power the growing friendship between the two countries, and I felt sure their Excellencies would agree with me in thinking that nothing should be done likely to check the further development of the good understanding now happily existing between them.\n\nIn reply, the Ministers of the Yamên assured me I might feel quite easy on this point, but that, nevertheless, they would not fail to communicate the observations I had confidentially made to them on this subject to the other Ministers of the Tsung-li Yamên.\n\nI have, &c.\n(Signed) **N. R. O'CONOR**.\n\nPage 330 \nPage 331", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-224 - Foreign Office - 1885.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 335683, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-235 - Public Offices - 1887", "page_number": 299, "title": "CO129-235 - Public Offices - 1887", "content_text": "2\n\nSecond Division, Second Class, Commander of the Legion of Honour and Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, duly empowered by their respective Governments, have concluded the following Protocol.\n\nProtocol.\n\nArticle 1. A Treaty of Friendship and Commerce with most-favoured-nation clause will be concluded and signed at Peking.\n\nArt. 2. China confirms perpetual occupation and Government of Macao and its dependencies by Portugal, as any other Portuguese possession.\n\nArt. 3. Portugal engages never to alienate Macao and dependencies without agreement with China.\n\nArt. 4. Portugal engages to co-operate in opium revenue work at Macao in same way as England at Hong Kong.\n\nDone at Lisbon, the 26th March, 1887.\n\n(Signed)\n\nHENRIQUE DE BARROS GOMES. JAMES DUNCAN CAMPBELL.\n\nInclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nMr. J. D. Campbell to Senhor Gomes.\n\nLisbon, March 26, 1887.\n\nM. le Ministre,\n\nTHE 4th clause of the Protocol, signed this day, declares that: \"Portugal engages to co-operate in opium revenue work at Macao in same way as England at Hong Kong.\"\n\nAccording to my instructions, it is also understood by the Imperial Chinese Government that the Chinese Customs Stations will continue at Macao in same way as at Hong Kong, functioning under the Inspector-General of Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs; that co-operation will commence provisionally at Macao from the 1st April, 1887, and will only be definitive upon ratification of the Treaty.\n\nRequesting your Excellency to confirm this understanding, in writing, on the part of the Portuguese Government, I have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nJ. DUNCAN CAMPBELL,\n\nCommissioner and Non-resident Secretary of the Inspectorate-General of Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs.\n\nInclosure 4 in No. 1.\n\nSenhor Gomes to Mr. Campbell.\n\nForeign Department, Lisbon, March 26, 1887.\n\nIN alluding, in your letter dated to-day, to the 4th Article of the Protocol which has just been signed, and in which it is laid down that Portugal engages to co-operate with China in the recovery of the revenue from opium at Macao and in its dependencies in the same way as England at Hong Kong, you add that, in accordance with your instructions, it is likewise agreed that the Chinese Fiscal Stations shall continue to operate at Macao in the same manner as at Hong Kong, under the direction of the Inspector-General of the Imperial Chinese Maritime Custom-houses, and that the co-operation on the part of Portugal shall commence at Macao on and after the 1st April, 1887, in a provisional manner, and will only become definitive after the ratification of the Treaty.\n\nIn compliance with the request contained in your letter, I confirm, on my part, in the name of the Portuguese Government, the foregoing Declaration.\n\n(Signed)\n\nBARROS GOMES.\n\nF3\n\nNo. 2.\n\nMr. Petre to the Marquis of Salisbury.--(Received April 2.)\n\n296\n\n(No. 28.) My Lord,\n\nLisbon, March 29, 1887.\n\nWITH reference to my preceding despatch, I inclose the translation of a Royal Decree, dated the 28th instant, directing the Governor of Macao to put in force on and after the 1st April next the system of co-operation agreed upon with China for the recovery of duties on opium.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nGEORGE G. PETRE.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nInclosure in No. 2.\n\nExtract from the \"Diario do Governo\" of March 29, 1887.\n\nRoyal Decree.\n\nWHEREAS a Protocol was signed at Lisbon on the 26th instant between my Government and that of His Majesty the Emperor of China for the purpose of settling the bases of a Treaty of Commerce and Navigation, for the due regulation of the friendly relations which have existed between Portugal and China for more than three centuries:\n\nAnd whereas it was on the same occasion agreed upon between the two Governments that the co-operation of Portugal, to which reference is made in the 4th Article of the Protocol, shall commence at Macao on and after the 1st April, but only provisionally, and that it will become definitive after the exchange of the ratifications of the Treaty, which is to be negotiated at Peking:\n\nI hereby decree as follows, in virtue of the power conferred upon me in the 15th Article of the First Additional Act to the Constitutional Charter of the Monarchy, and in accordance with the vote of the Council of Ministers and with the favourable Report of the Consultative Board for the Colonies:---\n\nArticle 1. The Governor of Macao shall put into force at Macao, on and after the 1st April next, a system of co-operation for the recovery of the duties on opium, identic with that which is to be established at Hong Kong at the same date.\n\nArt. 2. This co-operation accorded by Portugal to China is provisional, and will only become definitive after the exchange of the ratifications of the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation, which is to be concluded and signed at Peking.\n\nArt. 3. Any legislation in opposition thereto is hereby revoked. The Minister and Secretary of State for the Marine and Colonial Departments shall accordingly carry this Decree into effect.\n\nGiven at the Palace the 28th March, 1887.\n\n(Countersigned)\n\n(Signed)\n\nTHE KING.\n\nHenrique de Macedo.\n\nX\n\n101", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-235 - Public Offices - 1887.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 335798, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-235 - Public Offices - 1887", "page_number": 414, "title": "CO129-235 - Public Offices - 1887", "content_text": "# No. 1.\n\n19425 \nREG926 SEP 87, \n411 \n\n**(No. 82.)** My Lord, \n\n**M. de Bunsen to the Marquis of Salisbury.—(Received September 9.)** \n\nLisbon, September 3, 1887.\n\nIn his despatch No. 27 of the 29th March last, M. Petre sent your Lordship a copy of the Portuguese and English text of the Protocol relating to Macao, which was signed on the 26th of that month by Senhor de Barros Gomes, the Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. James Duncan Campbell, on behalf of the Chinese Government.\n\nI have now the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith a translation of a law, which appeared in the official \"Diario do Governo\" of yesterday, approving the Protocol in question, and authorizing the Government to ratify the Treaty of Commerce which is to be negotiated and signed at Peking under Article 1 of the Protocol.\n\nI have, &c. \n\n(Signed) \n**MAURICE DE BUNSEN**\n\n## Inclosure in No. 1.\n\n**Extract from the \"Diario do Governo,\" September 2, 1887.**\n\n**Law.**\n**(Translation.)**\n\nDom Luiz, by the grace of God, King of Portugal and of the Algarves, &c.\n\nWE hereby notify to all our subjects that the Cortes have decreed the following Law, which we sanction:-\n\n### Article 1. \nThe Protocol between Portugal and the Chinese Empire signed at Lisbon on the 26th March, 1887, is approved.\n\n### Art. 2. \nThe Government is authorized to ratify at once the Treaty of Commerce between Portugal and the Chinese Empire, which is to be negotiated and signed at Peking in accordance with the 1st Article of the said Protocol.\n\nWe command, &c.\n\nThe Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs shall cause this Law to be printed, published, and put in circulation.\n\nGiven at the Palace of the Ajuda on the 13th July, 1887.\n\n(Countersigned) \n[258]\n\n(Signed) \n**THE KING**\n**HENRIQUE DE BARROS GOMES**", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-235 - Public Offices - 1887.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 338267, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-240 - Public Offices & Others - 1888", "page_number": 195, "title": "CO129-240 - Public Offices & Others - 1888", "content_text": "## EN. 131-1 DE JUNHO DE 1888\n\n4.* Os importadores e exportadores de opio em Macau deverão ter (por forma de escrituração, segundo o modelo que lhe será fornecido pelo governo) uma indicação exacta e clara da quantidade de opio que tiverem, a quantidade e depósito.\n\n5. Só o arrematante do exclusivo do opio em Macau e as pessoas que tiverem licença para vender opio a retalho poderão conservar em seu poder opio em quantidades inferiores a uma caixa.\n\n6. Os regulamentos para execução d'esta lei em Macau serão equivalentes aos adoptados em Hong Kong para semelhante fim.\n\n## Artigo II\n\nAs licenças para exportar opio de Macau para os portos chinezes, depois de expedidas, serão comunicadas pelo superintendente ao comissário da alfandega de Kung-pac-nan.\n\n## Artigo III\n\nAs estipulações d'esta convenção poderão, em qualquer tempo, ser alteradas por mútuo acordo das duas altas partes contratantes.\n\nE em fé do que os plenipotenciários assignaram e sellaram a presente convenção.\n\nFeita em Pekim no primeiro dia do mez de dezembro do anno de Nosso Senhor Jesus Christo de 1887, que corresponde à data chineza do dia decimo setimo da decima lua do decimo terceiro anno de Kuang-Sü.\n\n(L. S.) Thomás de Sousa Rosa. (L. S.) Ching. (L. S.) Sun.\n\n4. The importers and exporters of opium in Macau must keep a register according to the form furnished by the government, showing with exactness and clearness the quantity of opium they have imported, the number of chests they have sold, to whom and to what place they were disposed of, and the quantity in stock.\n\nOnly the Macau opium farmer and persons licensed to sell opium at retail will be permitted to keep in their custody raw opium in quantities inferior to one chest.\n\n6. Regulations framed to enforce in Macau the execution of this law will be equivalent to those adopted in Hong-Kong for a similar purpose.\n\n## Article II\n\nPermits for the exportation of opium from Macau into Chinese ports, after being issued, shall be communicated by the Superintendent of opium to the Commissioner of customs at Kang-pac-man.\n\n## Article III\n\nBy mutual consent of both the High Contracting Parties, the stipulations of this convention may be altered at any time.\n\nIn faith whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed and Sealed this convention.\n\nPeking this first day of December in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven, corresponding with the Chinese date the 17th day of the 10th moon of the 13th year of Kwongsu.\n\n(L. S.) Thomás de Sousa Rosa. (L. S.) Ching. (L. S.) Sun.\n\nE tendo bem visto, considerado e examinado tudo o que no mesmo tratado e convenção se contém, e havendo encontrado um e outro em harmonia com o protocolo ajustado em Lisboa, aos 26 de março de 1887, e aprovado pelas cortes gerais, tendo presente o artigo 2.º da carta de lei de 13 de julho de 1887, ratifico e confirmo o sobredito tratado e convenção apponso, assim no todo, como em cada uma de suas clausulas e estipulações, e pela presente os dou por firmes e validos para haverem de produzir o seu devido efeito, prometendo observal-os e cumpril-os invariavelmente, e fazel-os cumprir e observar por qualquer modo que possa ser.\n\nEu, em testemunho e firmeza do sobredito, fiz passar a presente carta, por mim assignada, passada com o sello grande das minhas armas e referendada pelo ministro e secretario d'estado abaixo assignado. Dada no paço da Ajuda, em 1 de fevereiro de 1888. — EL-REI (com rubrica e guarda). — Henrique de Barros Gomes.\n\nHei por bem confirmar e ratificar o convenio celebrado em Pekin, no dia 1 de dezembro de 1887, entre Bernardo Pinheiro Correia do Mello, secretario da nossa missão especial àquela corte, e Sir Robert Hart, inspector geral das alfandegas maritimas imperiaes chinezas, para resolver algumas questões que têm relação com a cooperação dada por Portugal à China na cobrança dos direitos do opio, e bem assim fixar as regras a que ficarão sujeitos os juncos chinezes que commerciarem com Macau, o qual convenio vai junto a este decreto, e d'elle fará parte, a fim de que tenha pleno vigor.\n\nO ministro e secretario d'estado dos negocios estrangeiros o tenha entendido e faça executar. Paço da Ajuda, aos 7 de junho de 1888. — EL-REI. — Henrique de Barros Gomes.\n\n## Convenio\n\nTendo sido fixadas pela convenção apponso ao tratado de amizade e commercio entre Portugal e a China, assignado em Pekim no dia 1.º de dezembro de 1887, as bases da cooperação dada por Portugal à China na cobrança dos direitos do opio exportado de Macau para os portos chinezes, e sendo conveniente resolver algumas questões que têm relação com a rapida cooperação, e bem assim fixar as regras a que ficarão sujeitos os juncos chinezes que commerciarem com Macau, os abaixo assignados Bernardo Pinheiro Correia de Mello, secretario da missão especial de Sua Magestade Fidelissima em Pekim, devidamente autorizado por S. Ex.ª o Sr. Thomas de Sousa Rosa, chefe da referida missão, e Sir Robert Hart, K. C. M. G., inspector geral das alfandegas maritimas imperiaes chinezas, munidos das necessarias instruções do governo chinez, concordaram no seguinte:\n\n1. No territorio chinez e em logar conveniente será estabelecida uma repartição a cargo de um comissario da alfandega, delegado pelo inspector geral das alfandegas maritimas imperiaes chinezas, para vender aos negociantes de Macau certificados de pagamento de direitos sobre qualquer quantidade de opio que elles desejem exportar. O referido comissario administrará tambem os postos fiscais proximos a Macau.\n\n2. Todo o opio que for acompanhado de tais certificados, à razão de 110 taeis por pico, ficará isento de qualquer outro imposto e terá todos os beneficios estipulados no artigo adicional da convenção de Chefoo entre a China e a Grã-Bretanha, com respeito ao opio que já tenha satisfeito os direitos n'um dos portos da China. Este opio poderá ser acondicionado em pacotes sellados à vontade do comprador.\n\n3. O comissario das alfandegas chinas que administrar os postos fiscais investigará e decidirá qualquer queixa que os negociantes chinas fizerem contra os postos fiscais ou contra os cruzeiros aduaneiros.\n\nO governador de Macau, quando o julgar conveniente, poderá delegar um funccionario para tomar parte nessa investigação, e se não houver accordo entre os dois funccionarios será a questão submettida à decisão combinada das suas auctoridades respectivas em Pekim.\n\n4. Os juncos que commerciarem entre os portos chinezes e Macau, bem como as suas cargas, não ficarão sujeitos a nenhuns direitos ou taxas além d'aquelles a que estão sujeitos os juncos que commerciarem entre portos chinezes e Hong Kong, bem como as suas respectivas cargas. Do mesmo modo, os juncos que, procedentes dos portos chinezes, forem para Macau, ou que de Macau se destinarem a portos chinezes, não ficarão sujeitos a nenhuns direitos ou taxas além das que tiverem sido pagos ou forem pagaveis nos portos de sua procedencia ou destino. Os productos chinezes que tiverem já pago, antes de entrar em Macau, os direitos aduaneiros e a taxa, ficarão isentos, quando reexportados para portos chinezes, de pagar novamente aquelles impostos, ficando sómente sujeitos ao pagamento da taxa denominada Sino-Hue.\n\nEm testemunho do que foi este convenio escripto em inglez e portuguez e assignado em duplicado em Pekim, no 1.º de dezembro de 1887. — Bernardo Pinheiro Correia de Mello, secretario da missão especial de Sua Magestade Fidelissima. — Robert Hart, inspector das alfandegas maritimas chinezas.\n\n## Agreement\n\nThe basis of the cooperation to be given to China by Portugal in the collection of duties on opium conveyed from Macao to Chinese ports having been fixed by a Convention appended to the Treaty of Amity and commerce concluded between China and Portugal on the 1st December 1887, and it being now convenient to come to an understanding upon some points relating to the said cooperation as well to fix rules for the treatment of Chinese junks trading with Macau, Sir Robert Hart, K. C. M. G., Inspector General of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, provided with the necessary instructions from the Chinese Government, and Bernardo Pinheiro Correia de Mello, Secretary of the Special Mission of His Most Faithful Majesty in Peking, duly authorised by His Excellency Thomas de Sousa Rosa, Chief of the said mission, have agreed on the following:\n\n1. An office under a commissioner appointed by the foreign inspectorate of the Chinese Imperial Maritime customs shall be established at a convenient spot on Chinese Territory for the sale of opium duty certificates, to be freely sold to Macau merchants and for such quantities of opium as they may require. The said commissioner will also administer the customs stations near Macau.\n\n2. Opium accompanied by such certificates at the rate of not more than 110 taels per picul shall be free from all other imposts of every sort and have all the benefits stipulated for by the additional article of the Chefoo Convention between China and Great Britain on behalf of opium on which duty has been paid at one of the ports of China, and may be made up into sealed parcels at the option of the purchaser.\n\n3. The commissioner of Customs responsible for the management of the Customs' Stations shall investigate and settle any complaints made by Chinese merchants of Macau against the Customs' Stations or revenue cruisers.\n\nThe Governor of Macau, if he deems it advisable, shall be entitled to send an officer of Macau to be present and assist in the investigation and decision. If, however, they do not agree, a reference may be made to the authorities at Peking for a joint decision.\n\n4. Junks trading between Chinese ports and Macau and their cargoes shall not be subject to any dues or duties in excess of those leviable on junks and their cargoes trading between Chinese ports and Hong-Kong, and no dues whatsoever shall be demanded from junks proceeding to Macao from ports in China or coming from Macao to ports in China over and above the dues paid or payable at the ports of clearance or destination. Chinese produce which has paid customs duties and the _li_ tax before entering Macao may be re-exported from Macao to Chinese ports without paying those duties and _li_ tax again, and will be subject to the payment of only the tax named Sino-Hue.\n\nIn witness whereof this agreement has been written in Portuguese and English and signed in duplicate at Peking this the First day of December 1887. — Robert Hart, Inspector General of Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs. — Bernardo Pinheiro Correia de Mello, Secretary of His Most Faithful Majesty.\n\n## MINISTERIO DAS OBRAS PUBLICAS, COMMERCIO E INDUSTRIA\n\nAttendendo a que me foi representado pelos ministros e secretarios d'estado dos negocios da fazenda e das obras publicas, commercio e industria; hei por bem decretar o seguinte:\n\nSendo varios cidadãos querendo honrar a memoria do fallecido ministro e secretario d'estado, Augusto Saraiva de Carvalho, pelos valiosos e importantissimos serviços por elle prestados ao paiz, especialmente no tocante à instrucção technica, iniciando no instituto geral de agricultura o ensino da microscopia e nosologia vegetal, creando no instituto industrial de Lisboa a cadeira de arte de minas e metalurgia, e estabelecendo um curso pratico de correios e telegraphos; abriram para isso uma subscripção, e desejam que com o seu producto se crie um fundo cujo rendimento seja applicado a premiar os alumnos mais distinctos d'aquellas disciplinas, designando-se estes premios com o nome de «Saraiva de Carvalho».\n\n## Artigo 1.º\n\nÉ o ministerio da fazenda autorizado a receber da commissão encarregada da subscripção para commemorar o nome do fallecido ministro e secretario d'estado, Augusto Saraiva de Carvalho, o producto da mesma subscripção, que será convertido em titulos de divida publica perpetua, averbados a favor da fazenda nacional.\n\n§ unico. Os juros d'estes titulos serão descriptos como receita no orçamento geral do estado.\n\n## Artigo 2.º\n\nO producto liquido dos titulos de divida publica, de que trata o artigo 1.º, será dividido annualmente em quatro partes iguaes, constituindo-se com cada uma d'ellas um premio denominado «Saraiva de Carvalho», que será conferido em cada um anno lectivo, a contar do anno de 1888.\n\n[R&S (31,7350) 4000 7-8]\n\n## reign office\n\nDate. 1888\n\n260d\n\nLast previous Paper. 13389\n\nHong Kong No. 21259\n\n## Extradition\n\n(Subject.)\n\nC. DOMESTIC. 21 250\n\n(EEG) 20 001 88.\n\n## Chinese Criminals\n\nConcurs generally in Co. views.\n\nProposes the insertion in the Ord... of provisions with regards to opposition to Ord... for discharge. Suggests that the draft thus with proposed amendments be submitted to show effect.\n\n## Attorney General to Ordinance\n\nBalticen Ianner\n\n(Minutes.)\n\nM. Wingfield S.W. 9.30/10\n\na copy of the draft Ordinance\n\n15 Amended 9-1575\n\nPra worth in accordant ter\n\n18460 and their letter\n\nC. latter I have made for\n\nhot bitired\n\nclature (x Badd corrin sonce purther amendments\n\nin the correspondence.\n\nI have added Sabadham Art (570) regarding provision (as in that the magistrate to test a committed pugiter Criminal other right to apply for a writ of habeas Corpus.\n\nclaus X\n\nX1 and XI are taken (with some from 17 of the Hrusken, Maras Petradition Endmine 1851 (869) as supported 7 7.0. taken from the Extradition Art. 10/0 from bengucut Fapor. hew) cleane XV\n\na committed Mugide for the derclage of\n\nif hat darren docetu Phi leam in\n\nwithin this or iníky\n\ncommitted pepition In the Macas\n\none month and I own michued to think it is by enough\n\nm_the_", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-240 - Public Offices & Others - 1888.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 369002, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-287 - Public Offices & Others - 1898", "page_number": 178, "title": "CO129-287 - Public Offices & Others - 1898", "content_text": "## \n\n173 \n\nfee 13862 Scene \n\nhuju \n\nThe Fic. was having difficulty in getting their fee, and was requiring payment in advance, though it was taking a long time to do so.\n\nWe should tell people something as copies of the convention are being sent to Hong Kong from Peking, not go into details, but let them know that formal possession will be taken after July 1.\n\nDuring the time that the protocol agreement was being finalized, I don't see the details of the letter.\n\nBut", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-287 - Public Offices & Others - 1898.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 384207, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-310 - Acting Governor Major Gen Gascoigne - 1902 [1-4]", "page_number": 84, "title": "CO129-310 - Acting Governor Major Gen Gascoigne - 1902 [1-4]", "content_text": "Enclosure to Despatch No. 19 of\n\n18th January, 1902.\n\nB.M. Consulate-General, Canton, 7th January, 1902\n\n4\n\nDear Mr. Stewart Lockhart,\n\n6719\n\n80\n\n17 FEB 2.\n\nThe Authorities here are anxious to arrange to obtain some arms etc., with which to protect the steam-launches on the Canton waters from pirates; and they have approached me to ask you if it could be arranged that they be allowed to import from your Colony, say 1,500 Mausers and 1,500 Revolvers, these arms to be distributed among the launches and the guard boats.\n\nIf you can do anything in the sense they now desire, the Viceroy would send an Official Despatch covering the request so that you could put it through officially.\n\nOf course the question is one for the decision of you and your Government, only I feel obliged to pass on their request to you, notwithstanding the terms of the Peking Protocol forbidding the import of arms into China for two years, as there may be circumstances that may induce you to give the matter a bearing more or less favourable.\n\nYours very sincerely,\n\n(Sgd.) James Scott.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-310 - Acting Governor Major Gen Gascoigne - 1902 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 384371, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-310 - Acting Governor Major Gen Gascoigne - 1902 [1-4]", "page_number": 248, "title": "CO129-310 - Acting Governor Major Gen Gascoigne - 1902 [1-4]", "content_text": "Enclosure to Despatch No. 63 of the\n\n244\n\n19th February, 1902.\n\nar 25 W 12\n\nH. M. Consulate-General, Canton, 17th January, 1903.\n\n7\n\nSir,\n\nI have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch of 15th instant, Number 39, respecting the desire of the Canton Authorities to import a supply of fire-arms to be employed in suppressing piracy and robbery in Kuang Tung Province.\n\nIn reply, I beg to point out that, since writing to you semi-officially, I have learned from authentic sources that the Canton High Officials have already been in communication with the Central Government in Peking, and have sounded, directly and indirectly, the Foreign Representatives with a view to obtaining a relaxation of the Article in the final Protocol prohibiting the importation of arms. The desire was to obtain special facilities as regards Kuang Tung Province; I am assured, however, that the application was refused.\n\nI further learn that His Excellency the Vice-Admiral has been approached on this matter, but that he was totally opposed to any facilities being granted so recently after the signing of the Protocol.\n\nThe Honourable\n\nJ. H. Stewart-Lockhart, C.M.G.\n\nColonial Secretary,\n\nHongkong.\n\nI have etc., (Sd.) James Scott,\n\nB.M. Acting Consul-General.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-310 - Acting Governor Major Gen Gascoigne - 1902 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 386986, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-314 - Public Offices - 1902", "page_number": 441, "title": "CO129-314 - Public Offices - 1902", "content_text": "It must be remembered that, whatever provision may be made, even if its terms are carried out in the letter, it will always be impossible to prevent the Central Government (knowing, as it will, the exact amount of the proceeds of the surtaxes from the books of the Imperial Maritime Customs) from demanding contributions from the provinces after the latter have received their quotas from the surtax.\n\nOwing to the fact that the Memorial requested the Throne to agree to an arrangement financially in favour of the provincial authorities, their Excellencies Liu and Chang wished to avoid taking part in a proceeding which is considered undignified in Chinese eyes, i.e., asking for money for oneself. They therefore delayed sending the Memorial on to its destination until seven days before the Treaty was to be signed.\n\nA Decree (translation of which is inclosed) having arrived on the 28th August authorizing the signature of the Treaty, it was decided that the signature should take place on the 30th August, and I was assured that the Edict as to the disposal of the surtaxes would certainly be ready by that date.\n\nWhen we met, however, no satisfactory Edict had been issued. I was shown instead an Edict abolishing li-kin stations all over China, on the ground that all the Powers had agreed to the imposition of the surtaxes on their goods, and in which nothing was said as to the disposal of the surtaxes except that the Board of Revenue was to communicate on the subject with the provinces.\n\nI have the honour to transmit a translation of this Edict.\n\nThe Commissioners appeared very distressed at the non-arrival of a proper Edict, and, of course, wanted me to sign without it, but I told them then that my instructions absolutely forbade me to do so. They then begged me to send an urgent telegram to His Majesty's Minister for pressure to be brought to bear at Pekin, which I did, and they themselves promised to spare no pains to obtain the issue of a proper Decree merely sanctioning the Memorial which had already been communicated to me, the advantage of this course being that no extraneous matter or modification could be introduced in the Decree.\n\nOn the 2nd September, the Commissioners communicated to me the Edict, in the form now in which it is now annexed to the Treaty, sanctioning all that had been asked for in the Memorial referred to.\n\nThe Memorial (as now annexed to the Treaty) had, I found, since it had been communicated to me, been slightly altered by the Viceroy's (two characters are added) to whom it had been forwarded by the Commissioners for transmission to the Throne. Some additional apparent discrepancies are to be found therein owing to the fact that the nature of the Chinese language is so very allusive that translations of the same thing by different persons always differ widely in wording; in this case the translation of the Memorial, as telegraphed to your Lordship on the 1st September, was furnished by one of Sheng Kung-pao's Secretaries, and that embodied in the Treaty is the work of Mr. J. W. Jamieson, Commercial Attaché to the Legation at Pekin.\n\nI understand that the Memorial appears to contemplate the following procedure:\n\nThe Board of Revenue having arranged with the provinces the proportions in which each province is to receive its share, each of these will be credited in the books of the Customs' Tuotais, or other Chinese officials entrusted with the distribution, with its full share of the whole of the surtaxes, but an amount equal to that now remitted to Peking will, with the consent of the provinces, be retained by these officials and written off from their credit balance and sent direct to, or held to the order of, Pekin.\n\nIt was stated in my Memorandum as telegraphed to your Lordship in my telegram No. 71 that the whole of the proceeds of surtaxes should go to the provinces, and this in a sense will be done; but just as the provincial authorities, after collecting li-kin, send their quota to the Throne, they now, after being credited with their full share of the surtaxes, will also have the amount of surplus funds automatically sent direct to Pekin from the Customs' Bank, or whatever institution receives the surtaxes. (The Imperial Maritime Customs do not handle any funds at all even now.)\n\nTo make the matter clear, I addressed to the Commissioners the despatch, now annexed to the Treaty, defining the procedure which I understand would be adopted, and I have received a reply (also annexed) from their Excellencies assenting to my view.\n\nYour Lordship will perceive that it is definitely stated in the despatches that they are to form part and to be annexed to the Treaty; they will accordingly have full Treaty value.\n\nOn the 4th September I received your Lordship's telegram asking me to secure a stipulation that the surtaxes should not be given as security for the indemnity bonds.\n\nThis was a new point which had not been raised before, and I felt some doubt as to Sheng's being in a position to agree to the specific mention of these bonds. I pointed out to him, however, that the Memorial clearly laid down that the surtaxes were to go to the provinces in lieu of li-kin; that they were not to be pledged to any new loan, and were to be applied to no other purposes beyond the service of the 1898 Loan, to which li-kin is partly pledged; and that he might safely agree to the mention of indemnity bonds. The Chinese Commissioners, however, I found, would have had to refer the matter to Peking (which would have caused a long delay) if the bonds were actually specified in so many words, and I thought it would suffice if it was laid down that \"the surtaxes, in addition to not being pledged for any new foreign loan, are not to be pledged to, or held to be security for, liabilities already contracted by China, except in so far as li-kin revenue has already been pledged to an existing loan.\"\n\nSheng Kung-pao then consented to accept the suggestion without referring to Peking, but only on condition that I was able to assure him that if he agreed to its insertion in the notes, I would be prepared to sign the Treaty at once.\n\nHaving, meanwhile, just before the meeting began, by great good fortune, received your Lordship's telegram No. 78 of the 4th instant authorizing me to accept the Memorial as it stood, with the explanatory notes which I had agreed with Sheng, and not to press the mention of the indemnity bonds if it was likely to risk the Treaty, I was able to give him the desired assurance, whereupon the texts of the notes were finally agreed to in the form in which they are now in the Treaty.\n\nAt 9 P.M. we accordingly met at the offices which Sheng Kung-pao has set up for Treaty Revision meetings with the various Powers, and after the English text had been examined by Sheng Kung-pao's Secretaries and Messrs. Hippisley and Taylor, and the Chinese text by Mr. Jamieson, their Excellencies Lu and Sheng showed me the Imperial Decree on yellow paper authorizing them to sign, while I produced the full powers granted to me by His Majesty the King. Our respective authorities to sign having been found mutually satisfactory, the Chinese Commissioners and I duly affixed our signatures at 11 P.M. to the copies of the text, of which two were in English and two in Chinese. Each party retained one copy of the English text and one copy of the Chinese text. I am sending both original texts to your Lordship under a separate cover.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) JAS. L. MACKAY\n\n### Inclosure 1 in No. 1\n\n**Treaty between Great Britain and China, signed at Shanghae, September 5, 1902**\n\nHIS Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, and His Majesty the Emperor of China, having resolved to enter into negotiations with a view to carrying out the provision contained in Article 11 of the Final Protocol signed at Peking on the 7th September, 1901, under which the Chinese Government agreed to negotiate the amendments deemed useful by the foreign Governments to the Treaties of Commerce and Navigation and other subjects concerning commercial relations, with the object of facilitating them, have for that purpose named as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say:\n\nHis Majesty the King of Great Britain and Ireland, His Majesty's Special Commissioner, Sir James Lyle Mackay, Knight Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, a member of the Council of the Secretary of State for India, &c.;\n\nAnd His Majesty the Emperor of China, the Imperial Commissioners Lu Hai-huan, President of the Board of Public Works, &c., and Shêng Hsuan-huai, Junior Guardian of the Heir-Apparent, Senior Vice-President of the Board of Public Works, &c.;\n\nWho, having communicated to each other their respective full powers, and found them to be in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following Articles:\n\n## ARTICLE I\n\nDelay having occurred in the past in the issue of Drawback Certificates owing to the fact that those documents have to be dealt with by the Superintendent of Customs at a distance from the Customs Office, it is now agreed that Drawback Certificates shall hereafter in all cases be issued by the Imperial Maritime Customs within three weeks of the \n\nPage 436", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-314 - Public Offices - 1902.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391060, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 21, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n18\n\n[December 6.]\n\nSECTION 3.\n\n(No. 306.) My Lord,\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received December 6.)\n\nPeking, October 22, 1902,\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose copy of the Treaty signed by the Portuguese and Chinese Plenipotentiaries on the 15th instant, with which my colleague, Senhor Azevedo da Castello Branco, has been so good as to furnish me. This copy does not contain the Articles relating to the number of copies, the ratification and publication which were appended to the original.\n\nArticle I simply confirms the Treaty of 1887. By Article II, Portugal accepts the increase of the Import Tariff stipulated for by Article 6 of the Final Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, and annuls the Tariff Article of the Treaty of 1887.\n\nArticles III to VI provide for the establishment at Macao of a branch of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, which will treat vessels sailing from the Colony as if this branch was a Treaty port Custom-house, and for the establishment of appropriate Customs Regulations.\n\nSenhor Azevedo was so obliging as to inform me that he had signed at the same time an exchange of notes by which China undertakes to accord to Portugal a Concession for a railway between Macao and Canton (Samshui), the details of which are to be settled hereafter, and names Sir Robert Hart as the Chinese Plenipotentiary for drawing up the Agreement relative to the Customs Regulations of Macao, provided for in Article VI of the Treaty.\n\nMy Portuguese colleague expects that after the ratification of this Treaty the Portuguese Government will appoint a Plenipotentiary, possibly himself, to negotiate a new Commercial Treaty with China, which, it is understood, the Chinese Government desire to negotiate on the lines of Sir James Mackay's Treaty.\n\nIn saying good-bye to me before he quitted Peking on leave of absence, Senhor Azevedo expressed his warm thanks for the friendly assistance I had afforded to him during the progress of his negotiations with the Chinese Government, which have resulted in the present Treaty.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nERNEST SATOW.\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nTreaty between Portugal and China signed at Peking, October 15, 1902.\n\nARTICLE I.\n\nLE Traité d'Amitié et de Commerce signé entre le Portugal et la Chine le 1 Décembre, 1887, continue à être en vigueur avec les modifications et altérations provenantes du présent Traité.\n\nARTICLE II.\n\nLe Portugal accepte l'élévation des Tarifs d'Importation stipulé par l'Article 6 du Protocole de Pékin du 7 Septembre, 1901, et, à partir de la ratification du présent Traité, et tant que le Traité d'Amitié et de Commerce entre le Portugal et la Chine actuellement en vigueur n'aura pas été revisé, le Portugal jouira du traitement de la nation la plus favorisée, et en aucun cas il ne sera exigé des sujets Portugais de droits plus ou moins élevés que ceux qui seront exigés des sujets de n'importe quel autre nation.\n\nCet Article annulle l'Article XII du Traité de 1887.\n\n[2326 --3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391070, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 31, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\n3\n\nIn view of the improbability of the other Powers coming to any arrangement with China for some time as to the amount to which the import duties should be raised, particularly on the land frontier, it is important that it should be made clear to China that we shall insist on the other parts, which are all (except as regards morphia) concessions to the Treaty Powers indiscriminately not requiring any sacrifice on their part, coming into operation whether the Powers give their assent or not. If this is not done the new arrangements for instance as to inland navigation, mining, and the movement of grain, which put an end to long-standing disputes with China, may be indefinitely delayed. It is a question, however, whether it would be better before raising the question at Peking to find out whether representations on the subject might cause the Chinese to refuse or delay ratification. In that case the notification might be made after ratification, if the Chinese show an inclination to delay.\n\nThe wording of paragraph 10 of the King's Speech of the 18th December last shows that, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, only the li-kin and morphia clauses require the assent of the other Powers. The paragraph runs as follows:---\n\n\"I have concluded with His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China a Commercial Treaty which promises to secure, not only for this country, but for the commerce of the world, valuable facilities and advantages. Portions of this Treaty will not become operative unless the same engagements be entered into with China by other Powers; it contains, however, provisions of great value which do not depend upon their assent.”\n\nC. SOMERS COCKS.\n\nForeign Office, January 15, 1903.\n\n(Signed)\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[February 16.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n28\n\nMr. Jamieson to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received February 16.)\n\n(No. 1. Confidential.)\n\nShanghae, January 9, 1903.\n\nMy Lord,\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose translation of a Memorandum handed by the Japanese Treaty Revision Commissioners to the Representatives of the Chinese Government about a fortnight ago. Bearing in mind the numerous cases of illicit publication in the native press of official documents connected with Sir James Mackay's negotiations, the Japanese Commissioners at the outset stipulated for absolute secrecy so far as their communications were concerned. Every care was therefore exercised to prevent leakage, but, in spite of all precautions, one of the Chinese newspapers has at last been able to corrupt some one. Intense annoyance has, I understand, been caused to all parties by this unwelcome revelation.\n\nIn the event of the Japanese Government not having kept your Lordship fully informed as to the line of action which they are pursuing in the matter of Treaty revision, I venture to think that the inclosure cannot fail to be of interest.\n\nThe spirit of ingenuous selfishness, and the complete absence of any regard for the interests of Chinese producers or manufacturers, therein displayed require no comment.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. W. JAMIESON,\n\nCommercial Attaché,\n\n0\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nMemorandum on Treaty Revision, handed by the Japanese Commissioners to the Representatives of the Chinese Government, December 29, 1902.\n\n1. SECTION 2 of Article VIII of the British Commercial Treaty lays down that foreign goods, on importation, in addition to the effective 5 per cent. import duty as provided for in the Protocol of 1901, shall pay a special surtax equivalent to one and a-half times the said duty, to compensate for the abolition of li-kin, of transit dues in lieu of li-kin, and of all other taxation on foreign goods.\n\nIn our opinion, this surtax of one and a-half times the duty laid down in the Protocol is excessive; a mere doubling of the import duty was all that was required.\n\nThe rate of import duty hitherto levied by China on foreign goods has only been a little over 3 per cent, ad valorem. For purposes of the indemnity this rate was raised to an effective 5 per cent., and now, after a very short interval, it is proposed to raise it to 12 per cent., or four times the rate previously in force. Granted that the abolition of li-kin may prove of advantage to commercial relations between China and other Powers, yet a hasty, ill-considered change of this kind is certain to hamper trade. Japanese trade with China, moreover, is not as yet in a very flourishing condition, and we apprehend that this proposal will have the effect of seriously curtailing the same.\n\nSection 2 goes on to say that the same amount of surtax shall be levied on goods imported across the land frontiers, but it is extremely improbable that Russia or France will agree to this stipulation. Proof hereof is afforded by the attitude of these two Powers in the course of the Treaty negotiations in Peking.\n\nOn these grounds the surtax on imported goods should not exceed the equivalent of the present import duty.\n\n2. In terms of Article VIII of the British Treaty, imported coal must also pay this surtax of one and a-half times the import duty.\n\nNow, coal is at present only consumed in and around the Treaty ports, as, owing to its bulk, it cannot be conveniently conveyed far into the interior, and this condition of things is likely to continue.\n\nTherefore, it is manifestly improper to impose on coal a surtax of one and a-half times the import duty to make up for the loss in li-kin revenue.\n\nIt should be liable to import duty only, and not subject to any surtax.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391076, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 37, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "CHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[February 6.] 34\n\nC. O. SECTION 1,\n\n6432\n\n0\n\n4 MAR CO,\n\n(No. 31.) Sir,\n\nThe Marquess of Lansdowne to Mr. Townley.\n\nForeign Office, February 6, 1903.\n\nI TRANSMIT to you a copy of a letter from Sir J. Mackay, late His Majesty's Special Commissioner in China, containing his concluding observations on the Mission intrusted to him for the revision of the Treaty of Commerce, signed at Tien-tsin on the 26th June, 1858, and for the adoption of a Customs Tariff framed in accordance with Articles 6 and 11 of the Final Protocol of Peking of the 5th September, 1901.\n\nI have had much pleasure in noting Sir J. Mackay's acknowledgments of the assistance, information, and advice which he received from Sir Ernest Satow during the course of the negotiations.\n\nSir J. Mackay also acknowledges his indebtedness to Mr. J. W. Jamieson, Commercial Attaché to His Majesty's Legation, and states that his thanks are due to Sir P. Warren, His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghae, to Mr. Fraser, His Majesty's Consul-General at Hankow, to Mr. J. Scott, His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton, to Mr. Sundius, His Majesty's Consul at Nanking, and to Mr. Wilkinson, Acting British Consul at Nanking.\n\nI request that you will inform these gentlemen that my attention has been called by Sir J. Mackay to their services, and that you will convey to them the expression of my approval.\n\nSir J. Mackay has further brought to my notice the valuable assistance which he received from Mr. Bland, \"Times\" correspondent at Shanghae, and from Mr. G. Jamieson and Mr. A. F. Currie of the Peking Syndicate.\n\nYou should convey to these gentlemen my warm appreciation of their friendly co-operation and my thanks for their services.\n\nI am, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nLANSDOWNE.\n\nNo. 2.\n\nSir,\n\nThe Marquess of Lansdowne to Sir J. Mackay.\n\nForeign Office, February 6, 1903.\n\nI HAVE received your communication of the 16th ultimo, containing a final Report on the negotiations intrusted to you as His Majesty's Special Commissioner, for the revision of the Treaty of Commerce, signed at Tien-tsin on the 26th June, 1858, and for the adoption of a Customs Tariff, framed in accordance with Articles 6 and 11 of the Final Protocol of Peking of the 5th September, 1901.\n\nI have to convey to you the thanks of His Majesty's Government for your conduct of the difficult and protracted negotiations which have resulted in the conclusion of a Treaty favourable to British interests, as well as advantageous to China.\n\nHis Majesty's Government fully realize the numerous obstacles against which you had to contend in reconciling conflicting interests before any Agreement could be arrived at, and they highly appreciate the ability, tact, and perseverance shown by you throughout the discussions.\n\nI have had pleasure in communicating your Report to Mr. H. Cockburn, C.B., and Mr. C. J. Dudgeon, with an expression of my appreciation of the assistance which they rendered to you.\n\nCopies of my letters to Mr. Cockburn and Mr. Dudgeon are inclosed for your information.\n\nI request that you will convey to Mr. C. Somers Cocks, and to Mr. W. H. Clark, my entire approval of the manner in which they have performed their duties as Secretaries to the Commission.\n\n[1810-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391077, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 38, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "2\n\n3\n\n35\n\nI will request His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking to express to Mr. J. W. Jamieson, Commercial Attaché to His Majesty's Legation in China, to Mr. J. O. P. Bland, and to the other gentlemen mentioned in your Report, my warm appreciation of the assistance rendered by them during the negotiations.\n\nSir,\n\nNo. 3.\n\nI am, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nLANSDOWNE.\n\nThe Marquess of Lansdowne to Mr. H. Cockburn.\n\nForeign Office, February 6, 1903.\n\nI TRANSMIT to you a copy of a letter from Sir J. Mackay, late His Majesty's Special Commissioner in China, containing his concluding observations on the Mission intrusted to him for the revision of the Treaty of Commerce, signed at Tien-tsin on the 26th June, 1858, and for the adoption of a Customs Tariff framed in accordance with Articles 6 and 11 of the Final Protocol of Peking of the 5th September, 1901.\n\nI have to express to you my full approval of the part which you took in the negotiations, both at Shanghae and subsequently at Peking, and my appreciation of the assistance which your great experience of Chinese official usage enabled you to render to His Majesty's Special Commissioner.\n\nSir,\n\nNo. 4.\n\nI am, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nLANSDOWNE.\n\nThe Marquess of Lansdowne to Mr. C. J. Dudgeon.\n\nForeign Office, February 6, 1903.\n\nI TRANSMIT to you a copy of a letter from Sir J. Mackay, late His Majesty's Special Commissioner in China, containing his concluding observations on the Mission intrusted to him for the revision of the Treaty of Commerce, signed at Tien-tsin on the 26th June, 1858, and for the adoption of a Customs ad valorem Tariff framed in accordance with Articles 6 and 11 of the Final Protocol of Peking of the 5th September, 1901.\n\nI have pleasure in conveying to you the warm thanks of His Majesty's Government for the valuable assistance rendered by you to Sir J. Mackay. They appreciate highly the disinterested manner in which you devoted your time and attention to the work of the Commission, and they fully realize the important services which your remarkable knowledge of commercial questions and usages in China enabled you to render in connection with the drawing up of the New Specific Import Tariff.\n\nI am, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nLANSDOWNE.\n\nmanner prescribed by Article 6 of the Final Protocol, signed at Peking on the 7th September, 1901. In consequence, however, of the recent fall in the value of silver, the specific duties do, in fact, represent in most cases less than 5 per cent. ad valorem.\n\nForeign goods proceeding into the interior of China are liable at present to pay, in addition, transit charges, such as li-kin, &c., unless these charges are commuted by an additional payment of half the amount of the original duty, in return for which transit passes are obtained purporting to exempt the goods from further exactions en route. It must, however, be borne in mind that the Chinese authorities claim, and often exercise, under the terms of Article XXVIII of the Treaty of Tien-tsin, the right to levy further taxation as soon as the exempted goods have reached their place of destination; moreover, as matters stand at present, foreign goods cease to obtain effectual protection as soon as they have passed into the hands of Chinese subjects, who are only able to avoid undue delay at the barriers by the payment of \"squeezes\" to the officials. They do not dare to complain if the passes attached to goods owned by them are not respected by the Chinese authorities, and they, therefore, generally prefer not to avail themselves of transit passes.\n\nWhenever Article VIII of the new Treaty, which deals with internal charges on trade and the Customs Tariff, comes into force, foreign goods will pay, in addition to the present import duty, an additional surtax amounting to one and a-half times that duty. The combined import duty and surtax will free foreign goods from every description of internal taxation, including the present tax at the place of destination, and as all the li-kin, &c., barriers, will be abolished, the delay which now occurs will be avoided, and it will not be possible for li-kin to be exacted on foreign goods, even when in the hands of Chinese subjects.\n\nIn regard to the third point which you raise in your letter, I am to state that His Majesty's Government certainly expect that the provisions for the abolition of li-kin, &c., contained in Article VIII of the Treaty will be carried out by the Chinese authorities as soon as the Article itself comes into force. If any li-kin stations should be retained after the date fixed for abolition, or re-established, reports of such an occurrence would certainly not fail to reach His Majesty's Representative at Peking, or one of His Majesty's Consuls in China, who would at once make representations to the Chinese authorities for their removal, and would subsequently satisfy himself (if necessary by personal inspection on the spot) that his representations had been effectual.\n\nI am also to point out that it would evidently be useless for His Majesty's Government to negotiate any Treaty with China, were it to be assumed as a matter of course that the Chinese Government will not observe its stipulations, and that His Majesty's Government are unable to hold them to their obligations.\n\nI am, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nF. A. CAMPBELL.\n\nNo. 5.\n\nSir,\n\nForeign Office to Walsall Chamber of Commerce.\n\nForeign Office, February 6, 1903.\n\nI LAID before the Marquess of Lansdowne your letter to the Board of Trade of the 20th ultimo, making certain inquiries as to the Commercial Treaty recently concluded between Great Britain and China.\n\nIn regard to your first question, I am directed by his Lordship to state that the Treaty has not yet been ratified, but that by Article XVI provision is made for its ratification within a year from the 5th September, 1902, the date on which the Treaty was signed.\n\nIn reply to your inquiry as to the amount of duties provided for under the new Treaty as compared with those now levied, I am to inform you that the present Tariff of import duties was framed on a basis of 5 per cent. ad valorem, calculated in the", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391115, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 76, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL,\n\nNo. 1.\n\n72\n\n[March 2.]\n\nSECTION 2.\n\nMr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received March 2.) (No. 24.)\n\nMy Lord,\n\nPeking, January 15, 1903.\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose copy of a despatch from Mr. Litton, from Yünnan-fu, asking instructions with regard to various points in connection with the application of the new Commercial Treaty to the special circumstances of Yunnan Province.\n\nMr. Litton's questions relate (1) to the amount of surtax leviable on the land frontiers of China; (2) to the levy of certain local taxes; (3) to the liability to consumption tax of cloth woven in Yünnan from Bombay yarns.\n\nAs regards the first question, the last paragraph of section 2 of Article VIII of the new Treaty seems to leave no doubt that the intention is that foreign goods entering China by land shall pay the same surtax as those entering by sea, namely, one and a-half times the 5 per cent. Protocol Tariff.\n\nAs, however, the Protocol raised to an effective 5 per cent. only, the Tariff on importations maritimes, not that on goods entering China by land, an identical surtax would represent a much larger proportional increase of the latter than of the former.\n\nGoods entering by land probably pay on an average from 3 to 4 per cent. ad valorem less three-tenths, that is, from 2 to 3 per cent. ad valorem, and a surtax of 71/2 per cent. ad valorem would therefore be equivalent to trebling, or nearly trebling, the present duty on them.\n\nProbably as France is interested in the land frontier trade, the French Government will raise this question before acceding to the Treaty, and it may be also raised by Russia.\n\nIn explanation of Mr. Litton's reference to the maintenance of the pre-Protocol Tariff in Yunnan, I inclose a Memorandum summarizing earlier reports from him on the subject.\n\nAs regards the taxes on produce mentioned by Mr. Litton, there can be no doubt that the \"Prefect's tax\" will become illegal, if the new Treaty comes into force, and presumably a tax on beasts of burden would be equally so, if it operated in fact as a tax on imports.\n\nMr. Litton states that the question of the liability of cotton cloth woven in Yünnan from Bombay yarns to pay consumption tax is one of great importance. I see no loophole in the 8th section of the VIIIth Article of the Treaty for its escape from this tax.\n\nI have, however, given Mr. Litton no instructions either on this or on the other points he raises, but have informed him that I am referring his question to your Lordship.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) WALTER TOWNLEY.\n\n(No. 17.)\n\nSir,\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nActing Consul Litton to Mr. Townley.\n\nYunnan-fu, November 6, 1902.\n\nI BEG permission to submit for consideration certain points respecting the future application of the new Mackay Treaty to the special circumstances of Yünnan.\n\n1. Article VIII, section 2.-The same amount of surtax is to be levied on goods imported across the land frontiers as on goods entering China by sea.\n\nThe surtax (Article VIII, Preamble, paragraph 3) is not to exceed the equivalent... \n\n[1880 b-2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391119, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 80, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n76\n\n[April 13.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nMr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received April 13.) (No. 61.) My Lord,\n\nPeking, February 16, 1903. WITH reference to Sir E. Satow's despatch No. 254 of the 5th September, 1902, upon the subject of the Whangpoo Conservancy Board, the constitution of which has not yet been completed by the appointment of a Chinese Delegate, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copy of a letter which has been addressed to Mr. Conger, as Senior Minister, by the General Chamber of Commerce of Shanghae.\n\nIn this letter the Chairman, Mr. Inglis, points out that the outer bar at Woosung has so much deteriorated of late that foreign shipping is seriously affected, and additional expense is incurred by ship-owners; and that there is even a danger that foreign steamers bound for Shanghae will not be able to enter the river at all.\n\nAt a meeting of the Diplomatic Body subsequently held at the United States' Legation to discuss this and other questions, it was decided that a joint note, copy of which I have the honour to inclose, should be addressed to Prince Ching for the purpose of representing the state of the bar at Woosung to His Highness' attention, and of requesting him to lose no time in moving the Imperial Government to instruct the Viceroy of Nanking to nominate without delay a Delegate to represent China on the Commission.\n\nI have also the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copy of a letter addressed to the United States' Minister by the Senior Consul at Shanghae, notifying him that the Consul-General for Sweden and Norway has claimed that his country is entitled to a seat on the Whangpoo Conservancy Board, under paragraph (h) of section 4 of the Final Protocol.\n\nMr. Goodnow at the same time points out that the condition of the river grows daily worse, and that the Board is still unorganized, although sixteen months have elapsed since the signing of the Protocol.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nWALTER TOWNLEY.\n\nSir,\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nShanghae General Chamber of Commerce to Mr. Conger.\n\nShanghae, January 9, 1903. ON the 22nd July I had the honour to address your Excellency concerning the delay caused to conservancy work on the Whangpoo, because the Viceroy at Nanking had failed to appoint a Representative on the Conservancy Board, and the assistance of the Diplomatic Corps was sought by this Chamber to have this remedied.\n\nI have no desire to unnecessarily trouble your Excellency about this matter, but it is my duty to point out to you that the outer bar has of late so much deteriorated that foreign shipping is seriously affected owing to the difficulties and delays in discharging cargo outside Woosung, while the additional expense thereby entailed to ship-owners is a great burden.\n\nThere is even a danger that steamers bound for this port will be unable to enter the river at all, owing to the present state of the waterway, and, therefore, in the interest of foreign trade, the Committee of this Chamber earnestly beg the assistance of your Excellency and your colleagues in urging the Chinese authorities to carry out the terms of Annex 17 of the Protocol without delay.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) R. INGLIS, Chairman.\n\n(1934-1)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391120, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 81, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government)\n\n2\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1\n\nJoint Note addressed by the Diplomatic Body to Prince Ching.\n\nMonseigneur,\n\nPékin, le 9 Février, 1903. LA Chambre de Commerce de Shanghai a récemment attiré l'attention du Corps Diplomatique sur l'état dans lequel se trouve actuellement la barre extérieure du Wang Pu.\n\nL'ensablement oblige les navires de forme étrangère à effectuer leurs opérations de chargement et de déchargement en dehors de Woosung: il en résulte des difficultés et des délais considérables, ainsi que des dépenses additionnelles très lourdes pour les armateurs et affréteurs. La situation présente du chenal est même si mauvaise qu'on peut craindre qu'il devienne absolument impossible aux navires à destination de Shanghaï d'entrer en rivière.\n\nDans ces conditions, nous croyons devoir attirer à nouveau la sérieuse attention de votre Altesse sur les conséquences que pourraient entraîner de plus longs retards mis à la constitution de la Commission du Wang Pu, telle qu'elle est prévue par l'Annexe 17 du Protocole Final du 7 Septembre, 1901.\n\nNous avons l'honneur, en conséquence, de la prier très instamment d'intervenir auprès du Gouvernement Impérial pour que le Vice-Roi de Nankin reçoive pour instructions de désigner sans désemparer le fonctionnaire qui devra représenter la Chine dans la Commission du Wang Pu.\n\nVu et approuvé.\n\nVeuillez, &c.\n\n(Signé)\n\nWALTER TOWNLEY. JOOSTENS.\n\nE. H. CONGER.\n\nW. J. OUDENDYK.\n\nP. ROUDANOVSKY.\n\nCARCER.\n\nK. MATSUI.\n\nVON DER GOLTZ.\n\nG. DUBAIL.\n\nv. ROSTHORN.\n\nG. GALLINA.\n\nInclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nSOUTH-WEST CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n77\n\n[March 30.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nConsul Little to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received March 30.) (No. 4.) My Lord,\n\nPakhoi, February 23, 1903, IN accordance with the request of His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton, I have the honour to forward herewith copy of two Reports which I recently sent to His Majesty's Minister at Peking.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nPolitical\n\n(Signed) H. A. LITTLE.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nIntelligence Report for December Quarter, 1902.\n\nState of the country Smuggling of arms.. Missionaries\n\nActivity of French Chinese Postal Service Commercial-\n\nOpium tax..\n\nDecrease of trade\n\nArmy and Navy\n\nMovements of officials..\n\nINDEX.\n\nSir,\n\nMr. Goodnow to Mr. Conger.\n\nShanghae, January 26, 1903.\n\nI AM instructed by my colleagues to notify you that the Acting Consul-General for Sweden and Norway has notified us that his nation is entitled to a seat on the Whangpoo Conservancy Board under paragraph (h) of section 4 of the Peace Protocol.\n\nIn this matter I am further instructed to say that the Board is still unorganized, although sixteen months have elapsed since the signing of the Protocol. This is due to the fact that the Representative of the Chinese Government has not been appointed. As the Whangpoo River is constantly silting up, and the work of harbour improvement becomes greater and more expensive the longer it is delayed, we venture to hope that the Diplomatic Body will do all that seems to it fit towards inducing the Chinese Government to make its appointment without further delay.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nJ. GOODNOW.\n\nThere has of late been some increase of lawlessness in the surrounding country, but Political.\n\nit does not appear to be of a serious character, and is probably nothing more than what State of the usually happens on the approach of the China new year, which is, so to speak, the country.\n\nseason \" for robbers and thieves. Beyond a few cases of gang robbery here and at Lienchow, and an unsuccessful attempt by a band of pirates (who were subsequently captured) to seize a junk in the harbour, which they intended to use for piratical purposes, nothing has occurred to disturb the peace of the district. The neighbouring district of Lingshan, however, is reported to be in an unquiet state, and there has also been a recrudescence of trouble around Nanning. Information has just reached me that a Commandant (ying-kuan) and another officer have been killed in an engagement in that neighbourhood, and that the bandits there are displaying great activity. A short time ago a body of troops from Chinchou numbering about 200 men was worsted in a fight with brigands on the Kuanghsi border, and now General Pan has been ordered to proceed into that province with the whole of his command, consisting of four ying (nominally 2,000 men, but in reality only half that number). In his absence Li Chia Cho, who was recently on special duty in connection with the suppression of piracy in the Canton district, will have charge of military affairs in the Chinchou district, and will also be Acting Magistrate. The force under his command will be of about the same strength as that which General P'an is taking into Kuanghsi, and the greater part of it has already passed through this port on the way to Chinchou, 700 men having arrived with him a few days ago, and 500 having been brought shortly before in a steamer specially chartered for the purpose. They are armed with repeating rifles, mostly Mausers, and have also several quick-firing guns. This force will be further strengthened by a few hundred men raised locally,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391124, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 85, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n81\n\n[April 13.]\n\nSECTION 3.\n\n(No. 74.) My Lord,\n\nMr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne.~(Received April 13.)\n\nPeking, February 25, 1903.\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith a copy of a note which I have addressed to the Chinese Government, in accordance with the instructions contained in your Lordship's despatch No. 260 of the 15th December, 1902, asking for information as to their interpretation and views of certain Articles of the Commercial Treaty signed at Shanghae on the 5th September, 1902.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nWALTER TOWNLEY.\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nYour Highness,\n\nMr. Townley to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nPeking, February 14, 1903. BY the 8th section of the VIIIth Article of the Commercial Treaty signed at Shanghae on the 5th September, 1902, it was agreed that, in order to meet the loss of li-kin revenue on internal trade, the Chinese Government should be at liberty to impose a consumption tax on articles of Chinese origin not intended for export. It was stipulated that this tax should be levied only at places of consumption, and not on goods while in transit, and the Chinese Government undertook that the arrangements for its collection should in no way interfere with foreign goods or with native goods for export.\n\nI have been instructed by His Majesty's Government to inquire of your Highness what procedure the Chinese Government intend to adopt in order that the above stipulation may be carried into effect.\n\nSection 9 of the VIIIth Article of the Treaty imposes an excise duty equivalent to double the import duty, as laid down in the Protocol of 1901, on machine-made yarn and cloth manufactured in China, with a rebate of the import duty and two-thirds of the import surtax on raw cotton imported from foreign countries, and a rebate of all duties, including consumption tax, paid on Chinese raw cotton used in mills in China. It further provides that Chinese machine-made yarn or cloth having paid excise is to be free of export duty, export surtax, coast trade duty, and consumption tax.\n\nThe same principle and procedure are to be applied to all other products of foreign type turned out by machinery whether by foreigners at the open ports or by Chinese anywhere in China, and the excise is to be collected through the Imperial Maritime Customs.\n\nHis Majesty's Government desire information as to the arrangements which the Chinese Government propose to make for the collection of this excise at the open ports and in the interior; and also with regard to the procedure for the refund of duties on articles used in the production of machine-made goods of foreign type.\n\nA third point on which His Majesty's Government desire information is the following:-\n\nIt was arranged between the negotiators of the Treaty that the revenues derived from the surtaxes provided by Article VIII should be paid to the provincial authorities, but that out of this revenue each province should be obliged to remit to Peking the same contribution as that hitherto remitted by it out of its li-kin collections, and that the provinces should also provide as hitherto out of these surtax funds whatever may be necessary for the service of the foreign loans for which li-kin is partly pledged.\n\nHis Majesty's Government desire information as to the actual amounts of the remittances which the provinces concerned will be required to make to Peking out of the surtax funds.\n\nI shall be glad if your Highness will supply me with information on the above points for transmission to His Majesty's Government.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed) WALTER TOWNLEY.\n\n(1934\n\n蒜一 -3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391133, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 94, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "(No. 94.) My Lord,\n\nNo. 2.\n\nMr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received April 27.)\n\nPeking, March 12, 1903.\n\nI HAVE the honour to forward to your Lordship herewith a copy of a Report which I have received from Colonel Ducat, Military Attaché to this Legation, on the subject of the Reform movement in Southern China.\n\nI have forwarded a copy of Colonel Ducat's Report to the Governor of Hong Kong, who communicated to me a short time ago a copy of a despatch which he had addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, reporting on the frustration at Hong Kong of a plot organized by the Reform party against the Chinese authorities at Canton, and giving a general account of the movement in the southern provinces.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nWALTER TOWNLEY.\n\nInclosure in No. 2.\n\nReport by Colonel Ducat on the Reform Party in the South.\n\nI HAVE been trying for some time to get into touch with the Chinese Reform party in these parts and ascertain their aims and plans for the future. But it is very difficult in my position to approach them, as I knew they would be suspicious of my intentions, so I called on Mr. Chater, one of the oldest residents and well acquainted with the Colony, and asked him to assist me. He gave me letters to two Chinese, who knew very well who the Reformers were but were not in any way connected with them, and asked them to do what they could to help me. One of these men gave me the names of some of the leading Reform members, but stipulated that I should not mention him, but would do what I could on my own account to get information from them.\n\nAfter several interviews and conversations with some of these I have gathered the following information:\n\nThere are some fourteen or fifteen newspapers published here with the object of explaining to the people of the South the advantages of Western forms of Government and the objects of the Reform party in China. The proprietor of the \"China newspaper\" appears to be one of the leaders of the movement, and has been the most communicative. I hear from him that, at present, they do not see their way to deposing the Manchu dynasty, which is their ultimate aim, but they are aiming at making the South independent of the North; the South being all the country south of the Yangtsze. He says, supposing even that it were possible to overthrow the Manchus, they have no man they could instal as Emperor, who would, for certain, be acceptable to China, and he thinks that a Republic under a President would be the only form of Government possible. Consequently their primary object is to obtain independence for the South, and their efforts for the present are confined to Kwang-tüng and Kwang-hsi. Canton is the centre from which they hope to operate, but so far all attempts at a rising in Canton to depose the Manchu officials have failed, because information of the movement has always leaked out, and their idea for the future is to try and take Canton by a coup de main from outside.\n\nThe regular troops of Kwang-tüng number about 30,000, those of Kwang-hsi about 10,000. Most of these are local men, but about one-quarter are Hunanese, and the province of Hunan, according to the Reformers, is bitterly opposed to the Manchu dynasty. They accordingly do not believe that there will be much opposition from the soldiers, provided that the object of the rising is made known to them. The bulk of the population of Canton and the two provinces, they assert, are only too willing to throw off the Manchu yoke and would join the movement as soon as it was developed.\n\nSo the Reformers' plan is to march 3,000 men (which is the number they say they can count on) suddenly on Canton, and trust to the people and the soldiers joining them (this seems a small number for such an undertaking), but their difficulty is that it is impossible to collect a very large quantity of arms without being discovered; and they think that this number could be rapidly collected and distributed without exciting suspicion. Owing to the recent plot at Canton having miscarried they do not meditate any immediate action; but they tell me that there will be a rising shortly in Hunan, the headquarters of which will probably be at Siang-tan, south of Changsha. From all I can gather it will be a purely local rising and will be easily suppressed, but they are not at all communicative on the subject. The fact seems to be that the Reformers receive a certain amount of subscriptions and feel called on to show that they are doing something. They consequently assist and foment local risings which have no prospect of success, and have as their only result the worrying of officials and keeping the country disturbed.\n\nThey tell me that what they want is a man; and that when Li Hung-chang was at Canton they approached him, and asked him if, in the event of a general rising against the North, he would be willing to be nominated as President of the South, but he declined to have anything to do with them.\n\nI send this information for what it is worth, but I believe it is a true statement of the aims of the Reform party here at present.\n\nHong Kong, February 25, 1903.\n\n(Signed)\n\nC. M. DUCAT,\n\nLieutenant-Colonel.\n\n(No. 99.) My Lord,\n\nNo. 3.\n\nMr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received April 27.)\n\nPeking, March 12, 1903.\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copies of correspondence upon the subject of the posts occupied by British troops in North China.\n\nA similar communication has been addressed to all the Legations having troops on the lines of communication between Peking and Tien-tsin, and between the latter place and the Great Wall.\n\n(Translation.) Sir,\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 3.\n\nPrince Ching to Mr. Townley.\n\nKuang Hsü, 27th year, 1st moon, 29th day (February 24, 1903).\n\nON the 19th instant received a despatch from his Excellency the Minister Superintendent of Northern Trade, in which his Excellency, after referring to the Protocol provision respecting the occupation by foreign troops of the lines of communication between the capital and the sea, goes on to state that between Tien-tsin and Shanhaikwan very much land has been occupied by the various foreign garrisons, and that while now the several contingents have been reduced, the amount of land and house property remaining in their occupation is by no means inconsiderable.\n\nHis Excellency has frequently suggested their restoration, but mostly without success; and the consequence is that the native authorities are beset with difficulties in transacting their official business, while the inhabitants of the places in question are rendered homeless and deprived of their livelihood.\n\nHis Excellency is aware of the high importance attached by all the Great Powers to the cultivation of friendly feeling and good relations between their countries and ours, and it is therefore clear that they should be handing back these places in due course to the advantage of the officials and people concerned. Of the ground thus occupied by various Powers, there is some which should be handed back at once; while there are other places which should be considered as lent to them, and for which they should pay rent—handing them back ultimately when the troops are withdrawn.\n\nHis Excellency asks me to bring this question to the attention of the foreign Representatives in Peking, and I therefore have the honour to forward to you copy of the list prepared by his Excellency, and to request that you may communicate it to the General Officer Commanding His Majesty's troops in the Tien-tsin-Shanhaikwan district with a view to his discussing the question satisfactorily with his Excellency Yuan Shih K'ai.\n\nWhile awaiting the honour of a reply, I avail, &c.\n\n[1918 dd-5]\n\nB 2\n\n90", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391138, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 99, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "95\n\n2\n\nOutward transit passes have up to the present been well above the average. The robbers evidently find foreign goods more profitable plunder.\n\nAbout a fortnight ago the late Sub-Prefect of Hengchow, with his son, was murdered on the river between that place and Kueihsien.\n\nThe Governor remains at Hsunchow, and it is not likely that he will return to Wuchow for the present.\n\nThe rumours appearing in the Shanghae newspapers regarding the capture of Liuchow and Kueilin by the rebels are without foundation.\n\nExecution of Roman Catholic Converts at Kueihsien.\n\nThe Kueihsien Magistrate, Chen Ching-hua, who is earning for himself a reputation for indiscriminate severity, recently decapitated without trial a batch of country people, among whom were six or more French converts. The local missionary vigorously took up the case, and the Magistrate was glad to settle the matter by a payment of 2,500 dollars. It is now reported that the French Consul at Lungchow has reopened the case, and telegraphed to the Governor demanding the Magistrate's dismissal.\n\nI may here mention that Captain Crespin, of the French gun-boat \"Argus,\" who has just left in a steam-launch for Kueihsien in order to survey the river, was repeatedly urged by the local officials not to proceed; the pretext was danger of attack by robbers en route, but as, by all accounts, the river is perfectly safe up to that point (there is daily communication by steam-launch between this and Kueihsien), they doubtless connect the Captain's visit with the incident above referred to.\n\nMethods of Barbarism.\n\nAs always happens in China when the military are called in to assist in \"pacifying\" the people, the innocent suffer for the crimes of the guilty.\n\nA British missionary stationed at Hsunchow, writes: \"Numbers of the poorer classes are being executed without proper trial or evidence against them. I do not believe that 50 per cent. of those executed are the real offenders. On three occasions since the New Year, batches of half-naked, half-starved wretches have been dragged, bound with ropes round neck and feet, past our house on the way to the execution ground. The soldiers have harried and plundered the neighbouring villages till the people have been driven into the hills (that is, became \"rebels\"). In the market they force the people to sell them provisions at half price on pain of being denounced as robbers.\"\n\nThis description may fairly be applied to every town in the province where soldiers are quartered.\n\nSafety of Nanning.\n\nA missionary in Nanning writes, under date the 11th March: \"There is no likelihood of Nanning being attacked, but along the routes of travel, both by land and water, robbery and murder is of frequent occurrence.\"\n\nL\n\n3\n\nThis form of bond has been sanctioned by His Majesty's Government for presentation to the Chinese Delegates for their signature, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (c) of Article VI of the Final Protocol signed at Peking in 1901.\n\nThe text of Article VI (which is already in your possession) is to be attached to the bond when it is presented for signature.\n\nThe British Delegate on the Commission of Bankers at Shanghae has already issued a bond for the Portuguese share of the indemnity couched in similar terms, under instructions from Mr. Townley, who had the concurrence of the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires at Peking in adopting this course.\n\nI request that you will communicate the text of the British bond to the Portuguese Government, and will inquire whether Mr. Townley's action is in accordance with their wishes.\n\nI am, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nLANSDOWNE.\n\n(Signed)\n\nHARRY H. FOX.\n\n(No. 31.) Sir,\n\nNo. 2.\n\nThe Marquess of Lansdowne to Sir M. Gosselin.\n\nForeign Office, April 30, 1903.\n\nWITH reference to the telegram from His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking, No. 101 of the 24th instant, which was repeated to you, and to my telegram No. 34 of the 26th instant, I transmit to you a copy of a form of bond, expressing in sterling the British share of the Chinese indemnity.\n\n* M. Beirs, December 5, 1902,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391207, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 168, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "Inclosure in No. 1.\n\nMr. Townley to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nYour Highness,\n\nPeking, March 6, 1903.\n\nIN the course of a conversation which I had the honour to have with your Highness on the 3rd instant you stated that the Chinese Minister in London had reported that he had submitted to the Marquess of Lansdowne the proposal of the Chinese Government that, in order to meet the increased demands upon China on account of the indemnity in consequence of the fall in the price of silver, the customs duties should be payable in gold. Your Highness added that the Minister had received no definite answer from Lord Lansdowne.\n\nYour Highness will remember that I at once informed you that the Chinese Representative must have entirely misunderstood Lord Lansdowne, since his Lordship had informed me by telegraph that the Chinese Minister had been told that His Majesty's Government could not entertain the proposal, whilst my own instructions had, from the first, been most explicit in that same sense.\n\nIn order that there should be no possibility of confusion, I reported our conversation of the 3rd instant to Lord Lansdowne by telegraph, and have now received a reply expressing surprise that the Chinese Minister in London should have so completely misunderstood the terms of a note addressed to him on the 9th ultimo, and instructing me to repeat to your Highness what I had the honour to say during our conversation, namely, that His Majesty's Government cannot entertain the proposal that customs duties should be payable in gold.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nWALTER TOWNLEY.\n\nNo. 2.\n\nMr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received April 27.) (No. 96.)\n\nMy Lord,\n\nPeking, March 12, 1903.\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 79 of the 4th instant reporting a conversation I had with Prince Ch'ing on the subject of the Chinese indemnity, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith translation of a note which His Highness has addressed to the doyen of the Diplomatic Body, reminding him that no answer has been received to the note from the Foreign Board under date of the ultimo, requesting that the foreign Representatives in Peking would submit, for the consideration of their respective Governments, a proposal of the Chinese Government that import duties should be levied on a gold basis with the value of the tael fixed at 3s., the rate chosen by the framers of the Final Protocol at which the indemnity should be paid.\n\nAs your Lordship will perceive, Prince Ch'ing points out that the scheme proposed by the Chinese Government is really a proper method of procedure. According to the general purport of the Protocol, since Article 6 of that Act, in its section having reference to the resources fixed upon as security for the bonds, states that the duty on imports shall be raised to an effective 5 per cent. ad valorem duty, whereas actually owing to the depreciated value of silver, as compared with the prevailing rate at the date of the Protocol, it is, as a matter of fact, not equal to 4 per cent.\n\nThe note deliberately avoids all reference to the signature of the fractional bonds which has been demanded in a joint note before the foreign Representatives will consent to submit the Chinese proposals to their respective Governments.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nWALTER TOWNLEY.\n\n3\n\nInclosure in No. 2.\n\nPrince Ch'ing to Doyen of Diplomatic Body.\n\nMarch 10, 1903.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nON the 8th of the 1st moon, 29th year of Kuang Hsü, our Board sent a despatch, replying to your Excellency, dean of the Diplomatic Corps, in which we proposed that, owing to the rising price of gold which was making the amounts of silver appropriated by China in accordance with the Table of Amortization of the Protocol for the payment of the indemnity insufficient for that purpose, the revised tariff should be considered a gold tariff, and requested you to transmit the said despatch to the Ministers of the various Powers for their information, that their respective Governments might take the matter into consideration, so as, on the one hand, to determine a reliable method of procedure, and on the other hand, enable us, Prince and Ministers, to issue instructions to the Shanghae Taotai to make the necessary preparations in the matter of the fractional bonds, all of which is a matter of record.\n\nNot having received any reply, it becomes necessary for me to again set forth clearly that the payment of the customs duties in accordance with the price of gold is really a proper method of procedure according to the general purport of the Protocol, and by no means an extraordinary demand.\n\nAs we\n\nExamination shows that Article 6 of the Protocol, in the first item of the section concerning the resources fixed upon as a security for the bonds (Article 6 (e) 1), says that the duty on imports shall be raised to an effective 5 per cent. ad valorem. must consider the capital invested in foreign goods as originally a gold investment, when the price of gold becomes dear, the equivalent in silver of the prices of these goods must be increased, and the duty upon them collected in silver ought to increase in proportion; only so it can be considered an effective 5 per cent.\n\nThe price of gold at present, as compared with that of the date at which the Protocol was signed, is, generally speaking, one-third dearer, from which it may be seen that the silver of the customs duties is in a way reduced by one-third, and has only the empty name of being 5 per cent. ad valorem; as a matter of fact, is not equal to 4 per cent. Therefore, the silver payments of the tariff ought to be reckoned according to the price of gold at the date of the signing of the Protocol, in which case only will they correspond with the idea of an effective 5 per cent.\n\nMoreover, the Protocol regards this matter as that which furnishes security for the bonds, and since the various Powers desire that the indemnity mentioned in the bonds shall be carefully reckoned in gold, the customs duties, increased so as to make them a security for the bonds, ought also to be calculated in gold. Such a course would be just; any other must result in making the customs duties by no means an effective 5 per cent., and the resources allowed for security become deficient. How then can China bear the blame?\n\nAs in duty bound, I send this despatch to your Excellency the dean, requesting you to transmit it to the Ministers of the various Powers that they may take into consideration what I have said above as to the collection of the duties in gold being in real accord with the purport of the Protocol to have an effective 5 per cent., so as to make a perfect security for the bonds, and communicate the same to their respective Governments that they may consider it and send reply.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391225, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 186, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n182\n\n[June 8.]\n\nSECTION 2.\n\n(No. 14.) My Lord,\n\nConsul-General Scott to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received June 8.)\n\nCanton, May 8, 1903. WITH reference to my despatch No. 71 of the 13th August last, I have the honour to inclose herewith copy of my despatch No. 14 of the 5th instant to His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking, with respect to the transference of the native customs to the Imperial Maritime Customs Department, in terms of the Final Peace Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, from which it will be seen that, with the exception of Canton itself, the native customs stations throughout the Delta still remain under the control of the Hoppo.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nJAMES SCOTT.\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nConsul-General Scott to Mr. Townley.\n\n(No. 14.)\n\nCanton, May 5, 1903. Sir,\n\nI BEG to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram No. 2 of the 2nd instant, having reference to the native customs and my despatch No. 68 of the 12th August last.\n\nFully a year has now elapsed since the transfer by the Hoppo of the native customs at Canton to the Imperial Maritime Customs Department in terms of the Final Peace Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, and the result of the past year's operations, in respect to the amount of duty collected, may well be considered disappointing. As you are no doubt aware, it was only after considerable pressure from Peking that the Hoppo consented to surrender his control of the Chang Kuan in Canton itself; the other stations in the Delta, some twelve in number, remaining under his control.\n\nIn my despatch No. 68 of last year, I ventured to point out that the Hoppo would not fail to so organize arrangements at the different out-stations as to minimize the effect of the transfer of the Chang Kuan to the Imperial Maritime Customs. I beg to report that my forecast in this respect has been fulfilled, more especially in regard to the two native customs stations at Ch'ên Ts'un and Fatshan. I learn from reliable and confidential sources that formerly, in ordinary years, some 600,000 taels were annually collected by the native customs at Canton, while at Fatshan and Ch'ên Ts'un combined some 2,000 taels per month covered the total revenue collected. On the other hand, under the Imperial Maritime Customs' control, the revenue received at the Ch'ang Kuan in Canton during the first year's management amounted to 320,000 taels, while at Chên Ts'un and Fatshan trustworthy evidence places the amount now being collected at fully 10,000 taels per month. Further, I learn that the Hoppo is so organizing his system, by granting reduced duty and other facilities to the native merchants, as to induce them to make Ch'ên Ts'un their head-quarters. It is well known that many articles which were formerly dispatched from Canton now find their way to Ch'ên Ts'un from the producing districts direct, and are thence exported to Hong Kong, paying duty to the Hoppo.\n\nAs reported in my despatch No. 68 above referred to, all native customs stations within a radius of 50 li (17 miles) should have been handed over to the control of the Imperial Maritime Customs Department. Ch'ên Ts'un and Fatshan are only 10 miles from Canton, but the Hoppo, on the ground that a detour by water is necessary to reach them, has been successful in resisting all attempts to withdraw them from his control.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nJAMES SCOTT.\n\nPage 183\n\n[illegible characters]\n\n \n督", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391238, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 199, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "His Excellency\n\nFOREIGN OFFICE.\n\nC.O.\n\n195\n\n21480\n\n10th June 1903\n\n12 JUN 03\n\nYour Excellency:-\n\nI have the honour to inform you that His Majesty's Government have carefully considered the suggestion made by you on behalf of the Imperial Government on the 20th ultimo that the Chinese Government should be requested to consent to the prolongation for a further term of two years of the period during which by Article V of the Protocol signed at Peking on September 7th, 1901, that Government undertook to prohibit the importation of arms.\n\nHis Majesty's Government are not disposed to deny that the Signatory Powers are entitled, under the terms of that Article, to require an extension of the period in case they recognize the necessity for such a measure. The question of the expediency of such a step appears to them, however, another matter, in regard to which they are influenced by the following considerations which I request Your Excellency to be informed of.\n\nCount Benckendorff,\n\n&c.,\n\n&c.,\n\n&c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391251, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 212, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "203\n\napplying to the British and German Postmasters at the Port the Chinese Postmaster found to be correct.\n\nOn this state of matters being brought to the notice of the Imperial Government by Sir Robert Hart, the Wai-Woo-Boo addressed a Note to the Doyen of the Diplomatic Body in Peking, requesting him to call the attention of his colleagues to the contravention of the Universal Postal Union Regulations as regards parcels containing dutiable articles, and evasion of the Customs duties payable under the Final Protocol of September 1901 and ask them to instruct their respective Postal Agents at the Treaty Ports not to deliver such parcels in future until such time as the Customs duty on them shall have been paid.\n\nIn requesting Your Lordship to instruct His Britannic Majesty's Representative in Peking in this sense, I am also to express to you, on behalf of the Imperial Government, the hope that, inasmuch as a very effective native and foreign Postal Service under the direction of Sir Robert Hart has been established, and is now in operation at all the Treaty Ports, His Majesty's Government will see that the circumstances that justified and necessitated the establishment of British Post Offices in China have now passed away, and consent to withdraw them at an early date.\n\n(Signed)\n\nI have &c.,\n\nT. J. Chang.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391273, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 234, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n2\n\ncarry out its pledge that foreign goods and native goods intended for export should not be interfered with, it might possibly happen that one or other of the provincial authorities might make such arrangements for the collection of the consumption tax as would involve interference with these classes of goods, and thus the Central Government would be exposed to a charge of failing to keep its engagements. It is assumed, therefore, that the Chinese Government has considered in advance the arrangements it will make, and what is desired is information as to what those arrangements are to be. The British merchants, for instance, consider that the Chinese Government must by this time—that is, eight months after the signing of the Treaty—be in a position to state in what places the consumption tax will be levied, and by what class of officials, and under what rules.\n\nThe second point on which in my earlier note information was asked related to the excise on goods of foreign type manufactured by machinery in China. The Treaty provides that the excise is to be collected through the Imperial Maritime Customs, whether the goods are manufactured by foreigners at the Treaty ports or by Chinese anywhere in China. The British commercial community are anxious to know what arrangements the Chinese Government proposes to make to insure the payment to the Customs of this excise on goods manufactured at places in the interior where no Maritime Customs officers are stationed.\n\nThe third point was the amount of the remittances which the provinces will be required to make out of the funds to be obtained from the increased import duties. To this inquiry your Highness answered that the amount could not be determined until it was seen what was the actual revenue produced by the surtax. But I am instructed by His Majesty's Government to point out that there is no necessity to wait till the actual yield of the surtax is ascertained. An examination of the Annexes to the Treaty will show your Highness that the provinces are to continue to remit to Peking the same contribution as that they have hitherto remitted out of their li-kin revenue, and that they shall also continue to provide whatever is necessary for the service of the foreign loan, to which li-kin is partly pledged. Both these amounts must at the present moment be known to the Board of Revenue; they must know what is the amount of the present contribution from each province out of li-kin receipts, and also what are the annual payments for the foreign loan secured on li-kin revenue, and what His Majesty's Government ask is to be informed what these amounts are.\n\nA further point is the following:\n\nBy section 3 of Article VIII of the Treaty, the Chinese Government engage to furnish the British Government with a list of the native custom-houses now existing, as enumerated in certain official Regulations; and, by section 5 of the same Article, the Chinese Government promise to draw up and communicate to the British Government a list of the places where it is proposed to retain offices for the collection of duty on native opium. I shall be glad to know whether your Highness can supply me in advance with these lists for communication to His Majesty's Government.\n\nThe reference in your Highness' note to the negotiations with other Powers makes it desirable to point out that the British Treaty contains a provision that the ratifications of it are to be exchanged at Peking within a year from the date of signature. When that exchange has been made, both Governments will be bound by the provisions of the Treaty; the only way in which the negotiations of other Powers affect it is that the operation of Article VIII is suspended until they have entered into similar engagements. I have further the honour to suggest to your Highness that the points with regard to which the British commercial communities entertain misgivings, and on which they wish for fuller explanations, are likely also to engage the attention of the merchants of other countries and of the Treaty negotiators who represent them, and that any explanations it is in your Highness' power to give tending to allay those misgivings will in all probability favourably affect the course of China's negotiations with other Powers.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed) WALTER TOWNLEY.\n\nINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[July 20.]\n\nSECTION 1,\n\n230\n\nMr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne,—(Received July 20.)\n\nNo. 212.)\n\nPeking, June 1, 1903.\n\nLord,\n\nUPON the receipt of your Lordship's telegram No. 92 of the 25th ultimo, I called upon the Japanese Minister and informed him that His Majesty's Government had decided, since no better scheme had been put forward, to renew the proposal made last June to accept payment of the Chinese indemnity in silver up to 1910. I said that I was instructed to tell him that His Majesty's Government were now about to make this offer to the Chinese Government on their own account, since none of the Powers Signatory of the Final Protocol, except America, had agreed to it last summer, and that I was to inform the Chinese Government that the proposal was conditional upon the signature of the fractional bonds, and that it would be left to future decision whether the payment in silver should be considered as full satisfaction for the debt, or whether the Chinese Government should be called upon at a later date to make good the difference between the amount received and what was due to the British Government in gold.\n\nMr. Uchida, who promised to refer the matter to his Government, has since informed me that the Japanese Government still insist upon full payment in gold.\n\nI subsequently spoke to all the Representatives of the Powers Signatory of the Final Protocol, and explained to them the nature of the instructions that I had received from your Lordship. No one was in a position to give me an answer without referring the matter home, but I gathered that the majority were disposed to recommend to their Governments some measure of alleviation as soon as China had signed the fractional bonds. The Representatives of those countries which have raised loans off their claims at once are of opinion that it will be hard to adopt the scheme proposed to the Chinese Government by His Majesty's Government. Whilst all think that the increase of China's burden in consequence of the fall in the price of silver entitles her to some consideration, the opinion is almost unanimous that China can quite well pay the full amount in gold if she chooses to do so. This is very likely the case, but there is nevertheless no denying the fact that the increased payment does weigh very heavily upon some, at least, of the poorer provinces, and that the Central Government is much hampered in carrying out necessary measures by want of money.\n\nI have the honour to inclose copies of my letters to the doyen of the Diplomatic Body and to Prince Ching upon the subject.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) WALTER TOWNLEY.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nMr. Townley to Mr. Conger.\n\nPeking, May 26, 1903.\n\nDear Mr. Dean,\n\nON the 30th June last Sir Ernest Satow informed you that His Majesty's Government had come to the conclusion that the Powers ought to allow a relaxation of the terms imposed upon China in respect of the indemnity provided for in the Final Protocol, and that they considered that the most convenient form of doing this would be that the Powers should agree to accept during the years 1902 to 1910, inclusive, payment in silver, according to the actual figures of the Table of Amortization, crediting the Chinese Government with the corresponding amounts in gold, and writing off the balance due for those nine years altogether.\n\nThe above quoted proposal did not meet with the support of the other Powers at the time.\n\nThe British Government are now prepared, since the discussions of the foreign Representatives at Peking have not led to the suggestion of any other alternative,\n\n[2077 U -1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391274, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 235, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "2 \n\nto renew the proposal of last year to the Chinese Government upon their account.\n\nI am, in accordance with the instructions which I have received, to inform the Chinese Government that the British Government are willing to accept payment in silver for their share of the yearly payment of 18,829,500 Haikwan taels up to the year 1910 as a provisional discharge of their obligations under the conditions of Article 6 of the Final Protocol. The offer is made conditional upon the signature of the fractional bonds as presented by the Shanghae Commission of Bankers to the Taotai. The difference between the sum received in silver and the full amount to which the British Government are entitled under the Protocol is to be considered as a debt remaining due to Great Britain, and the question as to whether payment should or should not be required will form the subject of future decision.\n\nI have the honour to request you to be so good as to bring the above statement of the action taken by me to the knowledge of the Representatives of the Powers who signed the Final Protocol, and greatly oblige yours, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nWALTER TOWNLEY,\n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n231\n\n[August 4.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\nMr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne,.--(Received August 4.)\n\n(No. 224.) My Lord,\n\nPeking, June 10, 1903. WITH reference to my despatch to your Lordship, No. 223, of the 4th June, I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of a note from the Board of Foreign Affairs in reply to my protest against the proposed farm for the collection of duty on opium at Canton.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nWALTER TOWNLEY.\n\nYour Highness,\n\nMr. Townley to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nIT will be within the recollection of your Highness that last June His Majesty's Government arrived at the conclusion that there should be some relaxation of the burden of the indemnity payable by the Chinese Government in accordance with the Protocol signed at Peking in 1901, and they proposed that the Powers to whom a share of the indemnity was due should accept their proportion of a yearly payment by China of 18,829,500 Haikwan taels up to the year 1910, without regard to the amount of gold to which this amount in silver may be equivalent.\n\nHis Majesty's Government were prepared either to accept the payment of the annual amount in silver as a full discharge of China's debt for the years mentioned, or, if the other Powers would not agree to that arrangement, they proposed to reserve for subsequent settlement the question of the manner in which the difference between the amount actually due in gold from the Chinese Government and the amount paid by them should be made good.\n\nThe other Powers did not accept either of the above proposals, and though there have been many discussions between their Representatives at Peking, they have not led to any agreement.\n\nHis Majesty's Government, therefore, now intend to take separate action in accordance with the views they expressed last year, and they have instructed me to inform the Chinese Government that they are prepared, as soon as the fractional bonds are signed, to accept up to the year 1910 payment in silver for the share due to the British Government of the yearly payment of 18,829,500 Haikwan taels as a provisional discharge of the obligations of the Chinese Government towards the British Government under Article 6 of the Final Protocol. The difference between the sum received in silver and the full amount to which the British Government are entitled under the Protocol is to be considered as a debt remaining due to Great Britain, and the question as to whether payment of it shall or shall not eventually be made will remain for future decision.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed) WALTER TOWNLEY.\n\nSir,\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nPrince Ching to Mr. Townley,\n\nPeking, June 6, 1903. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch of the 3rd instant, stating that, from a report received by you from His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton, it appeared that the provincial officials had devised a fresh mode of taxation of foreign opium which was, equally with the previous system attempted, an infringement of the provisions of the Additional Article of the Chefoo Convention. According to the proposed Regulations of the new farm which had been established, all existing prepared opium shops would have to obtain a licence from the farm. The farm even proposed to place a tax of 1 m. 2 c. on each ounce of Indian opium already in the hands of the opium dealers without any regard for the question as to whether the conditions of the Treaty regulating the imposition of additional taxation on opium had been satisfied. Moreover, the number of licences issued to prepared opium shops was to be limited, and it was evident that the farm would in time obtain a complete monopoly of the sale. Such a monopoly was opposed to the Vth Article of the Treaty of Nanking, whereby British subjects might carry on their mercantile transactions with whatever persons they pleased. You therefore requested me to telegraph to the Canton Government that the proposed farm could not be permitted.\n\nIt appears that last year the farm which proposed to levy the tax on prepared opium consumed in the Canton Province calculated the consumption of the drug on the amount of raw opium imported. The Board considering this an infraction of the Additional Article of the Chefoo Convention, ordered the Canton Government to withdraw the tax and devise some other system of collection.\n\nSubsequently, a telegram was received from the Canton Viceroy, stating that it was a matter of extreme difficulty to find the heavy sums required for the indemnity, and that the licence system on prepared opium must be developed and extended. It was proposed therefore to intrust the business to the Heng Chi farm.\n\nBoth foreign and native opium would pay 2 m. 2 c. per ounce, and the total proceeds of the tax would be handed over yearly to the authorities by the farm. The British Consul having however objected to the tax as being too heavy and likely to diminish the consumption of foreign opium, it was decided to reduce both the tax and the sum to be paid over by the farm by one half. The question of licences for the sale of prepared opium is one which concerns China's internal administration, If the system is to be extended, it will only affect the opium after it has reached its place of consumption, when the bales have been opened and the opium prepared. The foreign and native drug will pay both the same amount, and there will be no preferential treatment and infringement of the Additional Article of the Chefoo Convention.\n\nThe third clause of the Additional Article referred to is to the following effect: \"After the import and li-kin duties on foreign opium have been paid, the owner shall apply for a transit certificate. Such certificate shall free the opium to which it applies, provided that the package has not been opened.\" The present extension of the licence\n\n[2091 d-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391278, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 239, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[June 29.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nSir M. Gosselin to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received June 29.)\n\n(No. 79. Very Confidential.) My Lord,\n\nLisbon, June 12, 1903.\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 48 of the 20th April last, inclosing copies of the Portuguese White Book, on the subject of Senhor de Azevedo Castello Branco's negotiations with China, I have the honour to report that the Treaty of the 15th October last came up for discussion in the Chamber of Deputies on the 27th ultimo.\n\nSenhor Dias Costa, on behalf of the Progressist opposition, asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs for information on the following points:--\n\nQuestion 1-How do the Portuguese Government interpret Article III of the Treaty of the 15th October? Does it imply that a Chinese custom-house can be established in the territory of the Province of Macau?\n\nAnswer. The Portuguese Government hold that by this Article no custom-house or delegation of the Imperial Chinese Customs can be established in Macau territory.\n\nQuestion 2.--Has the Portuguese Government still a free hand with regard to adhering or not to the Final Protocol of the 7th September, 1901?\n\nAnswer. By Article II of the Treaty, Portugal agrees to the increase in the import Tariff duties stipulated for in the Protocol of the 7th September, 1901; it is clear, however, that the Treaty has no effect until ratified, and that until this is done the Government have complete liberty of action in the matter.\n\nQuestion 3.-Does China apply, in violation of the Treaty of 1887, the new Customs Tariff to Macau merchandise without protest by the Portuguese Government?\n\nAnswer. The Minister replied that if the Deputy would read the White Book he would find there an answer to his question.\n\n(On page 40 of the White Book, Senhor Azevedo, in his explanatory despatch to Senhor Mattoso Santos, written on the 20th December, after his return to Lisbon, points out that Portuguese goods ought not to be subjected to the higher Tariff until Portugal had adhered to the Protocol of the 7th September, 1901; but that, as a matter of fact, \"as early as October 1901, China, to the manifest prejudice of our rights, and with the consent of the Powers, began to levy duties according to the new Tariffs without troubling herself as to the arbitrary nature of this proceeding.\")\n\nQuestion 4.-Have the Government consented to any alteration in the customs duties on opium, as laid down in the Treaty of 1887?\n\nAnswer.-No change has been made.\n\nQuestion 5.-During the absence of the Portuguese Minister from Peking, have negotiations been completely suspended?\n\nAnswer.--The Minister replied in the affirmative.\n\nAfter a short and somewhat desultory discussion, a Resolution in the following terms was carried by the Government majority in the Lower Chamber :--\n\n64\n\nThe Chamber, approving the declarations of the Government, and in accord with them, resolves to suspend the discussion of this Treaty, in order that its meaning may be made clear between the two High Contracting Parties, so as to avoid doubts as to its execution, and trusts that the patriotism and forethought of the Government and of their Representative at the Court of Peking will bring the negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion.\"\n\nI called this morning on Senhor de Azevedo Castello Branco, and asked him to be good enough to explain the intentions of the Government with regard to his Treaty, as it seemed to me that the action taken by the Chamber, suspending all discussion of the subject, almost amounted to a rejection of the Treaty.\n\nSenhor Azevedo entered at great length into the difficulties with which he had to contend on his arrival at Peking, he had signed the Treaty faute de mieux, but no one was more alive than himself to the unsatisfactory nature of some of the clauses; the arrangement as to the Customs had been misunderstood; it was of undoubted advantage that Macau should become a free port, open to the coasting trade; but an outcry had been raised here as to Article III, according to which a delegation of the Chinese Imperial Customs was to be established \"dans un local choisi d'accord entre le Gouvernement de la\n\nPage 235", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391279, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 240, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "Colonie de Macau, et l'Administration des Douanes Impériales Chinoises\"; as a matter of fact, this delegation already existed—nominally, indeed, it was established on the island of Lapa, opposite Macau, but in reality it was located in Macau itself, under the Portuguese Governor's nose; and by the terms of Articles III-VI of this Treaty, this Customs delegation will have to treat vessels sailing from Macau as if the delegation were a Treaty port customs-house.\n\nAmongst other difficulties which he had to meet, Senhor Azevedo said that the French Legation at Peking had opposed his Treaty because they feared it might give Portugal undue control of the West River trade.\n\nSince he had left Peking, the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires had signed a Supplementary Commercial Convention with the Chinese Government. (This statement hardly tallies with the reply given by Senhor Wenceslau de Lima to question 5, as recorded above; but the news of this signature may have reached Lisbon subsequently to his Excellency's reply in Parliament.)\n\nSenhor de Azevedo intends to return to China in September, and, after presenting his Letters of Credence as Portuguese Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of Peking, will proceed to Shanghae, where he hopes to be able to negotiate with the Chinese Commissioners a Commercial Treaty on the lines adopted by Sir James Mackay.\n\nIn reply to my inquiry as to what he proposes to do with regard to the delimitations of the frontiers of Macau, a question on which public opinion here lays great stress, Senhor de Azevedo said that it was quite a mistake to suppose, as the newspapers have asserted, that the Portuguese want to acquire the island of Lapa. It is true that guns planted on Lapa would entirely command Macau; but the Chinese have no guns there, or anywhere near; and the Portuguese could seize the island long before the Chinese could get their guns in position.\n\nAll that he wanted to effect was a delimitation of the territorial limits of the country in accordance with the letter of the Treaty of 1887; this would not imply any breach of the engagement by which all the Powers had undertaken not to seek any further territorial aggrandizement, inasmuch as the delimitation would only be carrying out an agreement long anterior to the self-denying engagement; and he had every hope that the Chinese would be reasonable and concur in his proposals, when carrying out the arrangement for the construction of a railway from Macau to Canton.\n\nSenhor de Azevedo authorized me to report the above to your Lordship, provided the information was treated as strictly confidential. If Sir E. Satow was at Peking at the date when the Commercial Convention was signed, he had little doubt that the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires had communicated a copy to him; anyhow, he had no objection whatever to the British Legation at Peking knowing all that had passed, and what he proposed to do on his return.\n\nI gather from our conversation that the Portuguese Government intend to insist that the terms of the Railway Concession and the delimitation of the frontier of Macau must be settled before they accept Article VI* of the Final Protocol of Peking of the 7th September, 1901.\n\nWith regard to the Portuguese share of the Indemnity, Senhor de Azevedo said that this would be deposited in a Bank at Shanghae, and not withdrawn until the Treaty has been ratified; the Portuguese Government intend themselves to pay the various claimants, but thought it more correct not to touch the Indemnity money until all the outstanding questions had been settled.\n\nFor convenience of reference, I am forwarding with this despatch an additional copy of the Portuguese White Book on the negotiations with China.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\nMARTIN GOSSELIN.\n\nConfidential.\n\nThe Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs\npresents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State,\nand is directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs\nto transmit, to be laid before the Secretary of State for\nthe Colonies\n, further section of confidential\ncorrespondence, as marked in the margin.\n\nTrade 30,$2\nForeign Office,\nAugust 20th,\n1903.\n\n* Article VI includes the revision of the Tariff.\n\nPage 240\nPage 241", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391333, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 294, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "„1-ms Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n290\n\n[July 20.]\n\nSECTION 4.\n\nMr. Townley to the Marquess of Lansdowne.~(Received July 20.)\n\n(No. 208.) My Lord,\n\nPeking, May 29, 1903. UPON the receipt of your Lordship's despatch No. 230 of the 3rd November last, upon the subject of the failure of the local authorities at Canton to hand over the Native Custom-houses at Ch'ên Ts'un and Fatshan to the Imperial Maritime Customs, I inquired of His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton whether anything further had been done in the matter since the date of Sir Ernest Satow's despatch No. 248 of the 2nd September last, to which your Lordship's above-quoted despatch was in answer.\n\nI have now received Mr. Scott's despatch No. 14 of the 5th instant, copy of which has been forwarded to your Lordship direct, informing me that the Hoppo still maintains control of the two stations in question, and explaining the conditions under which he has contrived to attract trade to those points, to the detriment of the Returns for Canton of the Imperial Maritime Customs on behalf of Native Customs.\n\nI have the honour to inclose copy of a note which I have to-day addressed to Prince Ch'ing, setting forth the circumstances under which the Hoppo still refuses to carry out the conditions of the Final Protocol, and calling upon his Highness to cause the necessary instructions to be issued to that official to hand over without further delay the Native Customs stations at Ch'ên Ts'un and Fatshan to the Imperial Maritime Customs Administration.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nWALTER TOWNLEY,\n\nYour Highness,\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nMr. Townley to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nPeking, May 29, 1903. I AM in receipt of a despatch from His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General at Canton with reference to the transfer of the Native Customs at that port to the Imperial Maritime Customs, in accordance with the terms of the Final Protocol.\n\nThe Consul-General complains that, although instructions had been received by the local authorities that every Native Customs station within a radius of 50 li from Canton was to be transferred to the management of the Imperial Maritime Customs, the Hoppo still retains control of the Native stations at Ch'ên Ts'un and Fatshan. Both these places are within 30 li of Canton, but the Hoppo, on the ground that a detour by water is necessary to reach them, resists all attempts to withdraw them from his control.\n\nThe object of the Hoppo in disobeying his instructions and retaining control of these two important stations is to minimize as far as possible the effect of the transfer of the Chang Kuan at Canton to the Imperial Maritime Customs. By granting reduced duties and other facilities to the native merchants, he has induced many of them to make Ch'ên Ts'un their head-quarters in lieu of Canton, and many articles formerly exported to Hong Kong, via Canton, now reach their destination via Ch'ên Ts'un.\n\nThe result of the Hoppo's policy has been that, under Imperial Maritime Customs control, the revenue received at the Chang Kuan, in Canton, has very seriously diminished, as compared with previous years, whereas at Ch'ên Ts'un and Fatshan the amount collected shows a large increase,\n\nAs the revenues of the Native Customs administered by the Imperial Maritime Customs have been assigned as security for the payment of the foreign indemnities, the question is one which seriously concerns all the Treaty Powers.\n\nThe Hoppo's excuse for refusing to hand over the Administration of the Native Customs at Ch'ên Ts'un and Fatshan to the Imperial Maritime Customs is so very frivolous that it is unnecessary for me to make any remarks on the subject. His object\n\n[2077 -4]\n\n...\n\n1", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391348, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 309, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "that the population living in the neighbourhood of Shanghae consumes principally rice, and that the relatively small quantity of wheat which the mill is capable of grinding, viz., 180,000 piculs, is very small compared with the very large quantities of grains produced in the neighbourhood of Shanghae, also that within one month, viz., in July 1899, 234,000 piculs of wheat has been shipped to Chinese ports, a quantity which is much larger than the mill can grind in a whole year.\n\nHowever much I appreciate your care for the maintenance of a sufficient supply of food for the masses, I think it is going too far to stop for all times the export of an article which, even in times of famine, is not consumed, just because there is a possibility of scarcity of food supplies at some time to come.\n\nIf you are adverse to acceding to an unlimited export permission of the mill's products, there should be nothing in the way of granting a conditional permit for a limited quantity up to 180,000 piculs, a permit which may be revoked if thought necessary.\n\nThe Chinese authorities would have complete control to stop the export immediately, whenever a real scarcity of food supply should happen.\n\nI therefore leave it to your discretion to grant the permit as a trial, subject to withdrawal and, I have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\nKETTELER.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\nThe Marquess of Lansdowne to Mr. Townley,\n(No. 235. Confidential.)\n[August 11.]\nSECTION 1.\n\nForeign Office, August 11, 1903.\n\nI HAVE received your despatch No. 230, Confidential, of the 18th June last, enclosing a copy of a note from Prince Ching, in which His Highness replies to your complaints respecting the administration of the Native Customs of Canton, and states there is no need to alter the present arrangements.\n\nI request that you will inform Prince Ching that His Majesty's Government are unable to accept the explanations given in his Highness' note to you, as a justification for neglecting to carry the stipulations of the Protocol into effect, and that we must continue to demand the transfer of the stations at Fatshan and Chêntsun to Imperial Maritime Customs.\n\nI am, &c.\n[2091 --1]\n(Signed)\nLANSDOWNE.\n\nInclosure 5 in No. 3.\n\nThe Tsung-li Yamên to Baron von Ketteler.\nSeptember 4, 1899.\n\nTHE first half of the letter is merely a repetition of the letter under reply, and then it goes on to say:—\n\nIn reply to the foregoing I have the honour to remark that the export abroad of rice or grain is prohibited by the Commercial Treaties.\n\nAs regards the remarks of the firm in question referring to the situation of the grain trade in Shanghae, we must state in reply that the quantity of grain produced is mostly scarcely sufficient, and that even in years of plenty the price of grain is not cheapened to any extent. That the population round Shanghae consumes comparatively little wheat, is based upon the fact that not much is being produced. As soon as an export abroad should take place the price of wheat would advance immediately, and the food supplies for the masses would be curtailed. We are, therefore, sorry to say that we are not in a position to grant the proposed trial permission for a limited quantity, as this is contrary to the Treaty Regulations.\n\nRequesting you to inform the firm in question of our decision.\n(Signatures of Ministers of Tsung-li Yamên.)\n\nInclosure 6 in No. 3.\n\nMr. Townley to Consul-General Scott.\nPeking, July 1, 1903.\n\nIN reply to your despatch No. 16 of the 15th ultimo, upon the subject of the Viceroy of Nanking's refusal to grant permits for the export of flour ground by the China Flour Mills Company of Shanghae, I have to request you to furnish me with further particulars as to the grounds on which the Viceroy bases his refusal to grant such permits.\n\nI am not at present in possession of any information which causes me to agree with you that the Viceroy is within his rights in refusing to allow the export of flour to foreign countries. As I read Article 2 of the Rules of Trade annexed to the Treaty of Tien-tsin of 1858, flour may be exported to foreign countries, and in this I am supported by the Inspector-General of Customs.\n\nI am, &c.\n(Signed)\nWALTER TOWNLEY.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391412, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 373, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "entirely the restrictions on the purchase of cattle\n\nin Kuangsi by British subjects.\n\nWith regard to the question of the importation\n\nof arms from Hong Kong into China, His Majesty's\n\nConsul-General informed the Viceroy that His Majesty's\n\nGovernment had, at their own instance, taken\n\nmeasures to restrict the trade in arms in Hong Kong,\n\nalthough the term of two years during which, under\n\nthe Peace Protocol, no arms could be imported into\n\nChina, has now expired. The Viceroy, in his telegram\n\nannouncing the withdrawal of all restrictions\n\non the purchase of cattle in Kuangsi, expressed\n\nthe hope that the Hong Kong Government would take\n\nstrict measures to detect the smuggling of arms.\n\nI am to suggest for Mr. Secretary Lyttelton's\n\nconsideration, that the attention of the Governor\n\nof Hong Kong may be called to the last paragraph\n\nof a despatch which has been addressed to His Majesty's\n\nMinister at Peking, and a copy of which is\n\ninclosed, instructing him that Mr. Scott should\n\ninform the Viceroy that the Governor of Hong Kong\n\nwill use every endeavour to prevent the illicit importation\n\nof arms into China.\n\nI am,\n\nSir,\n\nYour most obedient,\n\nhumble Servant,\n\nHb Merepbell,\n\n369", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391415, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 376, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "372\n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nKacichou, are not prevented from reaching the markets; and this understanding is the crux of the whole question.\n\nIn regard hereto I beg to point out that the area from which cattle may now be drawn under the Viceroy's new arrangement amounts to barely one-fourth of that of the whole province, and excludes the important centres of Nanning, Tai Ping, near Lungehou, Ssn An and Po-Se on the borders of Yunnan, all large trading districts where at present there are no disturbances whatever.\n\nIn view of the action of the Viceroy in peremptorily upsetting the arrangement made by His Majesty's Minister in Peking with the Chinese Government, I am satisfied that every obstacle will be thrown by the present Viceroy to trade in cattle, and that no measure will be wanting on his part to prevent supplies from outlying districts from reaching local markets—his attitude in the past has been hostile, and will certainly remain so.\n\nThe one argument adduced by the Viceroy in support of his action, viz., assisting the rebels by furnishing them with money obtained for cattle, is untenable. This was advanced by the late Governor and fully discussed. The fact is, there is no communication by the rebels with cattle dealers; and neither passports nor transit passes are ever issued for the disturbed districts. At the present moment the position in Kuang-si is far less serious than during the time of Governor Wang; and where that High Officer agreed to an unrestricted withdrawal of his prohibition, the Viceroy at the present moment has no valid grounds whatever for his action, either in prohibiting the export, or restricting it to four districts.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nJAMES SCOTT.\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n39485 [October 12.\n\nBECH SECTION 8 OCT 031\n\nConsul-General Scott to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received October 12.)\n\n(No. 32.) My Lord,\n\nCanton, August 29, 1903.\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose herewith copy of a despatch No. 34 to His Majesty's Minister at Peking with inclosure, from which it will be seen that the Viceroy has withdrawn all his restrictions in respect to the purchase and export of cattle from Kuang-si.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nJAMES SCOTT,\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nConsul-General Scott to Sir H. Satow.\n\n(No. 34.) Sir,\n\nCanton, August 29, 1903.\n\nIN continuation of my despatch No. 33, Confidential, of the 28th instant, I beg to report that yesterday afternoon the Viceroy's Secretary called and handed me a copy of a telegram which he had just received from the Viceroy, announcing the withdrawal of all restrictions on the purchase of cattle in Kuang-si by British subjects, and that the necessary instructions had accordingly been given to the Customs Department at Wuchow.\n\nI desired the Secretary to convey to his Excellency my thanks for this satisfactory settlement, which, I added, I should at once report to my Minister in Peking by telegram.\n\nIn regard to the question of the import of arms, I beg to state that during my previous interview with the Viceroy's Secretary, I desired him to remind his Excellency that the term of two years during which, under the Peace Protocol, no arms could be imported into China, would soon expire. Was his Excellency, I inquired, aware of what the effect of this withdrawal would be in respect to the unrestricted sale of arms to Chinese and others in Hong Kong if sanctioned by His Majesty's Government? The Secretary, on behalf of the Viceroy, deprecated any such unrestricted sale, which would only add to the difficulties of the Chinese authorities in dealing with the pirates in the Canton Delta and the rebels in Kuang-si. In reply, I explained to him that His Majesty's Government fully realized the situation in the Liang Kuang provinces, and had, at their own instance, already taken measures to restrict the trade in arms in Hong Kong; and that his Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong would only permit the sale and export of arms to accredited officials of the Chinese Government, or to contrast the friendly action of the British authorities with the recent attitude of the Viceroy, in several matters, and especially as regards the prohibition of the export of cattle from Kuang-si. I urged the Secretary to lay the whole position before the Viceroy, and to press him to mark his appreciation of the friendly action of His Majesty's Government in respect to arms by removing all hindrance to and interference with the export of cattle from Kuang-si.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nJAMES SCOTT.\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\n(Translation.) (Telegraphic.)\n\nViceroy of Canton to Kao Weiyuan.\n\n[Undated.]\n\nHAVE received your telegram informing me that the term during which arms could not be imported has now expired, and that the Hong Kong Government has issued a special Proclamation strictly prohibiting the sale of arms to private individuals.\n\nYou\n\n[2180 m-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391420, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 381, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "4\n\nKueichou, are not prevented from reaching the markets; and this understanding is the crux of the whole question,\n\nIn regard hereto I beg to point out that the area from which cattle may now be drawn under the Viceroy's new arrangement amounts to barely one-fourth of that of the whole province, and excludes the important centres of Nanning, Tai Ping, near Lungehou, Ssn An and Po-Se on the borders of Yunnan, all large trading districts where at present there are no disturbances whatever.\n\nIn view of the action of the Viceroy in peremptorily upsetting the arrangement made by His Majesty's Minister in Peking with the Chinese Government, I am satisfied that every obstacle will be thrown by the present Viceroy to trade in cattle, and that no measure will be wanting on his part to prevent supplies from outlying districts from reaching local markets-his attitude in the past has been hostile, and will certainly remain so.\n\nThe one argument adduced by the Viceroy in support of his action, viz., assisting the rebels by furnishing them with money obtained for cattle, is untenable. This was advanced by the late Governor and fully discussed. The fact is, there is no communication by the rebels with cattle dealers; and neither passports nor transit passes are ever issued for the disturbed districts. At the present moment the position in Kuang-hsi is far less serious than during the time of Governor Wang; and where that High Officer agreed to an unrestricted withdrawal of his prohibition, the Viceroy at the present moment has no valid grounds whatever for his action, either in prohibiting the export, or restricting it to four districts.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) JAMES SCOTT.\n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nO.\n\n59435\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\n[October 12.]\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nSECTION\n\n3-CT 03)\n\n377\n\nNo. 1.\n\nConsul-General Scott to the Marquess of Lansdowne.~(Received October 12.)\n\nCanton, August 29, 1903.\n\n(No. 32.) My Lord,\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose herewith copy of a despatch No. 34 to His Majesty's Minister at Peking with inclosure, from which it will be seen that the Viceroy has withdrawn all his restrictions in respect to the purchase and export of cattle from Kuang-si.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nConsul-General Scott to Sir E. Satow.\n\nJAMES SCOTT,\n\n(No. 34.) Sir,\n\nCanton, August 29, 1903. IN continuation of my despatch No. 33, Confidential, of the 28th instant, I beg to report that yesterday afternoon the Viceroy's Secretary called and handed me a copy of a telegram which he had just received from the Viceroy, announcing the withdrawal of all restrictions on the purchase of cattle in Kuang-si by British subjects, and that the necessary instructions had accordingly been given to the Customs Department at Wuchow.\n\nI desired the Secretary to convey to his Excellency my thanks for this satisfactory settlement, which, I added, I should at once report to my Minister in Peking by telegram.\n\nIn regard to the question of the import of arms, I beg to state that during my previous interview with the Viceroy's Secretary, I desired him to remind his Excellency that the term of two years during which, under the Peace Protocol, no arms could be imported into China, would soon expire. Was his Excellency, I inquired, aware of what the effect of this withdrawal would be in respect to the unrestricted sale of arms to Chinese and others in Hong Kong if sanctioned by His Majesty's Government? The Secretary, on behalf of the Viceroy, deprecated any such unrestricted sale, which would only add to the difficulties of the Chinese authorities in dealing with the pirates in the Canton Delta and the rebels in Kuang-si. In reply, I explained to him that His Majesty's Government fully realized the situation in the Liang Kuang provinces, and had, at their own instance, already taken measures to restrict the trade in arms in Hong Kong; and that his Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong would only permit the sale and export of arms to accredited officials of the Chinese Government. I went on to contrast the friendly action of the British authorities with the recent attitude of the Viceroy, in several matters, and especially as regards the prohibition of the export of cattle from Kuang-si. I urged the Secretary to lay the whole position before the Viceroy, and to press him to mark his appreciation of the friendly action of His Majesty's Government in respect to arms by removing all hindrance to and interference with the export of cattle from Kuang-si,\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nJAMES SCOTT.\n\n(Translation.) (Telegraphic.)\n\nViceroy of Canton to Kuo Weiyuan.\n\n[Undated.]\n\nHAVE received your telegram informing me that the term during which arms could not be imported has now expired, and that the Hong Kong Government has issued a special Proclamation strictly prohibiting the sale of arms to private individuals.\n\nYou\n\n0", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 394680, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 17, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "and south of Moukden, but at some distance off, would not therefore be of much service to merchants unless they were granted shipping facilities to and at the goods stations.\n\nRailway Freights.--He was struck by the absolute ignorance of the Russian officials as to the rudimentary principles of railway freighting (long haul, short haul, three rates, return freights, and the like). It would be necessary to have American freight agents to teach them; otherwise the Railway could never pay. There was a state of absolute chaos in this respect, the rates seeming to depend on the will of the official.\n\nDifferential Railway Rates.--This subject is as much discussed in Manchuria as elsewhere. Some officials think it desirable to discriminate against foreigners; others maintain that the Railway cannot pay unless foreign trade is granted and encouraged. His own opinion is that the Railway cannot pay without foreign merchandise.\n\nAt the same time, the question of differential Tariff treatment at the ports is more important than the question of differential freights, which no Treaty can prevent. It exists in spite of the most stringent regulations in America. The Railway is essential to the development of trade, and if the Russian authorities chose to discriminate against foreigners on their Railway, the question of the Tariff at the ports is of minor importance.\n\nSt. Petersburgh, December 9, 1903.\n\n\"This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\"\n\nCHINA TRADE,\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n15\n\n[November 19.]\n\nSECTION 2.\n\nMr. Jamieson to the Marquess of Lansdowne.(Received November 19.)\n\n(No. 14.)\n\nShanghae, October 13, 1903.\n\nMy Lord,\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose herewith copies of two despatches I have addressed to Sir Ernest Satow, with reference to the Treaty recently negotiated between China and Japan in terms of the Peace Protocol of 1901.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. W. JAMIESON,\n\nCommercial Attaché.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nMr. Jamieson to Sir E. Satow.\n\n(No. 14.) Sir,\n\nShanghae, October 12, 1903.\n\nThe Treaties which, in terms of the Protocol of 1901, the Plenipotentiaries of the United States and Japan have been negotiating with the Special Commissioners appointed by the Chinese Government, were signed here on the 8th instant.\n\nThe North China \"Daily News\" has published as a supplement the full text of the United States' Treaty, but it is understood that the English text of the Japanese Treaty will not for the present be made public. The Chinese text appeared in one of the native papers (the \"Hsin-wen Pao\") the day before yesterday, and the following is a précis of the various Articles extracted therefrom:-\n\nArticle 1. As regards import surtaxes to compensate for the loss of revenue likely to arise out of the proposed abolition of li-kin dues, the Japanese Government will accept, and be bound by, any arrangements made by China with other Treaty Powers. They are also prepared to recognize the legality of imposing such growers', consumption, and excise taxes, or duties on salt and opium, as may receive the assent of other Powers, but in neither case must there be any differential treatment of Japanese goods.\n\nArt. II. The Chinese Government permit private Japanese enterprise to establish, at its own expense, and after the consent of the Imperial Maritime Customs has been obtained, appliances for facilitating the passage of vessels between Ich'ang and Chungking.\n\nArt. III. Steam navigation on inland waters may be carried on under special Regulations. (These Regulations are given in an Annex, and are identical with those attached to the British Treaty.)\n\nArt. IV. Chinese and Japanese Courts will reciprocate in the matter of causing the terms of any partnership Agreement between the subjects of the two countries to be faithfully carried out.\n\nArt. V. The Chinese Government agree to draw up Regulations to prevent the infringement of trade-marks or copyright.\n\nArt. VI. The Chinese Government will, as soon as possible, introduce a uniform system of national coinage. Duties, however, shall be calculated in terms of the Haikuan tael.\n\nArt. VII. The Chinese Government will take steps to reform, on a uniform basis, weights and measures throughout the Empire—the new system to be inaugurated at the Treaty ports and thence gradually extended into the interior.\n\nArt. VIII. This Article appears to be supplementary to Article III, as it simply reiterates the right to navigate the inland waters under special Regulations.\n\nArt. IX. Previous Treaty stipulations, not modified nor cancelled by the present Instrument, shall remain in full force, and most-favoured-nation treatment is secured for Japanese subjects at the hands of the Chinese Government—Imperial or provincial.\n\nArt. X. When the foreign garrisons in Chihli shall have been withdrawn, China will open Peking to international trade.\n\n[2217 t-2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 394697, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 34, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "32\n\n2\n\nThe United States of America and His Majesty the Emperor of China, being animated by an earnest desire to extend further the commercial relations between them and otherwise to promote the interests of the peoples of the two countries, in view of the provisions of the first paragraph of Article XI of the Final Protocol signed at Peking on the 7th day of September, A.D. 1901, whereby the Chinese Government agreed to negotiate the amendments deemed necessary by the foreign Governments to the Treaties of Commerce and Navigation and other subjects concerning commercial relations, with the object of facilitating them, have for that purpose named as their Plenipotentiaries:\n\nThe United States of America: Edwin H. Conger, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to China; John Goodnow, Consul-General of the United States of America at Shanghai; John F. Seaman, a citizen of the United States of America, resident at Shanghai;\n\nAnd His Majesty the Emperor of China: Lü-Hai-huan, President of the Board of Public Works; Sheng Hsuan-huai, Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, Formerly Senior Vice-President of the Board of Public Works;\n\nwho, having met and duly exchanged their full powers, which were found to be in proper form, have agreed upon the following amendments to existing Treaties of Commerce and Navigation formerly concluded between the two countries, and upon the subjects hereinafter expressed connected with commercial relations with the object of facilitating them:\n\nARTICLE I.\n\nIn accordance with international usage, and as the Diplomatic Representative of China has the right to reside in the capital of the United States, and to enjoy there the same prerogatives, privileges, and immunities as are enjoyed by the similar Representative of the most favoured nation, Diplomatic Representative of the United States shall have the right to reside at the capital of His Majesty the Emperor of China. He shall be given audience of His Majesty the Emperor whenever necessary to present his letters of credence or any communication from the President of the United States. At all such times he shall be received in a place and in a manner befitting his high position, and on all such occasions the ceremonial observed towards him shall be that observed towards the Representatives of nations on a footing of equality, with no loss of prestige on the part of either.\n\nThe Diplomatic Representatives of the United States shall enjoy all the prerogatives, privileges, and immunities accorded by international usage to such Representatives, and shall in all respects be entitled to the treatment extended to similar Representatives of the most favoured nation.\n\nThe English text of all notes or despatches from United States' officials to Chinese officials, and the Chinese text of all from Chinese officials to United States' officials shall be authoritative.\n\nARTICLE II.\n\nAs China may appoint Consular officers to reside in the United States and to enjoy there the same attributes, privileges, and immunities as are enjoyed by Consular officers of other nations, the United States may appoint, as its interests may require, Consular officers to reside at the places in the Empire of China that are now or that may hereafter be opened to foreign residence and trade. They shall hold direct official intercourse and correspondence with the local officers of the Chinese Government within their Consular districts, either personally or in writing as the case may require, on terms of equality and reciprocal respect. These officers shall be treated with due respect by all Chinese authorities, and they shall enjoy all the attributes, privileges, and immunities, and exercise all the jurisdiction over their nationals which are or may hereafter be extended to similar officers of the nation the most favoured in these respects. If the officers of either Government are disrespectfully treated or aggrieved in any way by the authorities of the other, they shall have the right to make representation of the same to the superior officers of their own Government, who shall see that full inquiry and strict justice be had in the premises. And the said Consular officers of either nation shall carefully avoid all acts of offence to the officers and people of the other nation.\n\n3\n\nOn the arrival of a Consul duly accredited at any place in China opened to foreign trade it shall be the duty of the Minister of the United States to inform the Board of Foreign Affairs, which shall, in accordance with international usage, forthwith cause the proper recognition of the said Consul and grant him authority to act.\n\nARTICLE III.\n\nCitizens of the United States may frequent, reside, and carry on trade, industries, and manufactures, or pursue any lawful avocation, in all the ports or localities of China which are now open or may hereafter be opened to foreign residence and trade; and, within the suitable localities at those places which have been or may be set apart for the use and occupation of foreigners, they may rent or purchase houses, places of business, and other buildings, and rent or lease in perpetuity land and build thereon. They shall generally enjoy as to their persons and property all such rights, privileges, and immunities as are or may hereafter be granted to the subjects or citizens of the nation the most favoured in these respects.\n\nARTICLE IV.\n\nThe Chinese Government, recognizing that the existing system of levying dues on goods in transit, and especially the system of taxation known as li-kin, impedes the free circulation of commodities to the general injury of trade, hereby undertakes to abandon the levy of li-kin and all other transit dues throughout the Empire and to abolish the offices, stations, and barriers maintained for their collection and not to establish other offices for levying dues on goods in transit. It is clearly understood that, after the offices, stations, and barriers for taxing goods in transit have been abolished, no attempt shall be made to re-establish them in any form or under any pretext whatsoever.\n\nThe Government of the United States, in return, consents to allow a surtax, in excess of the Tariff rates for the time being in force, to be imposed on foreign goods imported by citizens of the United States, and on Chinese produce destined for export abroad or coastwise. It is clearly understood that in no case shall the surtax on foreign imports exceed one and one-half times the import duty leviable in terms of the Final Protocol signed by China and the Powers on the 7th day of September, A.D. 1901; that the payment of the import duty and surtax shall secure for foreign imports, whether in the hands of Chinese or foreigners, in original packages or otherwise, complete immunity from all other taxation, examination or delay; that the total amount of taxation, inclusive of the Tariff export duty, leviable on native produce for export abroad shall, under no circumstances, exceed 7.5 per cent. ad valorem.\n\nNothing in this Article is intended to interfere with the inherent right of China to levy such other taxes as are not in conflict with its provisions.\n\nKeeping these fundamental principles in view, the High Contracting Parties have agreed upon the following method of procedure:\n\nThe Chinese Government undertake that all offices, stations, and barriers of whatsoever kind for collecting li-kin duties, or such like dues on goods in transit, shall be permanently abolished on all roads, railways, and waterways in the nineteen provinces of China and the three Eastern Provinces. This provision does not apply to the Native Customs offices at present in existence on the seaboard, at open ports where there are offices of the Imperial Maritime Customs, and on the land frontiers of China embracing the nineteen provinces and the three Eastern Provinces.\n\nWherever there are offices of the Imperial Maritime Customs, or wherever such may hereafter be placed, Native Customs offices may also be established, as well as at any point on the seaboard or land frontiers.\n\nThe Government of the United States agrees that foreign goods on importation, in addition to the effective 5 per cent. import duty as provided for in the Protocol of 1901, shall pay a special surtax of one and one-half times the amount of the said duty to compensate for the abolition of li-kin, of other transit dues besides li-kin, and of all other taxation on foreign goods, and in consideration of the other reforms provided for in this Article.\n\nThe Chinese Government may recast the foreign export Tariff with specific duties, as far as practicable, on a scale not exceeding 5 per cent. ad valorem; but existing export duties shall not be raised until at least six months' notice has been given. In cases where...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 394700, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 37, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "the date of the exchange of ratifications and until a revision is effected as hereinafter provided.\n\nIt is further agreed that either of the High Contracting Parties may demand that the Tariff and the Articles of this Convention be revised at the end of ten years from the date of the exchange of the ratifications thereof. If no revision is demanded before the end of the first term of ten years, then these Articles in their present form shall remain in full force for a further term of ten years reckoned from the end of the first term, and so on for successive periods of ten years.\n\nThe English and Chinese texts of the present Treaty and its three Annexes have been carefully compared; but, in the event of there being any difference of meaning between them, the sense as expressed in the English text shall be held to be the correct one.\n\nThis Treaty and its three Annexes shall be ratified by the two High Contracting Parties in conformity with their respective constitutions, and the ratifications shall be exchanged in Washington not later than twelve months from the present date.\n\nIn testimony whereof we, the Undersigned, by virtue of our respective powers, have signed this Treaty in duplicate in the English and Chinese languages, and have affixed our respective seals,\n\nDone at Shanghae, this 8th day of October, in the year of our Lord 1903, and in the twenty-ninth year of Kuang Hsü, eighth month and eighteenth day.\n\n(Signed)\n\nEDWIN H. CONGER. JOHN GOODNOW. JOHN F. SEAMAN.\n\n(Seals.)\n\n(Seals and signatures of Chinese Plenipotentiaries.)\n\nPage 9\n\nout of such port. Such branches, as well as the main Native Customs offices at each open port, shall be administered by the Imperial Maritime Customs, as provided by the Protocol of 1901.\n\n(Signed)\n\nEDWIN H. CONGER. JOHN GOODNOW. JOHN F. SEAMAN.\n\n(Seals.)\n\n(Seals and signatures of Chinese Plenipotentiaries.)\n\nAnnex 3.\n\nThe Schedule of Tariff duties on imported goods annexed to this Treaty under Article V is hereby mutually declared to be the Schedule agreed upon between the Representatives of China and the United States, and signed by John Goodnow, for the United States and their Excellencies Lü Hai-huan and Sheng Hsüan-huai for China, at Shanghae, on the 6th day of September, A.D. 1902, according to the Protocol of the 7th day of September, A.D. 1901.\n\n(Signed)\n\nEDWIN H. CONGER.\n\nJOHN GOODNOW. JOHN F. SEAMAN. (Seals.)\n\n(Seals and signatures of Chinese Plenipotentiaries.)\n\nAnnex 1.\n\nAs the citizens of the United States are already forbidden by Treaty to deal in or handle opium, no mention has been made in this Treaty of opium taxation.\n\nAs the trade in salt is a Government monopoly in China, no mention has been made in this Treaty of salt taxation.\n\nIt is, however, understood, after full discussion and consideration, that the collection of inland dues on opium and salt and the means for the protection of the revenue therefrom, and for preventing illicit traffic therein, are left to be administered by the Chinese Government in such manner as shall in nowise interfere with the provisions of Article IV of this Treaty, regarding the unobstructed transit of other goods.\n\n(Signed)\n\nEDWIN H. CONGER.\n\nJOHN GOODNOW. JOHN F. SEAMAN.\n\n(Seals.)\n\n(Seals and signatures of Chinese Plenipotentiaries.)\n\nAnnex 2.\n\nArticle IV of the Treaty of Commerce between the United States and China of this date provides for the retention of the Native Customs offices at the open ports. For the purpose of safeguarding the revenue of China at such places, it is understood that the Chinese Government shall be entitled to establish and maintain such branch Native Customs offices at each open port, within a reasonable distance of the main Native Customs offices at the port, as shall be deemed by the authorities of the Imperial Maritime Customs at that port necessary to collect the revenue from the trade into and\n\nGentlemen,\n\nDespatches.\n\nShanghae, June 23, 1903. Article IV of the Treaty of Commerce now being negotiated between the United States and China provides for the abolition of Native Customs offices inland for the collection of revenue on goods in transit. It is, however, understood that we do not by this Treaty abolish the offices for the collection of the octroi on native produce at the Chungwen and other gates at Peking, nor do we abolish the live-stock and house duties in Peking (Tso and Yeo Yib).\n\nWe are, &c.\n\n(Signed) JOHN GOODNOW,\n\nJ. F. SEAMAN, Treaty Commissioners for the United States.\n\nTo their Excellencies, Lü Hai-huan, Sheng Hsüan-huai,\n\nWu Ting-fang, Treaty Commissioners for China.\n\nGentlemen,\n\nShanghae, September 24, 1903. In our discussions we have on several occasions insisted that this Treaty should embody both the provisions contained in the revised British Commercial Treaty recognizing the right of China to collect consumption duty and excise duty, and also her right to levy production duty in order to make good the duty which would have been leviable on goods in transit by the Native Custom-houses inland, now abolished. You have not agreed to embody these provisions in your Treaty, you have constantly replied that the United States has no intention of limiting in this Treaty the sovereign rights of China excepting as specified therein.\n\nIt was our intention to write a despatch to be an Annex to the Treaty specially affirming the right of China to levy the taxes mentioned above. However, you have at our urgent request inserted in the 17th Article of this Treaty a very broadly worded clause as follows: \"Nothing in this Article is intended to interfere with the inherent right of China to levy such other taxes as are not in conflict with its provisions.\"\n\n[2250 hh-1]\n\nD\n\nPage 35", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 394701, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 38, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "36\n\n10\n\nWe\n\nThis more completely covers the ground than such a despatch would have done. therefore only desire now to state again that China reserves her right to levy any and all taxes, provided only that they do not conflict with the provisions of our Treaty with you.\n\nHon. J. Goodnow, Hon. J. F. Seaman, Treaty Commissioners for the United States.\n\nWe are, &c.\n\n(Cards inclosed), Treaty Commissioners for China.\n\n11\n\nWhereas Hon. T. S. Sharretts requested and obtained permission from his Government to return to the United States, and left Shanghae before the above-written Agreement was signed by and with the Special Commissioners of China,\n\nI, being empowered by the Secretary of State of the United States of America to sign the Tariff as agreed to by Hon. T. S. Sharretts, now sign the above-written Agreement for the United States of America.\n\nSeptember 6, 1902.\n\n(Signed) JOHN GOODNOW. (Signatures of the Special Commissioners of China.)\n\nGentlemen,\n\nShanghae, September 30, 1903.\n\nWe have received your despatch of the 24th instant. In framing this Treaty we have endeavoured to recognize the right of China as a Sovereign State to levy such taxes as are not in conflict with the provisions of this Treaty which is intended to extend the commercial relations between, and promote the best interests of, the people of the two countries. With this end in view, we inserted at your request in Article IV the clause \"Nothing in this Article is intended to interfere with the inherent right of China to levy such other taxes as are not in conflict with its provisions.\" We, with your Excellencies, appreciate the fact that this clause is comprehensive and conserves to the fullest extent the sovereign rights of China except as specified in this Treaty.\n\nWe are, &c. (Signed)\n\nJOHN GOODNOW, J. F. SEAMAN, Treaty Commissioners for the United States.\n\nTo their Excellencies, Lu Hai-huan, Sheng Hsüan-huai, Wu Ting-fang, Treaty Commissioners for China.\n\nWhereas it was provided by the Final Protocol signed at Peking on the 7th September, 1901 (Article VI), that the existing Tariff on goods imported into China should be increased to an effective 5 per cent., and whereas it was further provided that all duties levied on imports ad valorem should be converted, as far as feasible and with the least possible delay, into specific duties, this conversion to be effected in the following manner-The average value of merchandise at the time of landing during the three years 1897, 1898, and 1899, that is to say, the market price less the amount of import duty and incidental expenses to be taken as the basis for the valuation of such merchandise:-\n\nThe Special Commissioners of the United States of America, Mr. T. S. Sharretts; and of China, Their Excellencies Lu Hai-Huan and Sheng Hsuan-Huai, have agreed and determined, on the basis aforesaid, upon the Tariff hereto appended together with certain Rules for the application thereof; and do hereby agree that the said Tariff and Rules shall be binding on the Governments and subjects of their respective countries.\n\nThe Tariff and Rules aforesaid shall be binding on and after the 31st October, 1902, the first day of the tenth Chinese moon.\n\nShould it be ascertained hereafter that any Articles have been omitted from this Tariff which it is found can be conveniently provided for on a specific basis in terms of the Final Protocol of 1901, it is understood that the necessary additions shall be made at rates to be mutually agreed upon by Representatives of the various Powers by whom this Tariff has been signed.\n\nIt is understood that, in the event of there being any difference of meaning between the English and Chinese texts of the Tariff and Rules, the sense as expressed in the English text shall be held to be the correct sense.\n\nThe present Agreement has been drawn up in two identical copies and signed by the Special Commissioners of the countries aforesaid. One copy shall be given to the Special Commissioner of the United States of America, and one copy shall be given to the Special Commissioners of China.\n\nSigned:\n\nSchedule of Chinese Import Duties, signed September 6, 1902, by the United States and Chinese Commissioners, with Rules attached.*\n\n* Not printed.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 394702, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 39, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n37\n\n[January 14.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nChino-Japanese Commercial Treaty signed at Shanghae (1903).--(Communicated by Japanese Minister, January 14, 1904.)\n\n(Translation.)\n\nHIS Majesty the Emperor of Japan, and His Majesty the Emperor of China, in order to give full effect to the provisions of Article 11 of the Final Protocol, signed at Peking on the 7th day of the 9th month of the 34th year of Meiji, corresponding to the 25th day of the 7th moon of the 27th year of Kuang-Hsü, have resolved to conclude a supplementary Treaty of Commerce and Navigation, designed to facilitate and promote the commercial relations between Japan and China, and have, for that purpose, named as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say:\n\nHis Majesty the Emperor of Japan, Hioki Eki, Jugoi, Fifth Class of the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun, First Secretary of Legation, and Odagiri Masnoske, Shorokui, Fifth Class of the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun, Consul-General;\n\nAnd His Majesty the Emperor of China, Lu Hai-Huan, President of the Board of Public Works, Sheng Hsuan-Huai, Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, formerly Senior Vice-President of the Board of Public Works, and Wu Ting-Fang, Senior Vice-President of the Board of Commerce:\n\nWho, after having communicated to each other their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following Articles:-\n\nARTICLE I.\n\nWhereas China, with the object of reforming its fiscal system, proposes to levy a surtax in excess of the Tariff rates on all goods passing through the custom-houses, whether maritime or inland and frontier, in order to compensate in a measure for the loss incurred by the complete abolition of li-kin; Japan consents to pay the same surtax as is agreed upon between China and all the Treaty Powers. With regard to the production tax, consumption tax, and excise, and the taxes on native opium and salt, leviable by China, Japan also consents to accept the same arrangements as are agreed upon between all the Treaty Powers and China. It is understood, however, that the commerce, rights and privileges of Japan shall not, on account of the above, be placed at any disadvantage as compared with the commerce, rights and privileges of other Powers.\n\nARTICLE II.\n\nThe Chinese Government agree to permit Japanese steam-ship owners to erect, at their own expense, appliances for hauling through the rapids of that part of the Yang-tze-kiang, between Ichang and Chungking. But, as the interests of the population of the provinces of Szechuen, Hunan, and Hupeh are involved, it is, therefore, necessary that the approval of the Imperial Maritime Customs be obtained before such appliances may be so erected.\n\nThese appliances, which shall be at the disposal of all vessels, both steamers and junks, shall not obstruct the waterway, nor interfere with the free passage of junks or of persons on the banks of the river. Such appliances shall be subject to special Regulations to be drawn up by the Imperial Maritime Customs.\n\nARTICLE III.\n\nThe Chinese Government agree that any Japanese steamer capable of navigating the inland waterways, upon reporting at the Imperial Maritime Customs, may proceed for the purpose of trade from a Treaty port to places inland, so reported, on complying with the original and supplementary Regulations for steam navigation inland.\n\n[1827 0-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 394790, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 127, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "CHINA TRADE\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nthe Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[February\n\n$698 125\n\nRAL 12 MAR 04\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nSir M. Gosselin to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received February 17.)\n\nLisbon, February 8, 1904.\n\n(No. 16. Confidential.) My Lord,\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch No. 3, Secret, of the 20th ultimo, transmitting a copy of the Chino-Portuguese Customs Convention inclosed in Sir Ernest Satow's despatch No. 334, Secret, of the 26th September, 1903.\n\nI took an opportunity of inquiring a few days ago of Senhor Wenceslau de Lima what the Portuguese Government propose to do with regard to the ratification of the Treaty negotiated by Senhor Azevedo Castello Branco with China.\n\nHis Excellency replied that the Portuguese Minister ought by this time to be arriving at Peking, but that there were several points to be cleared up before the discussion of the Treaty would be renewed in the Cortès; he did not think that it would be possible to obtain legislative consent for the ratification of the Treaty during the present Session.\n\n\"Portugal is in a difficult position, his Excellency said, with regard to this Treaty; it would be difficult, if not impossible, for her to refuse her adhesion to the Protocol of September 1901; and the Chinese Government are well aware of this; the Portuguese came too late on the scene; and when the Minister arrived, he was opposed by the French and German Legations, France no doubt objecting to Portugal getting any share of the trade in the West River; Senhor Wenceslau de Lima expressed the hope that the British Representative would continue to support his Portuguese colleague in his efforts to arrive at a satisfactory settlement,\n\nHis Excellency trusted that the factious clamour raised against Article III of the Treaty, respecting the establishment of a delegation of the Chinese Imperial Customs for Macau, would not be renewed; and that as regards the question of delimitation to which public opinion here attached an undue importance, the difficulty might be turned by defining the sea area to be subject to Portuguese jurisdiction.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) MARTIN GOSSELIN,\n\n[1854 r--\n\nr--1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 394794, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 131, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "CHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL,\n\n129\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[March 28.]\n\nSECTION 3.\n\n(No. 48.) My Lord,\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received March 28.)\n\nPeking, February 11, 1904.\n\nWITH reference to my despatch to your Lordship No. 1 of the 4th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit herewith an extract from the Minutes of a conversation with Prince Ching, in which I urged his Highness to take steps to complete the constitution of the Huang Pu Conservancy Board.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nERNEST SATOW.\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\n(Extract.)\n\nMinutes of Conversation between Sir E. Satow and Prince Ching.\n\nSIR ERNEST inquired what progress had been made with the Huang Pu Conservancy scheme. Had the Viceroy at Nanking been persuaded to nominate a Delegate to the Board?\n\nPrince Ching said that they had repeatedly pressed him to do so, but he had not nominated any one yet.\n\nSir Ernest said that he would like to remind the Prince that the Huang Pu Conservancy scheme was one of the conditions upon which the Powers had agreed to the revision of the Tariff. If the Chinese Government would not carry out its engagements in this respect, His Majesty's Government would reserve the right to revert to the old Tariff.\n\nPrince Ching remarked that the United States' Minister had recently spoken to him about it. The Viceroy's objection to nominating a Delegate was that, once the appointment was made, it would be too late to discuss the rules.\n\nSir Ernest observed that the Viceroy had merely to select a suitable person; the appointment lay with the Peking Government.\n\nPrince Ching said that this was so, but as the Viceroy of Nanking was the official chiefly concerned, they had to leave it to him to make the choice.\n\nSir Ernest remarked that it was much to be regretted that the Powers should make a Protocol with China, on the strength of which they removed their troops and that China should then refuse to carry out its stipulations. It reminded him of the situation in Manchuria.\n\nPrince Ching protested that the case was a different one altogether. China would certainly carry out her obligations. They had already repeatedly pressed the Viceroy to nominate some one, and would do so again.\n\nSir Ernest advised them to put themselves in the right in this matter. If others were obstructing the scheme, it would then put them in the wrong.\n\n[1878 ee---3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 394797, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 134, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "4\n\nmême demander la mesure à titre de réciprocité. Les autres pays en jouiraient comme \"nation la plus favorisée.”\n\nM. de Mumm.--Il semble, d'après les déclarations de nos collègues, que seul le Ministre des États-Unis n'est pas autorisé à signer une note de ce genre.\n\nDans ces conditions la lettre pourrait être signée non par le doyen, mais par tous les Ministres intéressés.\n\nsans\n\nM. Dubail.-La lettre pourrait demander la franchise pour \"les Consuls\" spécifier; on laisserait ainsi au Gouvernement Chinois le soin de faire un Règlement.\n\nM. le Baron Csikann.-La première démarche du doyen auprès Sir Robert Hart étant restée sans effet, la lettre devrait être adressée au Wai-ou-pou. La Commission de Rédaction pourrait se charger de la préparer.\n\nM. de Mumm--Si le Représentant des États-Unis peut se joindre à ses collègues, le doyen signerait seul la lettre adoptée.\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nNote addressed by the Diplomatic Body to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nVotre Altesse,\n\nPékin, le 23 Octobre, 1903. IL était d'usage jusqu'à ces derniers temps d'admettre en franchise les objets personnels destinés aux Consuls étrangers en Chine. Depuis, l'Administration des Douanes a estimé que ces objets pourraient être également soumis aux droits d'importation. Les Ministres soussignés ont pensé que, suivant la coutume, toute de courtoisie, qui se pratique dans beaucoup de pays, le Gouvernement Chinois voudrait bien continuer à donner aux Consuls des Puissances, tout au moins dans une certaine mesure, les facilités dont ils ont bénéficié jusqu'ici.\n\nIls suggèrent en conséquence qu'à titre de courtoisie le Gouvernement Impérial attribue aux Consuls étrangers en Chine l'exemption des droits pour l'entrée de leur mobilier, lors de leur installation, et pour l'entrée des objets à leur usage personnel pendant la durée de leurs fonctions, jusqu'à concurrence d'une somme que l'Administration des Douanes serait appelée à déterminer.\n\nVeuillez agréer, &c. (Signé)\n\nMUMM.\n\nCZIKANN.\n\nJOOSTENS.\n\n5\n\nVoici ce que, nous, le Wai-ou-pou, estimions.----\n\nLorsque le Protocole final fut discuté à Pékin, il y a deux ans, les Règlements annexés au Tarif (the Rules appended to the Tariff) dans les Traités de toutes les Puissances contenaient un Article spécial (Rule II-sur la franchise douanière de certaines marchandises); dans cet Article les noms des marchandises qui doivent jouir de franchise étaient aussi énumérés. Les douanes dans les différents ports faisaient passer en franchise les marchandises inscrites dans cette catégorie, sans faire une différence, si l'importateur était fonctionnaire, marchand, ou missionnaire; il n'existait ni de franchise spéciale pour les Consuls, ni même une stipulation spéciale sur la franchise pour les Consuls.\n\nEn vertu du Protocole final, l'Article sur la franchise des marchandises fut aboli et les douanes des différents ports procédèrent maintenant conformément au Protocole final, à savoir, les marchandises qui étaient auparavant en franchise sont sujettes au paiement des droits comme marchandises frappées de droits, également sans distinguer, si l'importateur soit fonctionnaire, marchand, ou missionnaire; il n'existe pas non plus un Article spécial sur la franchise douanière des effets Consulaires; moins encore est-il question d'un changement dans le sens d'un paiement de droits par les Consuls; il s'agit simplement d'une perception des droits sur les marchandises conformément au Protocole, et il n'y a certainement aucune disposition relative à cette franchise complète (pour les Consuls).\n\nCependant, comme les Ministres des divers États nous prient de vouloir accorder un traitement de faveur aux Consuls, nous, le Wai-ou-pou, avons décidé un moyen d'accommodement.\n\nA part l'entrée en franchise des objets envoyés par le Gouvernement et destinés à l'usage de la Chancellerie du Consulat, tels que papier, plumes, &c. (ustensiles nécessaires pour écrire), autorisée par des stipulations antérieures, nous accordons aux Consuls à leur première entrée en fonctions dans un port, l'exemption des droits pour les objets apportés avec eux et destinés à leur usage personnel, si le Ministre résidant à Pékin demande cette franchise pour son Consul expressément dans la notification officielle adressée au Wai-ou-pou et fait parvenir en même temps une liste des objets pour lesquels la franchise est demandée.\n\nTous les autres objets et les objets importés plus tard ainsi que les objets appartenant au personnel du Consulat ne jouiront pas de ce privilège.\n\nNous devons faire remarquer qu'il s'agit simplement d'un arrangement à titre de courtoisie et non pas d'une modification aux stipulations du Protocole.\n\nNous croyons devoir en donner connaissance à vos Excellences, pour qu'elle en prennent acte, et nous attendons une réponse pour pouvoir donner les instructions nécessaires à toutes les douanes.\n\nPAK CHEI SOON. CARCER. DUBAIL.\n\nNo. 2.\n\n(Traduction.)\n\nInclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nPrince Ching to the Doyen of the Diplomatic Body.\n\nDÉPÊCHE de son Altesse le Prince Ching, Président du Ministère des Affaires Étrangères à leurs Excellences M. le Baron Mumm, Ministre d'Allemagne; M. le Baron Czikanu, Ministre d'Autriche-Hongrie; M. Joostens, Ministre de Belgique; M. Pak Chei Soon, Ministre de Corée; M. de Carcer, Chargé d'Affaires d'Espagne; M. Dubail, Ministre de France; Sir Ernest Satow, Ministre de Grande-Bretagne; M. le Comte Gallina, Ministre d'Italie; M. Uchida, Ministre du Japon; M. Jonkheer van Citters, Ministre des Pays-Bas; M. de Almeida, Chargé d'Affaires de Portugal; M. Lessar, Ministre de Russie.\n\nKuanghsi, 29 année, 10° lune, 2o jour (20 Novembre, 1903).\n\n(Réponse officielle.)\n\nLe 18 de la 9 lune nous avons reçu des Plénipotentiaires étrangers la dépêche suivante :-\n\n(Reproduction de la dépêche adressée au Wai-ou-pou en date du 23 Octobre dernier.)\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received January 31, 1904.)\n\n(No. 419.) My Lord,\n\nPeking, December 11, 1903. IN continuation of my despatch to your Lordship No. 352 of the 17th October, inclosing a Report from His Majesty's Consul at Amoy respecting certain action by the authorities of Fukien in support of the scheme to establish a camphor monopoly in that province, I have the honour to transmit copies of notes which I have exchanged with the Chinese Government on that subject.\n\nIn their note of the 23rd November the Foreign Board state that they have directed the Viceroy at Foochow to order the release of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire's agent and to conclude some satisfactory arrangement with regard to the purchase of camphor by British merchants.\n\nMr. Hausser has so far not reported to me that these instructions have been given effect to, and on receipt of your Lordship's telegram No. 203 this morning I have addressed a telegram to him inquiring as to the present state of the case.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n[1827 hh-1]\n\n(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.\n\n132", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 394799, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 136, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL,\n\nNo. 1.\n\n134\n\n[February 13.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received February 13, 1904.)\n\nConfidential.)\n\n(No. 435.\n\nPeking, December 21, 1903.\n\nMy Lord,\n\nWITH reference to your Lordship's telegrams Nos. 193 and 200 of the 1st and 8th December respectively, instructing me to renew representations to the Chinese Government for the appointment of their Delegate to the Hwangpu Conservancy Board, I have the honour to inclose copy of a letter addressed to the Doyen of the Diplomatic Body by my German and United States' colleagues and myself, proposing that we should notify the intention of the Powers to convoke the Board without the Chinese Delegate, if any further delay occurred in his appointment.\n\nThe letter having been circulated to the foreign Representatives, our proposal has been approved by the Italian, Belgian, and Netherlands Ministers. The Representatives of Russia, Corea, and Spain expressed no opinion, and the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires is absent.\n\nThe French Minister states that the Chinese Government having entered upon direct negotiations with the French Government, and, he believes, with other Governments also, with the object of taking on themselves the works necessary for the improvement of the Shanghae bar, he has asked for instructions, which he must wait for before taking part in any further steps on the part of the Diplomatic Body.\n\nBaron von Mumm informs me that, early this year, the German Government was also approached on this subject.\n\nI have not been able to discover that any similar communication was made to your Lordship.\n\nI have requested Sir Pelham Warren to urge the Viceroy of Nanking to recommend his candidate to the Chinese Government.\n\nIn my despatch No. 254 of the 5th September, 1902, I inclosed copy of a despatch of the 18th August from the British Acting Consul at Nanking which throws light upon the hesitation of the Viceroy to make a certain nomination that had been recommended to him. I have informed Sir Pelham Warren confidentially that I have no special desire to support the candidate therein referred to, and that a Chinese would be equally satisfactory,\n\nYour Lordship will recollect that the ground of the opposition offered to the nomination in question was that it would give the British members of the Board, and their allies, a decided majority. I have been assured in Shanghae by leading members of the British community that unless we had such a majority, our interests would suffer at the hands of foreign combination; consequently, in their opinion the appointment of a British subject as Chinese Delegate was a sine qua non.\n\nIt is very much to be regretted that international feeling, which at Shanghae seems to be somewhat acute, should be allowed to interfere with the carrying out of a scheme which is for the general benefit of the commerce and shipping of all nations.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nERNEST SATOW.\n\n(Signed)\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nSir E. Satow, Herr Mumm, and Mr. Conger to Baron Czikann.\n\nM. le Doyen et cher Collègue,\n\nPékin, le 14 Décembre, 1903.\n\nL'Article 6 du Protocole du 7 Septembre, 1901, stipule ainsi qu'il suit :- \"L'élévation du tarif actuel sur les importations à 5 pour cent effectifs est consentie aux conditions ci-après :\n\n\"1. La conversion des droits ad valorem en droits spécifiques;\n\n\"2. L'amélioration du cours du Peiho et de celui du Whangpou avec la participation financière de la Chine.' L'Article 11 (b) stipule la création d'un Conseil Fluvial chargé de la direction et du contrôle des travaux de rectification du Whangpou et de\n\nPage 135\n\n...\n\n...\n\nPage 135", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 394803, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 140, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL,\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[January 5.]\n\n138\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n(No. 5.) Sir,\n\nThe Marquess of Lansdowne to Sir E. Monson.\n\nForeign Office, January 5, 1904. YOUR Excellency is aware that by Article 11 (6) of the Final Protocol, signed at Peking on the 7th September, 1901, between the foreign Powers and China, a Conservancy Board, charged with the management and control of the works for the improvement of the Wangpoo, was created.\n\nAnnex No. 17 of the Protocol, a copy of which is inclosed,* lays down rules for the constitution of such a Board on which there will, in addition to the foreign Representatives, be three members representing Chinese interests, viz.:--\n\n1. The Taotui.\n\n2. The Commissioner of Customs.\n\n3. A Chinese Delegate to be appointed in virtue of § 4 (h) of Annex No. 17 to the Protocol.\n\nEver since the signature of the Final Protocol, however, the nomination of this latter official has been delayed by the Viceroy on various pretexts.\n\nSo long ago as the 9th January last the Shanghae General Chamber of Commerce pointed out to the Senior Minister at Peking that foreign shipping was seriously affected owing to the difficulties and delays in discharging cargo outside Woosung due to the state of the outer bar, while the additional expense thereby entailed to ship-owners was a great burden.\n\nThe Diplomatic Body thereupon addressed a note to Prince Ching bringing this representation to his notice, and requesting that the Nanking Viceroy might be instructed to appoint the official to represent China on the Board without delay.\n\nOn the 20th March, 1903, a telegram was received from His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking, in which he reported that some time before a promise had been given to the United States' Minister at that capital by the Chinese Government that the Chinese Delegate would be appointed immediately upon the arrival of the new Viceroy at Nanking.\n\nMr. Townley stated that as the latter should have reached his post by then, the United States' Minister was addressing a note to the Board of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Townley was authorized to take similar action.\n\nAs, however, no progress was made in the matter, His Majesty's Minister was, on the 1st ultimo, instructed to make renewed representations to the Chinese Government, and it was suggested to him that they might be informed that, unless their Delegate were nominated without delay, the Board would be constituted and enter upon its duties without their participation.\n\nA telegram has now been received from Sir E. Satow, of which I inclose a copy for your Excellency's information, stating that, in conjunction with the German and United States' Ministers, he has addressed a Circular to the Diplomatic Body proposing that course.\n\nThe Italian and Netherlands Ministers have concurred, while no opinion has been expressed by the Spanish, Belgian, or Russian Representatives.\n\nSir Ernest reports that the French Minister has requested instructions, and he has since telegraphed that, as these instructions have only been asked for by post, much time must elapse before they can be received.\n\nI request your Excellency to inform the French Minister for Foreign Affairs that His Majesty's Government are of opinion that the Chinese Government should\n\n* Final Protocol (Treaty Series No. 17, 1902).\n\n↑ Sir E. Satow, No. 272, Telegraphic, December 20, 1903.\n\n[1827 e-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 394804, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 141, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "not be permitted to render nugatory by their obstruction one of the provisions of a Protocol which they have signed with Representatives of all the Powers. They trust that the French Government will take the same view of the question, and that the reply to the French Minister at Peking may be sent by telegraph to that effect, in order to hasten the formation of the Board.\n\nI am, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nLANSDOWNE,\n\n(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.)\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n139\n\n[January 16.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nPage 139\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received January 16, 1904.)\n\n(No. 407.)\n\nPeking, November 30, 1903.\n\nMy Lord,\n\nIN continuation of my despatch No. 312 of the 7th September last, and with reference to your Lordship's No. 297 of the 5th ultimo, respecting procedure with regard to the issue of drawback certificates, I have the honour to report that at the end of last September I received a telegram from the Acting British Consul-General at Shanghae, informing me that the Taotai read Article I of the Commercial Treaty as meaning that drawback certificates were to be issued as at present, from his Office through the Maritime Customs, but within three weeks. Mr. Mansfield added that if this were allowed there would be a continuation of the old abuses, and that interminable correspondence would result.\n\nIn reply, I pointed out that the terms of the Article were \"by\" and not \"through\" the Imperial Maritime Customs, and that, if necessary, he could inform the Taotai that I was unable to accept his interpretation. I next heard from Mr. Mansfield that the Taotai stated that, without specific instructions from the Wai-wu Pu, he could not hand over the drawback certificate office to the Commissioner of Customs, and that 50,000 old certificates were still unissued; he had given instructions that these should be issued in forty days, which seemed to Mr. Mansfield impossible. He suggested that the Wai-wu Pu should be induced to give the necessary instructions, and direct that the balance of the unissued certificates should be dealt with by the Commissioner of Customs.\n\nI have the honour to inclose a copy of a note I addressed to the Wai-wu Pu to this effect, with a copy of their reply, explaining the delay which had occurred in carrying out the provisions of the Treaty and promising a satisfactory arrangement.\n\nI have received no further communication on the subject from Shanghae, and presume that there is now no ground for complaint.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nERNEST SATOW.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nYour Highness,\n\nSir E. Satow to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nPeking, October 15, 1903.\n\nTHE 1st Article of the Commercial Treaty signed at Shanghae last year provides that drawback certificates shall be issued by the Imperial Maritime Customs. I learn, however, by telegraph from His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghae that at that port no arrangements have been made for giving effect to this provision, and the certificates are still issued by the Shanghae Taotai.\n\nI have the honour, therefore, to request that instructions may be sent by telegram to the latter that the certificates must in future be issued by the Commissioner of Customs.\n\nThe reason for the change in the mode of issue of these certificates is stated in the Treaty to be that delay has occurred in the past owing to these documents being dealt with by the Superintendent of Customs at a distance from the Customs Office. How great this delay is may be gathered from a fact mentioned in His Majesty's Consul-General's telegram, namely, that there are over 50,000 certificates still unissued. The Taotai states that he has given orders for these to be sent out within forty days, but, in the opinion of His Majesty's Consul-General, this is not possible. I beg, therefore, to ask that instructions be sent to the Taotai to hand over to the Commissioner of Customs the duty of dealing not only with new certificates, but also with the old ones that have accumulated.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nERNEST SATOW,\n\n[1827 q-1]\n\nPage 140\n\n...\n\nPage 141", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 394971, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 308, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nC. O.\n\n# CHINA TRADE\n\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n\nNo. 1.\n\n22338\n\n305\n\n[June 3.]\n\n## RECEIVED 23 JUN 1904\n\nSir,\n\nForeign Office to China Association.\n\nForeign Office, June 3, 1904.\n\nI LAID before the Marquess of Lansdowne your letter of the 18th ultimo, inclosing a copy of a telegram from the Shanghae Branch of the China Association, in which they state their views with regard to the scheme proposed by the Viceroy at Nanking for the solution of the question of the Whangpoo Conservancy.\n\nYou state that your Committee concur with the Shanghae Branch in their desire to press upon His Majesty's Government the advisability of adopting this proposal.\n\nI am directed by Lord Lansdowne to inform you that the scheme embodied in Annex 17 of the Final Protocol can only be abandoned in favour of another scheme with the consent of all the Signatories of that instrument; that the Viceroy's scheme has been communicated to the Diplomatic Body at Peking, and on hearing the result of the Minister's conference on the subject, His Majesty's Government will, in considering it, bear in mind the opinion expressed by the China Association.\n\nI am, &c. (Signed) F. A. CAMPBELL.\n\n[2032 c-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 394980, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 317, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n314\n\n22910\n\n[Jus\n\nFREE 28 JUN 04,\n\nSECTION 5.\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received June 6.)\n\n(No. 132. Very Confidential.) My Lord,\n\nPeking, April 11, 1904. IN continuation of my immediately preceding despatch, I beg to report that I pointed out to Mr. Stewart that the question of opening Waichow was linked together with that of the Kowloon-Canton Railway in the letter of the 12th December last from the Hong Kong branch of the China Association to the parent body in London. I observed that the question of the immediate construction of the railway took up three-quarters of that letter, and it was described as a larger and more important question than that of the opening of Waichow. I added that I entirely agreed with the observations of the Committee on this matter and with the remarks made by Sir Henry Blake in his farewell speech of the 20th November last.\n\nYour Lordship will notice that the Hong Kong Committee propose a route for the Kowloon-Canton Railway, which would cross the East River at Sheklung, whence it would be easy to run a branch up to Waichow, and, in the opinion of Mr. Stewart, this would be of equal utility, as far as trade is concerned, with the opening of that place as a Treaty port.\n\nIn connection with this subject he gave me an extract from the Minutes of a meeting of the General Committee of the China Association held in London on the 22nd January with Mr. Keswick, M.P., in the chair, of which a copy is inclosed. To some of the statements contained in this document I have the honour to direct your Lordship's attention.\n\nAt the meeting in question the letter of the Hong Kong branch, previously referred to, was read, requesting the Committee to urge upon your Lordship's Office the desirability of the immediate opening of Waichow, and complaining of the delay in the construction of the Kowloon-Canton Railway.\n\nThe Chairman stated that “(1) it had been necessary to wait until the Shanghae-Nanking Railway Agreement had been signed before taking steps to formulate the final contract for the Kowloon-Canton line, and it should be borne in mind that (2) delay was also in great measure due to the state of affairs in China consequent upon the Boxer troubles; and (3) that negotiations were suspended at the request of the Chinese authorities.\"\n\nAs to (1), it may be observed that as the final Agreement for the Canton-Kowloon Railway was to be subject to the provisions of the final Agreement for the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, and as the latter was signed on the 9th July, 1903, the negotiations for its conclusion might, as far as this provision is concerned, have been proceeded with last summer. But there is no reason to suppose that any steps have as yet been taken to that end.\n\n2. As regards the delay having been in great measure due to the state of affairs in China consequent upon the Boxer trouble, the fact is that the state of the country became normal when the Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, was signed, and that the British and Chinese Corporation took no measures, except of the perfunctory character commented on in my despatch No. 79 of the 26th March, 1902, for negotiating the Shanghae-Nanking Railway Agreement until they dispatched Mr. Brenan to China in the autumn of 1902.\n\n3. I am ignorant of the facts upon which the statement is founded that the negotiations were suspended at the request of the Chinese authorities. It would be interesting to know what Chinese authorities are meant, the date of their request, and the name of the person to whom it was addressed.\n\nMr. Keswick went on to state that \"the terms and conditions of the preliminary Concessions were all subject to revision and final settlement when complete surveys were made and proper estimates formed. Such a survey was made after the preliminary Concession was signed.\"\n\nIt would be useful if Mr. Keswick would communicate to the Foreign Office a copy of the Report of the engineer or engineers who made a \"complete survey\" for the Canton-Kowloon Railway. According to the information that has reached me, the only sort of survey made was a hasty inspection by a civil engineer, accompanied...\n\n[2023 ƒ-5]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395000, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 337, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "The Basement is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government. 10.\n\n23446\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[June 10\n\n334\n\nBed 2 JUL 04/\n\nSECTION\n\nMemorandum communicated to M. Cambon, June 15, 1904.\n\nBY Article 11 (b) of the Final Protocol, signed at Peking on the 7th September, 1901, between the foreign Powers and China, a Conservancy Board, charged with the management and control of the works for the improvement of the Whang-po, was created.\n\nAnnex No. 17 of the Protocol which contained the stipulations concerning the composition of the Board, provided for three Chinese members:\n\n1. The Taotai,\n\n2. The Commissioner of Customs,\n\n3. A Chinese Delegate to be appointed in virtue of § 4 (h) of Annex No. 17.\n\nThe Viceroy has delayed the appointment of the last-named official on various pretexts during a period which has now extended over a year and nine months.\n\nOn the 9th January, 1903, the Shanghae General Chamber of Commerce pointed out to the Senior Minister at Peking that foreign shipping was seriously affected owing to the difficulties and delays in discharging cargo outside Woosung due to the state of the outer bar, while the additional expense thereby entailed to shipowners was a great burden.\n\nThe Diplomatic Body thereupon addressed a note to Prince Ch'ing, bringing these representations to his notice, and requesting that the Viceroy of Nanking might be instructed to appoint the Chinese Delegate without delay.\n\nAs no progress was made in the matter the British, German, and United States' Ministers in December last addressed a Circular to the Diplomatic Body proposing that renewed representations should be made to the Chinese Government, and that they should be informed that unless the Chinese Delegate were nominated without delay the Board would be constituted and enter upon its duties without their participation.\n\nThe French Minister at Peking requested the instructions of his Government with regard to this proposal, but as he only asked for them by post it was evident that much time must elapse before they could be received.\n\nHis Majesty's Ambassador at Paris was therefore instructed to represent to the French Government that the Chinese Government should not be permitted to render nugatory by their obstruction one of the provisions of a Protocol which they had signed with Representatives of all the Powers, and to express the hope that the French Government would take the same view and telegraph to that effect to the French Minister at Peking.\n\nSir E. Monson addressed a communication to the French Government on the subject on the 12th January, and on the 16th February he received a note to the effect that the French Minister at Peking had promised to forward further particulars, and that it was hoped before long to be able to furnish the reply of the French Government and thus expedite the settlement of the question.\n\nAt the end of April Sir E. Monson, in reply to an inquiry, was informed that he might expect an early answer. The answer has, however, not yet been received.\n\nHis Majesty's Minister recently reported that the Viceroy at Nanking had proposed a scheme, to take the place of the scheme embodied in Annex 17 to the Final Protocol.\n\nWith the exception of the French Minister, who has stated that he must await instructions, all the Representatives at Peking of the Powers have accepted the view that the Viceroy has no locus standi for making proposals to set aside arrangements formally concluded between China and the Powers, and that the Consular Body at Shanghae, through whom the scheme had been forwarded to the Diplomatic Body, cannot discuss it unless specially authorized.\n\nThey consider that if the Chinese Government nominate their Delegate under Article 11 of the Protocol, that Government would then be in a position to put forward proposals, but must present them to the Diplomatic Representatives. If they do not avail themselves of their right to nominate a Delegate the Representatives consider that the Board can meet without the Chinese Delegate and proceed to work.\n\nIt is probable that if the French Minister would act with the other foreign Representatives in this matter China would be obliged to abandon her obstructive attitude and\n\nPage 1082", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395042, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 379, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nC\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. I.\n\n376\n\nC. O.\n\n[June 24]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nRed 18 JUL 04!\n\nThe China League to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received June 27.)\n\nDacre House (between Nos. 20 and 22), Victoria Street, London, June 27, 1904.\n\nMy Lord,\n\nTHE attention of the China League has been drawn to a proposal put forward by Wei-kwang-tao, Viceroy of Nanking, to undertake, on behalf of the Chinese Government, the conservancy work handed over in September 1901 to an International Conservancy Board by the Protocol of that date.\n\nThis question has engaged the attention of the Committee of the China League, and I am instructed to lay before your Lordship the considerations which have influenced my Committee in arriving at the conclusion which follows.\n\nImprimis, I would venture to remind your Lordship that \"the facilitating the approaches of the Peiho and the Yang-tze\" were concessions obtained from the Government of China in exchange for the raising of the import duties to an effective 5 per cent.\n\nThe obvious presumption was, I venture to say, that such countervailing concessions would be carried out by the Chinese Government at its own cost.\n\nAnnex No. 17 of the Protocol, however, hands over such conservancy work, as far as the approaches to Shanghai are concerned, to an International Board, which is empowered, inter alia, to collect 230,000 taels annually from the land-renters of Shanghai.\n\nApart from the injustice of taxing foreigners for the cost of carrying into effect conservancy work which was described as a quid pro quo for the increased import duties, my Committee find in the clauses of Annex 17 cause for very grave objections, which I venture respectfully to lay before His Majesty's Government.\n\nThe motto and the guiding policy of the China League are \"China for the Chinese,\" and my Committee are consequently strongly opposed to any and every act which tends to impair the sovereign rights of China or to encroach upon its duties and its privileges.\n\nIt is the opinion of my Committee that the powers conferred on the International Board of taxing the riparian owners of land down to the mouth of the Whangpo, and of expropriation in regard to the land itself, are hardly distinguishable from annexation of the river.\n\nThe contention of the late Viceroy of Nanking, Liu-kun-yi, was, primarily, that this was the annexation of an important river in China, which would probably be followed up by the annexation of the adjoining Yang-tze River, with any territory that might be required for purposes of the Board. There is very little doubt that the view of the present Viceroy of Nanking, Wei-kwang-tao, supported by the Viceroy Chang-chih-tung, is based on exactly the same ground, and it appears to be a perfectly sound view as regards Chinese interests, and in reality is a sound view as regards British interests also.\n\nIn this contention, and in the natural resentment at the interference of Peking in what is strictly a local question, may be found the grounds for the opposition of the Viceroys and their refusal to appoint a Chinese member on the Board.\n\nApart from the Chinese view of this question, with which, however, my Committee are in sympathy, their deliberations have been directed more particularly to such clauses of Annex 17 as appear likely to affect British interests.\n\nThe constitution of the Board is open to grave objection. It will comprise seventeen members, of whom it may safely be asserted there will always be a solid body of eight in opposition to British interests.\n\nInternational jealousy is a plant of vigorous growth in the East, and an International Board for any purpose would furnish opportunities for the effective operation of various schemes directed against British interests which our ill-wishers may be trusted to utilize to the full.\n\nIt may be postulated that jealousies and intrigues are certain to arise in connection with the appointment of the staff, and there is nothing to prevent the introduction on it of a strong anti-British element, e.g., a Frenchman might be appointed Harbour-master.\n\n[2032 dd-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395043, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 380, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "to control the 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 tons of British shipping entering the port, or survey and dredging contracts might be given away to serve national and political interests rather than the conservation of the river and the advancement of Shanghae. It must be borne in mind that up to the present moment there is no real plan for doing the work at all. There have been many schemes put forward, but the effect of these has been left in great uncertainty. It is, however, well known that immense injury may result from the erection of artificial works, except under the very best advice that can be obtained, and in the opinion of the China League the proposed Conservancy Board will naturally be anxious to justify its appointment, and so will be disposed to undertake extensive works without due consideration.\n\nSpecial attention should be given to the present position of the local government of Shanghae, which, from a British point of view, is most satisfactory. In the first place there is a Municipal Council consisting of nine members; of these, no less than seven are always British, one American, and (as a matter of grace) one German. Next is the fact that the Commissioner of Customs is British, and next the further fact, which is also important, that the Inspector-General of Customs is British, and by the official guarantee of China must remain British so long as British trade predominates. The whole legal jurisdiction of Shanghae, therefore, as regards the collection and spending of revenue, is in British hands, and the status in that respect is most satisfactory, and it will be a matter of great misfortune if it is in any way weakened or interfered with. The creation of this International Board will very seriously affect the position of the Shanghae Municipality.\n\nThe Board is to have control of the River Whangpo and the Soochow Creek, both water-ways running right through the Shanghae Settlements. The Board will have its own staff of officials and a body of police, and it is obvious that possibilities of frequent friction between the Board and the Municipal Council will exist. This raises a very unfortunate probability of conflict of jurisdiction right in the heart of the foreign Settlement of Shanghae.\n\nIn the event of trouble arising, it may be safely assumed that the sympathy of the foreign Consular Body is more likely to be in favour of the International Board than of the Municipal Council.\n\nFrom the point of view, therefore, of Chinese sovereign rights, as well as of British interests at Shanghae, my Committee conclude that the adoption of the Viceroy's scheme, carefully safeguarded by foreign supervision, is infinitely preferable to placing the control of the improvement of the River Whangpo in the hands of an International Board.\n\nThey are convinced that the arrangement set out in Annex 17 of the Protocol will, if carried into effect, unquestionably prove most disastrous to British interests. I have, &c.\n\nA. R. BURKILL, Honorary Secretary.\n\n(Signed)\n\n[Comment is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\nC. O.\n\n[95342]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received July 4.)\n\n377 1\n\nRed 18 JUL 04\n\nPeking, May 18, 1904. (No. 178.) My Lord,\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith a translation of a note which I have received from the Chinese Government announcing the preliminary steps taken, on the motion of the Superintendent of Northern Trade and the Governor of Shantung, for the opening of two ports in that province as branch Customs stations of China.\n\nI have not yet heard what views the German Government take of this proposal to open to foreign trade and residence places which they possibly consider to be within their exclusive zone of influence.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nPrince Ching to Sir E. Satow.\n\nERNEST SATOW.\n\nPeking, May 17, 1904\n\nI HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that in the third month of the present year (17th March to 15th April) the Superintendent of Northern Trade and the Governor of Shantung presented a joint Memorial to the Throne asking that outside the city of Chinan, in Shantung, China, should herself open a port, and that Wei Hsien, east of the provincial capital, and Chou Ts'un, within the jurisdiction of Chang Shan, should also be made commercial marts as branch Customs stations of Chinan. Their proposal having been approved by this Board on the 1st instant (15th May), we also memorialized the Throne, and an Imperial Rescript has been issued indorsing the suggestion.\n\nAs soon as the necessary Regulations have been drawn up and a date fixed on which they shall have come into force, I shall again have the honour to address your Excellency.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n[2056 d-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395048, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 385, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "2\n\nViceroy should be informed that a day has been fixed for the first meeting of the Conservancy Board, and that we hoped that the Chinese Representative would be present.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nPELHAM WARREN,\n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n382\n\n[July 19.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nWei Kuang-tao to Consul-General Sir P. Warren.\n\nMay 2, 1904.\n\nI HAVE the honour to forward you copy of a Memorandum in five clauses of a proposal with regard to the Conservancy of the Whangpoo, made by me in a personal interview to Consul-General Goodnow and Siffert during their late visit to this capital. Mr. Goodnow consented to discuss the matter with the Consular Body on his return to Shangbae, and I presume that he has already laid the matter before you.\n\nI hope that the Consular Body will consent to this proposal, as it will relieve the merchants from the burden of a heavy expense, and will enable work to be commenced at an early date.\n\nInclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nMemorandum of the present Proposal in Five Clauses for Conserving the Whangpoo at Shanghae, on which I beg the Consul-General to consult with the Consular Body in view of a speedy commencement of Operations\n\nAS the payment of tonnage and other dues by merchant vessels of the Great Powers, and the renewed contributions of foreign merchants in China to the expenses of the Whangpoo Conservancy, make it appear very much as if China were shirking her liabilities in that direction, the Chinese Government will set aside from the revenues of the Maritime Customs a yearly sum of 230,000 taels, and will also take upon themselves the payment of the 230,000 taels for the contribution of such foreign merchants are now responsible, setting apart a total sum of 460,000 Haikuan taels for the conservance of the Whangpoo, payment to cease on completion of the work.\n\n2. The engineering works in connection with the Wangpoo shall still remain under the management of the Taotui and the Maritime Customs; and the control of the river police, lighthouses, &c., shall remain in the hands of the Maritime Customs.\n\n3. If the present proposal obtains the consent of the Consular Body, the Chinese Government will, immediately after the end of the 3rd moon request the Consular Body to nominate one or two engineers well versed in the construction of river works to undertake the engineering,\n\n4. The account of the moneys spent on the works shall be submitted to the Consular Body punctually every quarter.\n\n5. The Chinese Government are willing to refrain from recovering from the port of Shanghae and from ships and cargoes of all nationalities coming into the port the expenses connected with the conservance of the Whangpoo.\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne —(Received July 19.)\n\n(No. 188.)\n\nMy Lord,\n\nPeking, May 24, 1904.\n\nBY Article 3 (h) of the \"Règlement pour l'Amélioration du Cours du Whangpoo,\" annexed to the Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, it is provided that each Power whose shipping at Shanghae, Woosung, and other ports on the Whangpoo exceeds 200,000 tons annually, may nominate a representative on the Conservancy Board, and that these representatives shall hold office for one year.\n\nHis Majesty's Government nominated in the first instance the senior resident partner of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co., while the Governments of France, Germany, Japan, and the United States severally appointed their Consuls-General at Shanghae. In this way an official element was introduced into the Board, which, for my own part, I considered unlikely to promote harmony in the working of an institution which was intended to provide for commercial shipping interests. It was, moreover, not in accordance with the view expressed by the Consular Body themselves in a letter addressed to the Shanghae Chamber of Commerce by the Senior Consul in January 1899 (copy of which is to be found in Appendix (F) to the Annual Report of the China Association for 1899-1900.\n\nIn this document Senhor Valdez, after pointing out that the proposed Board would have to be constituted by an International Convention signed at Peking, laid it down that in the constitution of the Board care must be taken to avoid any political character or motive of dispute on questions of principle, and observed that the responsibility of the Board for its actions could only be enforced before a Court of Consuls. These considerations, he added, made it evident that the Consuls could not be on the Board, and that the presence there of any official element would be of much greater inconvenience than use.\n\nAt the time the above-mentioned official nominations were made no suitable opportunity presented itself for calling attention to the fact that they had been made in disregard of the opinion unanimously expressed by the Consular Body in 1899, but the reasons on which their opinion was founded are fully as valid to-day as they were then. I have the honour now to inclose copy of the letter from the German Minister to the doyen of the Diplomatic Body, in which he communicates the fact that his Government have definitely delegated M. Knappe, the German Consul-General at Shanghae, as their member of the Conservancy Board, and the engineer Schellhoss as \"membre suppléant\" of the said Board.\n\nAs no provision for the appointment of \"membres suppléants,\" or for voting by proxy at the meetings of the Board is contained in the Règlement, I thought it desirable to awaken the attention of my colleagues to what seemed to be an irregular proceeding, and this I did by writing on the Circular the following request for information:-\n\nAs Annex No. 17 to the Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, makes no mention of \"membres suppléants,\" I beg his Excellency the German Minister to be so good as to explain this term.\n\nThe Circular being then returned to the doyen was at once sent back to the German Minister, who answered my query by writing that \"the term 'membre suppléant' means that in the absence of M. Knappe or his inability to attend, M. Schellhoss is intended to take his place on the Board.\"\n\nA few days later my German colleague called upon me with the intention of discussing the question, but after an explanation of my views, he appeared to be convinced that the nomination of a proxy could not be upheld, and he assured me that the suggestion was not due to himself. He expressed his readiness to telegraph to Berlin on the subject, if I would furnish him with a statement of my objections. This I did without loss of time in a private letter of which also I have the honour to inclose a copy.\n\n[2056 - 1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395049, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 386, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "To-day, however, on my taking an opportunity of inquiring whether he had been able to consult his Government, he replied that it was difficult to explain so intricate a question within the limits of a telegram, and that he intended to write to Berlin. It is for this reason that I have ventured to trouble your Lordship with this despatch.\n\nMy American colleague, with whom I have conversed on the subject, has told me that he is in agreement with me on both points, namely, that the Annex to the Protocol does not provide for proxies, and that the appointment of Consular officers as members of the Board is not desirable.\n\nAs your Lordship's telegram No. 84 expressed a doubt whether it was necessary to press the matter, I have abstained from bringing it before the Diplomatic Body, and my conversations with Mr. Conger and with Baron von Mumm, as well as the private letter which followed, were all anterior to the receipt of your Lordship's instructions.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nERNEST SATOW.\n\nPage 383\n\nit was not desirable that any of them should be members, because actions against the Board would have to be brought before the Court of Consuls. This objection still holds good (see Article 24 of the Règlement). We provided, however, in the constitution that they should elect two of the members, so that in that way they are already indirectly represented. I myself incline to the belief that the Board would work more smoothly if there were none but business men on it. We put, however, the Taotai and Commissioner of Customs on it because that was the easiest way of providing for a Chinese representation. As far as Great Britain is concerned, her representative has always been a merchant.\n\nLastly, I would suggest that as the Government representatives have to be designated annually, it would in future save the Diplomatic Body some trouble if the announcement were made by the Consul of the Governments entitled to appoint direct to the Chairman of the Board, when once it has been completely organized.\n\nYours sincerely,\n\n(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nBaron von Mumm to M. Czikann.\n\nKaiserlich Deutsche Gesandtschaft, Pékin, le 3 Mai, 1904\n\nM. le Doyen et cher Collègue,\n\nEN me référant à la lettre du 30 Janvier, 1902, par laquelle j'ai informé votre Excellence que le Consul-Général d'Allemagne à Shanghai, M. Knappe, avait été désigné provisoirement par mon Gouvernement comme son représentant dans le Conseil Fluvial pour l'amélioration du Whangpoo, j'ai l'honneur de porter à votre connaissance que depuis M. Knappe a été délégué définitivement comme membre et l'ingénieur Schellhoss comme membre suppléant du Conseil susmentionné.\n\nEn priant votre Excellence de vouloir bien porter ce fait à la connaissance de nos honorables collègues, je saisis, &c.\n\n(Signé) G. MUMM,\n\n(Private.)\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nSir E. Satow to Baron von Mumm.\n\nMy dear Colleague,\n\nPeking, May 13, 1904. WITH reference to our conversation of yesterday afternoon about the appointment of M. Schellhoss as \"membre suppléant,\" to take the place of the German representative on the Conservancy Board whenever the latter is absent or unable to attend, I cannot help thinking that this nomination has been made without consulting the text of Annex 17. There are several reasons drawn from the wording of the Règlement which seem to me against such a nomination.\n\n1. No provision is made for the creation of \"membre suppléant\" in Article 4. The only case in which the absence of a member is provided for is that of the President or Vice-President (in Article 9). The mention of these seems to imply the exclusion of all others.\n\n2. If a Government member can be present by proxy, so, it would seem, can any other, and if you examine the list I think you will find that this would be a very inconvenient arrangement. It would mean practically doubling the number of the Board; sometimes a \"titulaire\" might be present, sometimes his \"suppléant,\" and there would be no continuity in the transaction of business.\n\n3. Article 11 provides that four members shall form a quorum, which seems to imply that if a member of the Board is absent, he shall not be represented by any one else.\n\nPersonally I am not in favour of having Consuls on the Board. You will remember that when the establishment of the Board was being discussed at Shanghae in 1899, the Consular Body expressed the opinion, in a letter of the 27th January of that year, addressed by M. Valdez, senior Consul, to the Shanghae Chamber of Commerce, that", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395096, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 433, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n29509\n\n430\n\nNow, having regard to the fact that opium belongs to the same category of goods as wines, spirits, and tobacco, articles which in all civilized countries are, for moral as well as fiscal reasons, made to bear a very substantial proportion of the national revenue, I would respectfully submit that this approximate equality in the taxation of two categories of goods so widely different constitutes a fiscal anomaly which calls for the serious consideration of the two Governments.\n\nTo restore the taxation of opium to the effective ad valorem percentage at which it stood in 1885, and give the Chinese Government their just due, would require the duties now paid on it to be raised to 220 Haikwan taels per chest; and with a view to this, I have been instructed by the Wai-wu Pu to invite your Lordship to an exchange of views on this most important subject.\n\n46\n\nSection 8 of the Additional Article provides for \"any modifications in its provisions which experience may show to be desirable\" being made, and surely the time for this has arrived, when the duty actually levied on the drug has ceased to have the effect of placing restrictions on its consumption—a principle specifically recognized in the preamble to the Agreement itself as being \"undesirable.\"\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) CHANG TA JÊN.\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[August 19]\n\n22 AUG 04 SECTION 1\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received August 1.)\n\n(No. 203.) My Lord,\n\nPeking, June 8, 1904.\n\nIn my despatch No. 191 of the 27th May I informed your Lordship that the proposals put forward by the Viceroy of Nanking for the transfer of the execution of the Whangpoo River improvement schemes from the International Board, instituted by the Final Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, to the Chinese Government, had been submitted to the Diplomatic Body and were being circulated among the Representatives for their observations.\n\nI have now the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith a copy of the Doyen's circular, with the observations of the various Representatives attached.\n\nYour Lordship will observe that, with the exception of the French Minister, who states that he must ask for instructions, and the Spanish and Portuguese Representatives, who merely take note of the receipt of the document, all the other Representatives state their concurrence in the views expressed by the German Minister and myself, to the effect that, as the whole question of the constitution of the Conservancy Board was arranged by the Final Protocol, any alterations desired by the Chinese Government must be submitted to the Representatives of the Signatory Powers by the Wai Wu Pu.\n\nMy German colleague further draws attention to the fact that the Board is entitled to meet and transact business even should the Chinese Government still persist in their delay to nominate a Delegate, and your Lordship will observe that I have taken occasion to emphasize the views of His Majesty's Government on this point.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) ERNEST SATOW.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nBaron Czikann's Circular No. 100 respecting the Proposals of the Viceroy of Nanking.\n\nPékin, le 24 Mai, 1904.\n\nLE Doyen a l'honneur de mettre en circulation une lettre du Doyen du Corps Consulaire de Shanghai concernant une proposition du Gouverneur-Général de Nankin de changer l'Annexe 17 du Protocole Final relative aux travaux d'amélioration du Huang-Pou (Whangpou), et concernant les délibérations du Corps Consulaire de Shanghaï à propos de la Convention de la Commission du Whangpou à une séance.\n\n(Signé) M. CZIKANN.\n\nLa question de la correction du Whangpou a été réglée par l'Article 11 (b) et par l'Annexe 17 du Protocole Final du 7 Septembre, 1901, signé par les Représentants de la Chine et des Puissances étrangères à Pékin. Par conséquent, il n'est pas du ressort du Surintendant des ports méridionaux de faire de nouvelles propositions et d'en saisir le Corps Consulaire à Shanghai. La question à l'ordre du jour est non un changement des stipulations du Protocole Final agréées à l'unanimité par la Chine et les Puissances Signataires de ce Protocole, mais la constitution du Conseil Fluvial. Tous les membres de ce Conseil, excepté le Représentant à qui la Chine a droit par suite de l'Article 4 (h) de l'Annexe susmentionné, ayant été désignés depuis longtemps, cette constitution pourrait avoir lieu dès à présent. Si la Chine ne juge pas utile de désigner le Délégué à qui elle a droit par suite de son commerce maritime, n'empêche en aucune façon la réunion du Conseil, qui pourra délibérer lorsque quatre de ses membres au moins seront présents, et dont déjà deux Représentants du commerce sont arrivés à Shanghai.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395097, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 434, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "2\n\nGouvernement Chinois, le Taotai et le Commissaire des Douanes à Shanghai, font partie par suite de leurs offices.\n\nIl me semble que le Doyen du Corps Diplomatique devrait répondre dans ce sens au Doyen du Corps Consulaire, en le chargeant en même temps de notifier au Taotai et aux autres membres du Conseil de procéder incessamment à la constitution du Conseil Fluvial.\n\nSi, après la constitution de ce Conseil, le Gouvernement Chinois juge à propos de soumettre aux Puissances intéressées des amendements changeant les stipulations du Protocole Final, rien ne s'oppose à ce que le Wai Wu-pou fasse des ouvertures dans ce sens aux Représentants des Puissances Signataires du Protocole Final, et que ceux-ci en saisissent leurs Gouvernements respectifs. Mais on ne doit pas perdre de vue que jusqu'à ce qu'un nouvel accord ait été conclu avec le consentement unanime de toutes les Puissances Signataires du Protocole Final, les stipulations de ce Protocole tiennent bon.\n\nMUMM.\n\n(Signé)\n\nJe partage entièrement l'avis de son Excellence le Ministre d'Allemagne au sujet de la communication faite par le Viceroi de Nankin aux membres du Corps Consulaire de Shanghai. Mon Gouvernement tient à ce que le Gouvernement Chinois exécute les stipulations du Protocole touchant l'amélioration du Huangpu, et m'a donné des instructions m'autorisant à appuyer toute proposition tendant à la réunion du Conseil, même dans le cas où le Gouvernement Chinois continuerait à ne pas nommer un Représentant pour ses intérêts maritimes. Il me paraît, du reste, peu désirable de prendre en considération des propositions présentées d'une manière tellement irrégulière.\n\nERNEST SATOW.\n\nLe 27 Mai, 1904.\n\n(Signé)\n\nI wholly agree with opinions expressed by their Excellencies Baron von Mumm and Sir Ernest Satow.\n\nE. H. CONGER.\n\n(Signed)\n\nJe partage l'avis de son Excellence le Ministre d'Allemagne.\n\n(Signé)\n\nP. LESSAR\n\nIdem.\n\n(Signé)\n\nM. CZIKANN.\n\nGAIFFIER.\n\nJ. UCHIDA.\n\nVAN CITTERS.\n\nGALLINA.\n\nVu:\n\n(Signé)\n\nCARCER.\n\nALMEIDA.\n\nExcellency,\n\n3\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nMr. J. Goodnow to Baron Czikann.\n\nConsular Service, U.S.A., Shanghae, May 11, 1904.\n\nI AM directed by my colleagues to inform you that his Excellency Wei, Viceroy at Nanking, has requested us to lay before you his proposals to substitute the hereto attached five rules for Annex 17 to the Final Protocol.\n\nThe following motion is now before the Consular Body :-\n\n\"The Consular Body of Shanghae decides in accordance with (1), paragraph b, Article 2, of the Peace Protocol, signed in Peking on the 7th September, 1901, and (2), Annex 17 of the same Protocol, to give notice to his Excellency the Viceroy at Nanking that the first meeting of the Huang-pu River Conservancy Board will take place on next.\"\n\nWe respectfully ask instructions of the Diplomatic Body on the above.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) JOHN GOODNOW, Consul-General, U.S.A., and Senior Consul,\n\nInclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nProjet de Règlement en Cinq Articles relativement aux Travaux d'Amélioration du Huang-Pou, soumis à l'Approbation du Corps Consulaire pour le prompt Commencement de ces Travaux.\n\nLES bateaux des Grandes Puissances ont déjà des droits à payer; la Chine sera confuse de réclamer encore des contributions pour les dépenses des travaux du Huang-Pou aux étrangers qui viennent faire le commerce chez elle. Aussi le Gouvernement Chinois prélèvera sur les recettes de la Douane une somme de 230,000 taels pour son compte et prendra aussi à sa charge les 230,000 taels que les commerçants étrangers avaient consenti à fournir; cela fera en tout une somme de 460,000 Haikwan taels, qui sera versée annuellement jusqu'à l'achèvement des travaux.\n\n2. Les travaux du Huang-Pou seront sous la direction du Taotai de Shanghaï et de la Douane; ce sera également la Douane qui aura la haute main sur la police et les phares.\n\n3. Trois mois après l'acceptation de ce projet de Règlement, le Gouvernement Chinois invitera le concert des Puissances à nommer un ou deux ingénieurs spécialistes pour les travaux des fleuves, qui dirigeront cette entreprise.\n\n4. Tous les trois mois il sera dressé un état des dépenses faites pour les travaux, qui sera soumis au Corps Consulaire.\n\n5. Le Gouvernement Chinois s'engage à ne réclamer pour les travaux du Huang-Pou aucun impôt, soit à Shanghai soit aux endroits environnants, sur les bateaux, sur les marchandises ou sur les propriétés.\n\nJe dois demander des instructions de mon Gouvernement.\n\n(Signé)\n\nG. DUBAIL\n\n431", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395098, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 435, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nC.O.\n\n[August 11, 1904]\n\nSECTION REC? 432\n\nThe 22 AUG 04\n\nNo. 1.\n\n(No. 219.)\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received August 1.)\n\nMy Lord,\n\nPeking, June 16, 1904.\n\nIN continuation of my despatch No. 203 of the 8th instant reporting the views expressed by the foreign Representatives on the proposals of the Viceroy of Nanking with regard to the Whangpoo River Conservancy, I have the honour to transmit translation of a note which the Wai-wu Pu have addressed to the foreign Representatives containing proposals which differ but slightly from those of the Viceroy.\n\nThe first of these proposals, that the requisite funds should be set apart from the Customs revenue, is clearly inadmissible, since the larger part of that revenue is pledged for the service of the foreign loans of China, and the whole of the balance is pledged for the service of the indemnity by Article 6 of the Protocol of the 7th September, 1901.\n\nThe Chinese Government is not at liberty to dispose of any portion of it for another purpose.\n\nIn the second place, I beg to point out that these proposals contain no provision for preventing the continuance of encroachment on the river by riparian owners. It is a fact that within the last fifty years the width of the stream, and consequently the area of the port at Shanghae, have been diminished to the extent of nearly one-half by unauthorized filling in of the foreshore. The scheme annexed to the Protocol provided the means of putting down this practice.\n\nAnother point is that the scheme in question gave powers to the Board to expropriate land along the river bank if required for the port works, especially between the foreign Settlements and Wusung. This also is a necessary part of any workable scheme.\n\nThese two matters cannot be dealt with by any purely Chinese authority. A Commission containing a strong foreign element, whose power to carry out its decisions cannot be disregarded, is indispensable for this purpose, and Articles 14, 15, and 16, and 28 and 29 of Annex No. 17 to the Protocol were framed to meet it. Any new scheme ought to include them.\n\nFourthly, what satisfactory guarantee can be given by China, that having failed to carry out an arrangement recorded in the Protocol, she will faithfully execute a promise made with less formality?\n\nFinally, it is to be observed that since the proposals in their present shape are insufficient to satisfy the Powers interested in the improvement of the Shanghae waterways, further negotiations would be necessary before they could be accepted; and it is to be anticipated that such negotiations, judging by our experience in connection with this question in 1901, could not be speedily concluded. To entertain the present proposals of the Chinese Government will inevitably lead to much further delay, amounting to years, before the works can be even commenced. It is consequently desirable, in my opinion and in that of the colleagues with whom I have been acting, that the Powers should unanimously reject them, and insist upon the terms of the Protocol being carried out.\n\nBut should the French Government continue to refuse giving the necessary instructions to their Representative at Peking, we shall, I fear, have no other alternative than to enter upon a discussion of the Chinese proposals, though whether the other Powers interested will consent to do this appears to me rather doubtful.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.\n\n[2103 -2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395099, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 436, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "Your Excellency,\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nPrince Ch'ing to Sir E. Satow.\n\nPeking, June 9, 1904\n\nIN Article 11 of the Final Protocol of 1901 it is laid down that a Conservancy Board charged with the management and control of the works for straightening the Whangpoo and the improvement of the course of that river is thereby created, that this Board shall consist of members representing the interests of the Chinese Government and those of foreigners in the shipping trade of Shanghae, and that the expenses incurred for the works and the general management of the undertakings are estimated at the annual sum of 460,000 Haikwan taels for the first twenty years, which sum is to be supplied in equal portions by the Chinese Government and the foreign interest concerned.\n\nThe object of this conservancy scheme is merely to improve the course of the Whangpoo for the benefit of commerce. Now the Chinese Government is willing to undertake the work of conserving the stream itself and to provide the whole of the necessary funds without requiring contributions from merchants of all nationalities. The proposed method of procedure is stated in the following five clauses:\n\n1. The Chinese Government will bear the entire cost itself. A sum of 460,000 taels will be set aside yearly from the revenues of the Imperial Maritime Customs to meet the expense of dredging the Whangpoo, payment to cease on completion of the work. The taxes, which it was arranged to collect under clause 30 of Annex No. 17, will be abolished, and are not to be levied under pretext of it.\n\n2. The works in connection with the Whangpoo will be under the management of the Shanghae Taotai and the Maritime Customs. The control of the river police, sanitary, and other matters will remain in the same hands as under the old Regulations.\n\n3. Three months after the present scheme has been approved by the Diplomatic Body in Peking, the Chinese Government will select and appoint one or two engineers who are well versed in river conservancy to take the work in hand; but for all contracts tenders will be invited, and they will be considered and choice made from them in public.\n\n4. Every quarter an account of the moneys issued for and expended on the works will be made up and submitted to the Shanghae Consular Body for their inspection in general meeting.\n\n5. The Chinese Government, having undertaken to bear the entire cost of dredging the Whangpoo, Annex No. 17 cannot be quoted as a justification for collecting taxes for the purpose from owners of property on the banks of the river, or from the shipping, or on merchandise.\n\nThe five clauses quoted above are advantageous both to China and other nations. I have the honour, therefore, to request that your Excellency will be so good as to communicate the proposals to your Government for its consideration and to favour me with a reply.\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nC.C.\n\n29509 [August 1.] 433\n\nTRECE SECTION 3. REG 22 AUG 04.\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.~(Received August 1.)\n\n(No. 212.) My Lord,\n\nPeking, June 14, 1904.\n\nI HAVE received your Lordship's despatch No. 127 of the 30th April, in which you request me to report on the present state of the case for the protection of patents in China, and more especially as to whether any steps have been taken to carry into effect Article X of the new American Commercial Treaty.\n\nIn my despatch No. 205 of the 9th instant I have already touched on this question in connection with the particular case which formed the subject of the inquiry contained in your Lordship's despatch No. 95 of the 15th April.\n\nIn a despatch from Shanghae, a copy of which was transmitted to your Lordship in my despatch above referred to, His Majesty's Consul-General states that no arrangements for the registration of patents have, so far, been made at that place, and no steps have been taken to carry into effect the provisions of the United States' Commercial Treaty relating to the protection of patents.\n\nAs the result of inquiries made at the United States' Legation here, however, I am informed that they are urging the Chinese Government to fulfil the obligations imposed upon them by the Treaty.\n\nThe Chinese Government have already made a start with Provisional Trade-mark Regulations, and it is hoped that they will soon set to work on the establishment of a Patent Office.\n\nIt must be remembered that legislation on such subjects in China is an absolutely new development, and it would not be wise for British patentees to expect that it should come to fruition here any more rapidly than it would in other countries where similar conditions prevail, and where such legislation would be equally novel. The remarks contained in my despatch No. 392 of the 18th November, 1903, relative to International Agreements for the protection of trade-marks apply with equal force to the protection of patents.\n\n[2103 a-3]\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nERNEST SATOW.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395133, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 470, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[August 15.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n:\n\n:\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received August 15.)\n\n(No. 229.)\n\nPeking, June 27, 1904.\n\nMy Lord,\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 219 of the 16th instant, transmitting translation of a note from the Chinese Government in which they make new proposals for the Hwangpoo River Conservancy, I have the honour to report that after consultation with my German and United States' colleagues as to the answer which it was advisable to return, I addressed the inclosed reply to Prince Ching on the 22nd instant.\n\nIt may perhaps seem that I have in some measure anticipated the instructions of His Majesty's Government in this note, but I venture to point out that a mere acknowledgment of receipt, coupled with an undertaking to transmit the Chinese proposals to His Majesty's Government, would probably be interpreted as a virtual acceptance, and it was necessary, therefore, to frame my answer in such a way as to reserve full liberty for any future decision.\n\nI beg also to inclose copy of the reply returned by my United States' colleague to the Chinese note. My German colleague, to whom I communicated a copy of my note before it was sent in, informed me that he would write to Prince Ch'ing in the same sense.\n\nThe Japanese Minister has also informed me that he agrees with the views expressed in my note, and that he will return a similar reply to the Chinese proposals.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) ERNEST SATOW.\n\nP.S.-Since writing the above I have been informed by the United States' Minister that his Government are willing to accept the Chinese proposal, provided that guarantees for the immediate commencement and satisfactory completion of the works are given. (See my telegram No. 144 of the 30th June.) This was communicated to the Chinese Government on the 27th June.\n\nE. S.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nSir E. Satow to Prince Ch'ing,\n\nPeking, June 22, 1904.\n\nYour Highness,\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Highness' note of the 9th June, containing a scheme for the improvement of the Huangpu River which the Chinese Government desire to substitute for the arrangement contained in Annex 17 of the Peace Protocol of 1901.\n\nDuring the past three years the Chinese Government have been repeatedly urged by the Diplomatic Body and by various foreign Representatives to appoint a Chinese member of the Conservancy Board under Article IV (h) of Annex 17, and on the 23rd March, 1903, His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires again addressed your Highness on the subject. But his note has remained unanswered. Your Highness will also remember that at our interview of the 3rd February last, I again pressed this question on your notice, but without effect.\n\nIt must be obvious to your Highness that the acceptance of any new scheme by the Powers must be unanimous. In their present form it appears to me unlikely that the proposals of the Chinese Government will meet with approval. In the first place, the Chinese Government ask His Majesty's Government to consent to the appropriation of a portion of the Customs revenue for this purpose. Now these funds are already pledged for the payment of the foreign loans and for the indemnity due to the Powers, so that there is nothing over.\n\n[2103 p]\n\n467", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395134, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 471, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government)\n\n468\n\nCHINA TRADE,\n\nCONFIDENTIAL\n\n[August 15.]\n\nSECTION 2.\n\nIt is unlikely, in my opinion, that His Majesty's Government will assent to a portion of the Customs revenue being diverted to any other purpose than those stipulated in Article 6 of the Protocol. Moreover, the present proposals of the Chinese Government do not, in my view, offer the same guarantees for the proper execution of the necessary works as those which the Chinese Government accepted in 1901.\n\nUnder these circumstances, while transmitting to my Government a copy of your Highness' note under reply, I am unable to recommend to them the adoption of the proposals which it contains.\n\nI avail, &c. (Signed) E. SATOW.\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne,—(Received August 15.)\n\n(No. 222.)\n\nPeking, June 19, 1904.\n\nMy Lord,\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith a copy of an Intelligence Report for the period from the 1st January to the 24th May, which I have received from the British Acting Consul at Chungking,\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) ERNEST SATOW.\n\nYour Imperial Highness,\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nMr. Conger to Prince Ching,\n\nPeking, June 21, 1904.\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Imperial Highness' note of the 9th instant, inclosing a proposition for the Conservancy of the Whangpu River which the Chinese Government desires to substitute for the arrangement agreed to by China and the Powers in the Final Protocol of September 1901, and contained in Annex 17 thereto.\n\nFor three years the Chinese Government has been repeatedly urged by the Representatives of the Signatory Powers to appoint the Chinese member which it has the privilege of appointing under Article 4 (h) of Annex 17, in order that the work arranged for by the Protocol might be begun, and several times I have been personally assured by your Highness and other members of the Wai Wu Pu that the said appointment would be speedily made,\n\nOf course, your Imperial Highness is well aware that a change in the Protocol or the adoption of any new plan must be unanimously accepted by all the Signatory Powers. In their present form I fear the proposals of the Chinese Government will not meet with unanimous approval, and the presentation of them must necessarily cause great delay. The Chinese Government can hardly expect that the Powers will consent to the appropriation for this purpose of any portion of the Customs revenue, which is already wholly pledged to the payment of foreign loans and indemnities, or agree to its diversion to any other purpose than that stipulated in Article 6 of the Protocol.\n\nBesides, the proposals now made, in my judgment, do not offer the same guarantees for the faithful execution of the necessary works as those which were agreed to by China and the Powers in 1901.\n\nPropositions similar to these were some time since made to me verbally by one of the Ministers of your Board, and I replied that until the Chinese Government evidenced its intention to carry out the provisions of Article 4 (h) of Annex 17, by appointing its member of the Conservancy Board, I could not entertain any proposition whatever for a change in the plan already agreed upon.\n\nBut, since the proposals have come to me in a formal manner, I will, as your Imperial Highness requests, transmit them at once to my Government. Under present circumstances, however, I am unable to recommend their adoption.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nExtract from Chungking Intelligence Report, January 1 to date.\n\nLi-kin.\n\nTHE Viceroy, through his henchman, the Chief of the Head Li-kin Office at Chengtu, Liu Tsung Tai, has during the last two or three months made it perfectly clear that he is determined to obtain every quota of li-kin available; nor are the sums collected to find their way in such large proportions as formerly into the pockets of the subordinate officials collecting them. Almost the first official to suffer locally was his Excellency the Taotai, who was charged with want of energy in prosecuting the li-kin collection, and was eventually transferred temporarily to the Chufan Nan circuit. (See \"Official Changes.”) Subsequently, the four officials in charge of the export li-kin (Hsin Li-chin) offices situated-- (1) in the city; (2) at Hsiang K'uo Ssu, on the Little River; (3) at Tang Chia T'o, 30 li below Chungking; and (4) at Hui Lung Ssu, the same distance above--were, one and all, discharged and replaced by officers specially sent from Chengtu, the Taotai here having expressed himself unable to find on the spot men of sufficient ability to satisfy the Viceroy's requirements.\n\nTwo Proclamations bearing on this subject have appeared: the first, which was posted on the 28th March, had for its object the diversion of the export duty on opium emanating from Fuchou from the hands of the foreign Customs at Chungking into those of the li-kin authorities. Fuchou is the mart for the drug produced in the rich districts of Liangshan and Fengtu, and is distant on the up-river trip from seven to ten days from Chungking. It has in the past been the practice of the li-kin officials to issue to purchasers of opium in the interior, who had duly notified their intention to bring the commodity to Chungking for export through the Imperial Maritime Customs, passes exempting them from any payment to the li-kin offices other than the provincial li-kin of 5.28 taels. The Proclamation in question, while expressing surprise that merchants, unless moved by some desire to evade li-kin, should subject the drug to the long up-river journey from Fuchou to Chungking, to there ship it through the foreign Customs, took especial care to lay stress on the fact that, in future, the passes hitherto issued by the li-kin officials would cease. Further, that the buyer in the interior, unless furnished with a transit pass (\"Tzu K'ou Ping Chu\") granted by the Imperial Maritime Customs, would be compelled to pay his export duty and li-kin to the li-kin authorities, i.e.—\"robbing Peter\" the Imperial Government, \"to pay Paul\"--the provincial. The scheme, too, if carried into effect, would, apart from its adverse influence on the revenue of the foreign Customs, have been a bitter blow to the principal shipping firms engaged in the carrying trade by chartered junk, namely, Messrs. Butterfield and Swire, Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Co., and the China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company. The last would have suffered most, and lost little time in petitioning the Commissioner of Customs to exert himself to assist them. At the same time Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co.'s agent appealed to me to see to it that no privilege should be given to the China Merchants which did not also apply to them--a somewhat unnecessary request. The Commissioner represented the matter.\n\nPage 2103\n\n \n[2103 p-2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395171, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 508, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n505\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n33181\n\n[23 SEP 04]\n\n# SECTION\n\nSir,\n\nThe Marquess of Lansdowne to Baron d'Asbeck.\n\nForeign Office, September 3, 1904.\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Baron Gericke's note of the 6th ultimo, inquiring what decision His Majesty's Government have come to in view of the action of the Chinese Government with regard to the Whangpoo Conservancy Board.\n\nIn reply, I have the honour to inform you that, from telegrams which have been received from His Majesty's Minister at Peking, it appears that the United States' Government are willing to accept the alternative scheme proposed by the Viceroy at Nanking, provided that sufficient guarantees are given for the immediate and satisfactory completion of the works. An intimation to that effect was made by the United States' Minister to the Chinese Government, and the latter, in reply, offered to set aside 600,000 taels annually out of the opium revenue of the Szechuan and Kiang Su provinces for the purpose. The United States' Minister then stated that the Chinese Government must forthwith submit to the foreign Representatives a detailed plan for the speedy execution and future maintenance of the necessary works, the cost being provided for by bonds secured on the revenue offered. If that were at once done, the United States' Government would consent to waive temporarily their right to insist on the terms agreed to in Article VI of the Final Protocol regarding the question, reserving their right to claim compliance with the terms of the original Agreement in case the work were not promptly and satisfactorily carried out.\n\nAfter careful consideration His Majesty's Government have expressed concurrence in the course suggested by the United States.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n[2156 c-1]\n\n(Signed)\n\nLANSDOWNE.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395175, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 512, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n509\n\n[September 10.]\n\nSECTION 2.\n\nSir,\n\nIndia Office to Foreign Office.-(Received September 10.)\n\nIndia Office, September 9, 1904.\n\nI AM directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 5th ultimo, on the subject of a note from the Chinese Minister, inviting an exchange of views respecting the taxation of opium in China.\n\nIn reply, I am to make the following observations, which Mr. Secretary Brodrick considers might, if Lord Lansdowne sees no objection, form the basis of the answer to the note.\n\nThe Chinese Minister, in suggesting that the present taxation of foreign opium, comprising the import duty of 30 taels and the li-kin duty of 80 taels, should be raised, does not allude to the competition to which foreign opium is exposed from the indigenous drug, which is much more lightly taxed. It has been frequently represented to the Chinese Government, in connection with the attempts of the provincial authorities, to levy further dues on imported opium, that, until equality of taxation is established for the home product and the imported article, the Chefoo Convention inhibits increased taxation of the latter.\n\nThe same considerations prevent the acceptance of the suggestion of the Chinese Minister that the Chefoo Convention should be amended in the direction of increasing the duties leviable thereunder, while nothing is proposed with regard to bringing native opium under equal taxation. Not only would this be unfair to the Indian producer, but it might also be injurious to the revenues of the Chinese Government, if native opium were thereby assisted to supplant Indian opium.\n\nIt must be recognized that the Chinese Government is at liberty to terminate the arrangements established by the additional Article to the Chefoo Convention, in which case the import duty of 30 taels, as fixed in 1858 in connection with the Treaty of Tien-tsin, would alone remain for collection at the ports. There might then be a question of revising the rate with reference to any change which might be found to have occurred in the price of opium. It is understood, however, that the Chinese Government does not intend to withdraw from the Convention, but desires to continue the arrangements by which li-kin, in the form of a surtax, is collected along with the import duty at the ports.\n\nAs the present surtax of 80 taels is much in excess of any li-kin which the provincial authorities are able to collect on home opium, the Convention, though termed \"unyielding\" in the note, is not without solid advantages to the Chinese Government. It may also be remarked that, if the surtax on opium were fixed on the same principle as that adopted in the Mackay Treaty for the conversion of li-kin on other dutiable commodities, it would be limited to one and a-half times the duty proper. The present surtax on opium is actually two and two-thirds times the duty.\n\nIt may be presumed that these considerations were not overlooked when opium was omitted from the scheme for making the general tariff an effective 5 per cent. sanctioned by the Peking Protocol of the 7th September, 1901. In conformity with this omission, section 4, Article VIII of the Mackay Treaty provides that \"foreign opium duty and present li-kin, which latter will now become a surtax in lieu of li-kin--- shall remain as provided for by existing Treaties.\"\n\nAs no change has taken place since this Treaty was negotiated in the relative taxation upon foreign and native opium, or in the conditions under which they compete in the China market, and as no proposals are made for establishing equality of taxation, the suggestion of the Chinese Minister should not, in Mr. Brodrick's opinion, be entertained. It would be another matter if, with the objects of increasing the revenue and of restricting the consumption of opium, the Chinese Government had proposed to undertake the effective control of the opium trade by means of a State monopoly, extending to the native-grown product, and placing the latter, in respect of enhanced taxation, on equality with the foreign article. In the event of proposals of this nature being made, I am to invite reference to my letter, dated the 11th June, 1902, as to the conditions which the Government of India consider indispensable.\n\n[2156 k-9]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395216, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 553, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "2 \n\nand bis objections to anything that savours of official interference will hardly be set aside at the bidding of the Viceroy in favour of the Bureau of Commerce. Beside which, trade in Kwangtung certainly needs no other stimulant than that to be derived from amendment of the methods of native officialdom; the trading community distinctly not at fault. \n\nAs to the working of the Bureau itself, it would be premature to say anything while it is still passing through its initial stages. At the same time it seems highly probable that it will be neither much better nor much worse than other Chinese institutions of a kindred nature, which is as much as to say that it will not accomplish anything very startling in the way of commercial reform, and that the trade of Kwangtung will go on much as it would have done had the Bureau of Commerce never been instituted. In fact it seems not unreasonable to anticipate that at no very distant date the chief direction in which its energies will display themselves will be in the periodical drawing of the salaries and expenses referred to by the Viceroy in his Memorandum. \n\nThe River Bunding Scheme. \n\nThat part of the river which flows between Canton City on the north and Honam on the south is comparatively narrow; and its narrowness is accentuated by the vast amount of shipping of all kinds that congregates there, and by the presence, right in the centre of the stream, of some rocks, which are no slight hindrance to navigation. For a long time past this narrow and inconveniently-crowded stream has been gradually narrowed still further by perpetual encroachments on the north bank, such as the building of jetties and landing-stages, and dumping of refuse, and similar practices. In fact, so continual and so marked was the encroachment year by year, that the difficulties of navigation on this branch of the river were increasing at an alarming rate, and showed every sign of increasing in times to come. The present Viceroy, therefore, elaborated a scheme for bunding the whole of the north frontage from the Shameen, along past the city on to the eastern extremity of the suburbs; and no further encroachments of any kind are to be tolerated beyond the line of this bund. \n\nThis scheme for preserving the present width of the river is undoubtedly an excellent one, but it is considerably complicated by the fact that a large proportion of the frontage proposed to be thus bunded is in the hands of foreigners. Messrs. Butler, Field and Swire, Messrs. Shewan, Tomes, and Co., and the Hong Kong, Canton, and Macao Steam-boat Company are among those concerned, and these firms, naturally enough, desire to safeguard their interests before they consent to have their areas bunded in by the Chinese authorities. A considerable stretch of Chinese-owned land has already been bunded in; in addition to which negotiations are proceeding intermittently between the Bunding Commissioners and the foreign land-owners, and it is hoped that in due course a modus vivendi may be arrived at. At present, however, pending the conclusion of some satisfactory arrangement, the work is more or less at a standstill. \n\nAmong the chief points raised by the foreign owners of property are the obvious ones of compensation for any of their land which, under the provisions of the scheme, may have to be removed, and of prior rights to any land that may be reclaimed in front of their present lots. An additional point specially raised by the Steam-boat Company is that the work shall be under the superintendence of a foreign expert. They claim that this is necessary in order to insure that the bund shall be constructed in accordance with technical principles so as to obviate any further silting-up of the river, thereby preventing their steamers from lying alongside the wharves, as they do at present. \n\n(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.) \n\nCHINA TRADE, \n\nCONFIDENTIAL. \n\nC \n\n35211 [September 23. 1904 \n\nThey \n\nSECTION 3.10 04 \n\nNo. 1. \n\nThe Marquess of Lansdowne to Chang Ta-Jên. \n\nSir, \n\nForeign Office, September 23, 1904. HIS Majesty's Government have had under their careful consideration the note which you did me the honour of addressing to me on the 27th July last, stating that you were instructed by the Wai-wu Pu to suggest an exchange of views on the subject of the taxation of opium in China. \n\nYou point out that, at the time when the Additional Article of the Chefoo Convention came into force, the import duty of 30 taels and the li-kin duty, in the form of a surtax, of 80 taels, making together 110 taels per chest, were equivalent to 273 per cent. of the value of the opium, but that now, owing to the depreciation of silver and the enhanced tael value of the drug, they amount to not more than 132 per cent, and you suggest, in order that the revenue may not suffer in consequence, that the duties on foreign opium should be raised to 220 Haikwan taels per chest. \n\nI observe, however, that in making this proposal you do not allude to the competition to which foreign opium is exposed from the native drug, which is much more lightly taxed. \n\nIt has frequently been represented to the Chinese Government, in connection with the attempts of the Provincial Authorities to levy further dues on imported opium, that until equality of taxation is established for the home product and the imported article, the Chefoo Convention prohibits increased taxation of the latter. The same considerations prevent the acceptance of your suggestion that the Chefoo Convention should be amended in the direction of increasing the duties leviable thereunder, while nothing is proposed with regard to bringing native opium under equal taxation. Not only would this be unfair to the Indian producer, but it might also be injurious to the revenues of the Chinese Government if native opium were thereby assisted to supplant Indian opium. \n\nThe Chinese Government are, of course, at liberty to terminate the arrangements established by the Additional Article to the Chefoo Convention, in which case the import duty of 30 taels, as fixed in 1858, in connection with the Treaty of Tien-tsin, would alone remain for collection at the ports. There might then be a question of revising the rate with reference to any change which might be found to have occurred in the price of opium. It is understood, however, that the Chinese Government do not intend to withdraw from the Convention, but desire to continue the arrangements by which li-kin, in the form of a surtax, is collected along with the import duty at the ports. As the present surtax of 80 taels is much in excess of any li-kin which the Provincial Authorities are able to collect on home-grown opium, the Convention, though termed \"unremitting\" in your note, is not without solid advantages to the Chinese Government. \n\nHis Majesty's Government cannot admit that there is any relation between the rates of opium duty and the general import duties which were revised in 1901. The former have always been calculated on a special and specific basis, whereas the general tariff introduced shortly after the conclusion of that Treaty was framed on a per cent, ad valorem basis, and its revision in 1901 was the outcome of an agreement to revise the duties so as to make them yield an effective 5 per cent. ad valorem on the basis of the lower value of silver. It may, however, be remarked, in reply to an observation in your note, that if the surtax were fixed on the same principle as that adopted in the Treaty negotiated by Sir J. Mackay for the conversion of li-kin on other dutiable commodities, it would be limited to one and a-half times the duty proper. The present surtax on opium is actually two and two-thirds times the duty. \n\nHis Majesty's Government presume that these considerations were not overlooked when opium was omitted from the scheme sanctioned by the Peking Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, for making the general tariff an effective 5 per cent. \n\nIn conformity with this omission, section 4 of Article VIII of the Mackay Treaty provides that \"Foreign opium duty and present li-kin--which latter will now become a surtax in lieu of li-kin--shall remain as provided for by existing Treaties.\" \n\n12156 -3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395371, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 708, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "Chinese Government to postpone the operation of the Regulations, and thereupon to issue the necessary orders, so that all misunderstanding may be removed.\n\nOn the question as to the Chinese authority that is to have the control of the Code and the Regulations, it appears to be provided that the Chinese Board of Commerce is to act in this capacity. As it is, however, also provided that the Custom-houses at Shanghae and Tien-tsin are to be erected branch offices of registration, it is inferred by the Board of Directors of this Chamber that, as most of the goods bearing trade marks will be of non-Chinese origin, the control of such trade marks will be in the hands of the Department of Maritime Customs, since the goods will come under the surveillance of this Department at the port of entry.\n\nWill your Lordship be so good as to cause inquiries to be made as to whether this inference is correct.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nWALTER SPEAKMAN,\n\nAssistant Secretary.\n\n(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.)\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n704\n\n[November 5.]\n\nSECTION 2.\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received November 5.)\n\n(No. 334.) My Lord,\n\nPeking, September 17, 1904. IN my despatches Nos. 219 of the 16th June and 229 of the 27th June I forwarded to your Lordship translation of a note which I, equally with my colleagues, had received from the Chinese Government, proposing to take upon themselves the whole burden of the cost and execution of the works necessary for the improvement of the water approaches to Shanghae, together with a copy of my reply to Prince Ch'ing, objecting to the proposal to provide the necessary funds out of the Customs revenue, which, I pointed out, was already pledged for other purposes. This note was framed after consultation with my German and United States' colleagues. The latter strongly held the view that the Powers should not discuss any proposal whatever until China carried out the provisions of the river conservancy scheme so far as to appoint the Delegate, whose nomination they had so far evaded. He was very doubtful whether the present proposals were put forward in good faith. However, on his telegraphing the matter to Washington, he received instructions that the United States' Government would accept the Chinese proposal, provided that guarantees were given for the immediate commencement and satisfactory completion of the works.\n\nThis reply having been communicated to the Chinese Government, produced from them an intimation that they would provide the necessary expenditure, estimated at 460,000 taels per annum for twenty years, on the security of the opium revenue of the Provinces of Szechuan and Kiangsu. The United States' Government then again telegraphed that a detailed plan must be submitted to the foreign Representatives, the execution and maintenance being provided for by some form of bond security. If this were done without loss of time, the United States' Government would consent to waive temporarily their rights under the Protocol, which would, however, revive if the works I have the honour to inclose were not carried out in a prompt and satisfactory manner. copy of the note which my United States' colleague addressed to Prince Ching on this occasion.\n\nUnder the circumstances, it seemed to me that it would be useless to persevere in the endeavour to put pressure on the Chinese Government in order to secure the appointment of their Delegate to the Board, and I therefore suggested to your Lordship that we should join in the course adopted by the United States.\n\nYour Lordship's approval having reached me, I at once conferred with my American colleague as to the conditions which would be likely to prove satisfactory, and I have now the honour to inclose copy of a note to Prince Ching, in which I have sketched such an Agreement as might serve in place of the stipulations of the Protocol.\n\nThe first four clauses of the new Protocol proposed in my note are almost identical in wording with the conditions mentioned in Prince Ching's note of the 9th June (inclosure in my despatch No. 219 of the 16th June), with the additional proviso, suggested to me by my United States' colleague, that the name of the engineer to be appointed to plan and carry out the works shall be approved by a majority of the foreign Representatives. Clauses 5 to 9 are taken from Annex 17 to the Protocol of 1901. They confer on the new Conservancy authority, consisting of the Taotai and Commissioner of Customs, the necessary powers for restraining encroachment by riparian owners on the bed of the river, for the acquisition of land required for the works, and for the disposal of land reclaimed from the river, while clause 10 declares that the Chinese Government will bear the whole cost of the works.\n\nClause 11 provides security for the punctual fulfilment of the obligations undertaken by China in the shape of twenty bonds for 460,000 taels, maturing at intervals of twelve months, which will be delivered up for cancellation to the Chinese Government as the work proceeds, and clause 12 provides for the case of the Chinese Government not carrying out the undertaking into which they have offered to enter.\n\nMy German colleague having been absent at the seaside during the past two months, I have been precluded from consulting him, but I cherish the hope that he will not find anything in these proposals which will conflict with German interests.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395372, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 709, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "705\n\n2\n\nIt remains to be seen whether the Chinese Government will accept this counter-proposal; but a refusal of conditions which constitute the minimum of what the Powers are justly entitled to claim in return for the surrender of their rights under the Protocol of 1901, would doubtless be regarded as a proof that their offer to undertake the conservancy work at their own cost, provided the control were left in their hands, was not made in good faith.\n\nAs I have been informed by his Excellency Natung, to whom I gave an outline of my note a few days ago, that it would be referred to the Shanghae Taotai for his opinion, I am sending a copy of this despatch and the enclosed note to Sir Pelham Warren for his confidential information.\n\nThe new Agreement would, of course, require to be signed by the Representatives of the Powers who were parties to the original Protocol, and by no others.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nMr. Conger to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nERNEST SATOW,\n\nLegation of the United States of America, Peking, August 11, 1904.\n\nYour Imperial Highness,\n\nIN reply to your Highness' note of the 5th instant stating that the Chinese Government would give as a guarantee for the faithful carrying out of the Whangpoo Conservancy scheme certain opium revenues, I have the honour to say that I at once telegraphed the substance of your Highness' note to my Government, and have received a reply to the effect that, while it is not willing to deny the sufficiency of the revenue proposed as a guarantee, yet it thinks that, in view of the enormity of the enterprise, the great cost of organizing the work, and of the necessary plant and long continuance of the work, that some kind of satisfactory bond measure should be arranged.\n\nAt any rate, before my Government can consider any abrogation of the provisions of the Final Protocol, a full programme of the plans for work and maintenance must be submitted. If, then, China is really desirous of promptly taking up this work and hastening it to a conclusion, I suggest that she forthwith present to the Representatives of the Powers a full and detailed plan, which secured by the revenues mentioned and supported by some kind of bond measure, will insure the speedy and satisfactory carrying out of the important work and its permanent maintenance in good condition.\n\nIf this should be done at once, my Government will not oppose it, and I shall be glad personally to do whatever I properly may for its furtherance.\n\nIt should be clearly understood, however, that whereas the United States is willing to waive temporarily its right to insist on China complying with the terms agreed to by her in Article VI of the Final Protocol concerning the improvement of the course of the Whangpoo River, it will do so only so long as the Chinese Government promptly and satisfactorily discharges the new obligations which it now wishes to assume. Should it become evident at a later date that the conservancy work is not being done promptly, or that a disposition is evidenced not to carry out the work to the satisfaction of all interests concerned, the United States will insist upon full and strict compliance with the terms of the original Agreement.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nE. H. CONGER.\n\nNote. The revenues are those arising from opium in Szechuan and Kiangsu, estimated to amount to 600,000 taels.\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nSir E. Satow to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nYour Highness,\n\nPeking, September 16, 1904.\n\nIN my note of the 22nd June last relative to the new proposals of the Chinese Government for carrying out the Whangpoo River Conservancy works, I informed your Highness that I would transmit to my Government a copy of your Highness' note of the 9th June, and I have now been authorized to reply to those proposals as follows:--\n\n3\n\nAs I had the honour to point out in my previous reply, the whole of the Customs revenue is pledged for the payment of foreign loans and for the indemnity due to the Powers for the next thirty or forty years, and His Majesty's Government are unable to assent to any portion of the Customs revenue being diverted to any other purpose than those stipulated in Article VI of the Protocol of 1901, but I hope that your Highness will be able to inform me that other revenues are available for the works which the Chinese Government have declared their willingness to undertake.\n\nYour Highness will no doubt understand that His Majesty's Government can only entertain the present proposals, which it is desired to substitute for the formal stipulation contained in Article XI (6) and Annex 17 of the Protocol, if they are recorded in a documentary Agreement of equal diplomatic force. Such an Agreement, I conceive, would begin by stating the desire of the Chinese Government to substitute for the Conservancy Board created by those stipulations, wherein also the powers, composition, duty, and revenues of the Board were defined, other stipulations, by which they would undertake to carry out all the necessary works and bear the entire cost, and the acceptance by the representatives of that proposal in principle on certain conditions.\n\nThe conditions on which my Government would authorize me to agree with the Chinese Government are the following: They include those contained in your Highness' note of the 9th June last, with others which seem necessary in order to secure the punctual execution and efficient maintenance of the works:\n\n1. The works in connection with the improvement and maintenance of the water approaches to Shanghai, consisting of the Whangpoo River and the inner and outer bars at Woosung, will be placed under the management of the Shanghai Taotai and the Commissioner of Customs at that port, the control of the river police and sanitary and other matters remaining in the same hands as before the signature of the Protocol of the 7th September, 1901.\n\n2. Within three months from the signature of the Agreement, the Chinese Government will select an engineer well versed in river conservancy, and will submit his name for the consideration of the Representatives of the Signatory Powers, and on his approval by a majority of them will appoint him to frame a scheme and carry out the necessary works.\n\nIn case of the post becoming vacant at any time during the execution of the works, his successor will be selected, approved, and appointed in the same manner.\n\n3. For all contracts for carrying out the works and providing the necessary materials and machinery, public tenders will be invited, and the most advantageous will be accepted.\n\n4. Every quarter, an account of the moneys expended on the works will be made up and submitted to the Consuls of the Signatory Powers for their inspection.\n\n5. The authorization of the Taotai and the Commissioner of Customs shall be necessary before any new bunds are built, jetties constructed, or pontoons or hulks are placed in the river.\n\n6. The Taotai and the Commissioner of Customs to be empowered to expropriate existing moorings, and to establish a system of public moorings in the river.\n\n7. No dredging to be carried out in the river except with the authorization and under the control of the Taotai and the Commissioner of Customs.\n\n8. The Taotai and the Commissioner of Customs to be empowered to acquire by purchase the lands necessary for carrying out the works of conservancy and improvement of the water approaches to Shanghai as defined in paragraph 1, and to dispose of them. If, for this purpose, it shall be deemed necessary to expropriate land outside the foreign Settlements, the rules laid down in Article 6 (a) of \"The Land Regulations for the Foreign Settlements at Shanghai north of the Yangking-pang\" to be followed. The price to be fixed by a Committee, consisting of (1) a person chosen by the Consular authority of the Power to whose jurisdiction the owner is subject; (2) one chosen by the Taotai and the Commissioner of Customs; (3) one chosen by the Senior Consul.\n\n9. Riparian owners to have the refusal of all land made in front of their properties by the reclamation carried out for the improvement of the water approaches in question. The purchase price of these lands to be fixed after consideration of all the circumstances by a Committee composed in the same manner as provided in paragraph 8.\n\n10. The Chinese Government to bear the whole cost of the necessary works.\n\n11. The Chinese Government to deliver within three months from the date of the Agreement to the Doyen of the Diplomatic Body twenty bonds for 460,000 Haikwan taels secured upon the revenues assigned as security for the expenditure, maturing at the end of each successive year during twenty years from the date of signature of the Agreement. At the end of each year, if the Consular Representatives of the Signatory Powers report to the Senior Diplomatic Representative of such Powers that the works are being carried...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395373, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 710, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n4\n\nout with due diligence, care, and economy, the bond then maturing to be delivered up to the Chinese Government to be cancelled.\n\n12. If within six months of the date of the Agreement there are not sufficient funds furnished by the Chinese Government to organize the work and to purchase and equip a plant commensurate with the magnitude of the undertaking, or if at any time it shall appear to the Diplomatic Representatives of the Signatory Powers that the works are not being prosecuted with due diligence, care, and economy, they shall have the right to give notice of the termination of the Agreement except in so far as relates to the validity of the bonds mentioned in the foregoing Article, and thereupon the said Representatives to be entitled to require the execution of the stipulations of the Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, contained in the said Article X1 (b) and Annex 17 thereto (whether or not the Chinese Government appoint a member of the Board), save in so far as contributions from foreign property, shipping, and merchandise, contained in paragraph 30 of the said Annex are concerned, and the powers of the Conservancy Board thereby created to revive as if the new Agreement had not been entered into, and the Representatives of the Signatory Powers to be then entitled to present for payment the above-mentioned bonds then remaining uncancelled, or to sell them on the market as the necessities of the case may require.\n\nI trust that your Highness' Government will recognize in the foregoing suggestions the readiness of His Majesty's Government to meet the desire of the Chinese Government to have substituted for the Arrangements made in 1901 others which are more agreeable to them, and that your Highness will as soon as possible signify to me their willingness to accept them.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL,\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[November 14.]\n\nSECTION 2.\n\n706\n\nSir E. Monson to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received November 14.)\n\n(No. 581.) My Lord,\n\nParis, November 13, 1904.\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose copies of the note which I addressed to M. Delcassé, in compliance with the instructions given me by your Lordship, on the subject of the proposed Chinese Regulations for the registration of trade-marks, together with a copy of his Excellency's reply.\n\nYour Lordship will see that the French Government propose to press the Chinese Government in the strongest manner to postpone the promulgation of the Regulations for six months.\n\nFrom a conversation which Mr. O'Beirne had by my directions with the responsible official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I understand that the French Government do not consider that the purpose would be served by extending the period of six months mentioned in Article 26 to twelve months. Such an arrangement would prolong the time allowed for depositing existing trade-marks in the Chinese Bureau, but it would permit of the Regulations as a whole being brought into force forthwith, and the French Government are strongly of opinion that it is impossible to consent to this until various important modifications have been introduced after full consultation between the Governments concerned. Among the points specially mentioned as requiring consideration are the provisions for preventing the registration of counterfeit trade-marks, and certain penal provisions.\n\nI gather that the German Government are agreed with the French Government in the matter, and the latter earnestly beg that they may be informed as early as possible of the decision of His Majesty's Government.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nEDMUND MONSON.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nSir E. Monson to M. Delcassé.\n\nM. le Ministre,\n\nParis, November 8, 1904.\n\nI AM in receipt of an urgent communication from the Marquess of Lansdowne relative to the proposed Chinese Regulations for the registration of trade-marks, which, as your Excellency is aware, were, as originally arranged, to come into operation on the 23rd October last.\n\nLord Lansdowne has been informed by His Majesty's Minister at Peking that the Japanese Minister refused to agree to the postponement of the date of operation of these Regulations, which had been demanded by the other Powers. The Chinese Government have thereupon proposed, with the concurrence of the Japanese Representative, to extend the term of six months mentioned in Article 26 of the Regulations to twelve months. This would be practically equivalent to the postponement asked for by the other Representatives. The Chinese Government have further proposed to remit the fee of 5 taels imposed upon applications to register, and to abolish Article 8 n of the Regulations. The Chinese Government so far as regards cases coming under Articles 25 and 26, at the same time offer to amend any provisions found to be injurious to foreign proprietors.\n\nI am directed by his Lordship to state to your Excellency that the above proposal is being examined by His Majesty's Government, and to inquire whether it is acceptable to the Government of the Republic.\n\n[2236 -2]\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nEDMUND MONSON.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395385, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 722, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "c.o 718 40931\n\nDECO\n\n(No. 306.) My Lord,\n\nEnclosure in No.\n\nFrom Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.- (Received December 6.\n\nPeking, October 22, 1902.\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose copy of the Treaty signed by the Portuguese and Chinese Plenipotentiaries on the 15th instant, with which my colleague, Senhor Azevedo da Castello Branco, has been so good as to furnish me. This copy does not contain the Articles relating to the number of copies, the ratification and publication which were appended to the original.\n\nArticle I simply confirms the Treaty of 1887. By Article II, Portugal accepts the increase of the Import Tariff stipulated for by Article 6 of the Final Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, and annuls the Tariff Article of the Treaty of 1887.\n\nArticles III to VI provide for the establishment at Macao of a branch of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, which will treat vessels sailing from the Colony as if this branch was a Treaty port Custom-house, and for the establishment of appropriate Customs Regulations.\n\nSenhor Azevedo was so obliging as to inform me that he had signed at the same time an exchange of notes by which China undertakes to accord to Portugal a Concession for a railway between Macao and Canton (Samshui), the details of which are to be settled hereafter, and names Sir Robert Hart as the Chinese Plenipotentiary for drawing up the Agreement relative to the Customs Regulations of Macao, provided for in Article VI of the Treaty.\n\nMy Portuguese colleague expects that after the ratification of this Treaty the Portuguese Government will appoint a Plenipotentiary, possibly himself, to negotiate a new Commercial Treaty with China, which, it is understood, the Chinese Government desire to negotiate on the lines of Sir James Mackay's Treaty.\n\nIn saying good-bye to me before he quitted Peking on leave of absence, Senhor Azevedo expressed his warm thanks for the friendly assistance I had afforded to him during the progress of his negotiations with the Chinese Government, which have resulted in the present Treaty.\n\n(Signed)\n\nI have, &c.\n\nERNEST SATOW.\n\n3", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395386, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 723, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": ")\n\n(\n\nSalow 246\n\nC.O\n\n[tr] | 40931 |\n\nInclosure in No. 246,–\n\nTreaty between Portugal and China signed at Peking, October 15, 1902.\n\nARTICLE I.\n\nLe Traité d'Amitié et de Commerce signé entre le Portugal et la Chine le 1 Décembre, 1887, continue à être en vigueur avec les modifications et altérations provenantes du présent Traité.\n\nARTICLE II.\n\nLe Portugal accepte l'élévation des Tarifs d'Importation stipulé par l'Article 6 du Protocole de Pékin du 7 Septembre, 1901, et, à partir de la ratification du présent Traité, et tant que le Traité d'Amitié et de Commerce entre le Portugal et la Chine actuellement en vigueur n'aura pas été revisé, le Portugal jouira du traitement de la nation la plus favorisée, et en aucun cas il ne sera exigé des sujets Portugais de droits plus ou moins élevés que ceux qui seront exigés des sujets de n'importe quelle autre nation.\n\nCet Article annulle l'Article XII du Traité de 1887.\n\nARTICLE III.\n\nPour rendre efficace la coopération du Portugal pour la perception et le contrôle des droits sur l'opium importé à Macao et exporté de Macao pour les ports Chinois, il y aura à Macao, en un endroit choisi d'accord entre le Gouvernement de la Colonie et l'Administration des Douanes Impériales Maritimes Chinoises, une Délégation de ces Douanes,\n\nARTICLE IV.\n\nCette Délégation contrôlera l'entrée, et la sortie de l'opium à Macao, et percevra les droits dus à la Chine.\n\nARTICLE V.\n\nCette Délégation accordera à tous les bateaux sortant de Macao les mêmes privilèges, et leur appliquera les mêmes Règlements que si cette Délégation était une Douane Maritime d'un port à Traité.\n\nARTICLE VI.\n\nUn Règlement établi d'accord entre les deux Hautes Parties Contractantes réglera le fonctionnement de cette Délégation des Douanes Impériales Maritimes de manière à sauvegarder les intérêts légitimes des deux pays.\n\nARTICLE VII.\n\nAfin d'éviter les discussions qui pourraient se produire, ce Traité sera en deux langues.\n\n719", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395397, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 734, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nC. O.\n\n42072\n\n[December 5.\n\n730\n\nSECTIONS DEC 04.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n(No. 354.) My Lord,\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received December 5.)\n\nPeking, October 11, 1904.\n\nIN my despatch No. 334 of the 17th September last I had the honour to transmit to your Lordship a copy of the note which I addressed to Prince Ching on the 16th September after consultation with my American colleague, embodying the sketch of an Agreement which might serve in place of those stipulations of the Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, which provide for the improvement of the water approaches at Shanghae.\n\nIn an interview which I had with the Prince on the 5th October I took the opportunity to ask his Highness when I might expect a reply to this note.\n\nThe Prince replied that they had submitted my proposals to the Commissioner for Southern Ports at Nanking, and must await his reply before they could come to any decision. He feared that the recent change of posts between the Viceroys of Nanking and Foochow would entail a certain amount of delay.\n\nHis Highness commented on the severity of the stipulation contained in my proposal, whereby, if the work were not carried out satisfactorily, the scheme laid down in the Protocol would revive. I remarked that there must be some misapprehension in the Prince's mind if he regarded this as a severe condition: the primary object of the Agreement was to insure the satisfactory performance of the work. By the Protocol a good scheme of operations was placed under the control of foreigners, and in now consenting to give up that scheme it was clearly necessary to guarantee that the alternative undertaking should be properly carried out.\n\nPrince Ching said that it was particularly in reference to this stipulation that they needed the opinion of the Viceroy at Nanking, who was in a position to advise them as to whether they could get proper materials and machinery for the work, which must, of course, be entrusted to a foreign engineer, as no Chinese engineer was competent to undertake it.\n\nI agreed with his Highness as to the necessity of engaging a foreign engineer, and said that I thought there would be no difficulty in getting the materials proper and machinery from abroad. I then told him that I wished him to understand that I did not claim sole responsibility for the provisions of the Agreement proposed in my note of the 16th September, but that they had been drawn up after consultation with one of my colleagues.\n\nThe Prince replied that he had realized that the suggestions did not emanate from me alone, as the American Minister had already addressed him in a similar sense.\n\nI repeated the substance of this conversation to Mr. Conger, who observed that he had no confidence in the Chinese Government carrying out their own proposals. Not long ago a member of the Foreign Board had plainly told him that nothing would ever be done by China, because the French Government showed such determined opposition to the Protocol scheme for the improvement of the Hwang-pu. Owing to this opposition the Chinese Government were convinced that, even if such a reservation were made, as is proposed in my note of the 16th September to Prince Ching, France would not join the other Powers in insisting on its observance. In other words, that the French Government will not support other Powers in claiming the execution of the Protocol, even if, after undertaking to carry out the works at their own expense, the Chinese Government should fail to keep their promise.\n\nIf this really represents the attitude of the French Government I fear that our efforts to secure the improvement of the water approaches to Shanghae will ultimately prove to have been labour in vain.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nERNEST SATOW.\n\n[2288\n\n&\n\n-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395426, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 763, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nC.O.\n\n# CHINA TRADE.\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\nNo. 1.\n\n43490 December\n\n759\n\nSHOPDEC 04\n\nMr. Choate to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received December 3.)\n\nAmerican Embassy, London, December 2, 1904.\n\nMy Lord,\n\nI HAVE the honour to call the attention of your Lordship to the various projects for the improvement of the navigation of the Whangpoo River, in which my Government has taken a profound interest, the question being, in its opinion, of ever-increasing importance for the foreign commerce of Shanghae and of China generally.\n\nSince the signing of the Final Protocol of Peking of the 7th September, 1901, wherein provision was made for this work, which is becoming year by year more urgent, my Government has, on numerous occasions, made earnest representations to that of China with a view to the appointment of representatives on the Conservancy Board as provided for by Annex 17 of the Final Protocol in order that the organization might thus be completed and enabled to begin the work assigned to it by the Agreement of China and the Powers. But our efforts have, unfortunately, not overcome the disinclination of the Chinese Government to make the necessary appointments, nor has my Government even been able to secure the unanimous and active support of all the Diplomatic Representatives at Peking in its efforts to overcome the dilatoriness of the Chinese.\n\nOpposition to the provisions of Annex 17 of the Final Protocol, especially to the additional taxes which it imposed, has furthermore steadily increased among a considerable section of the foreign community of Shanghae, and this, coupled with the persistent opposition to the Conservancy Board of the Chinese Viceroy at Nanking and of the Chinese Maritime Customs, on the ground that the terms of the Protocol seriously infringe Chinese sovereignty, forced on my Government the belief that the scheme as therein provided for must be considerably amended if this vital work is to be undertaken at an early date, or at all.\n\nOn the 9th June last, the Chinese Foreign Office addressed a note to the Diplomatic Representatives of the Powers at Peking, asking the repeal of Annex 17 of the Final Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, and expressing the desire to improve the bed of the Whangpoo River under the sole control and at the sole expense of China. With this note was submitted a set of proposals outlining the manner in which it sought to accomplish this end.\n\nThe Minister of the United States at Peking, having transmitted the suggestions of the Chinese Government to Washington, was informed that they were objectionable in principle to my Government, if good and sufficient guarantees were given that China would promptly begin the conservancy work, carry it to a satisfactory termination, and maintain it afterwards.\n\nThe above reply was duly communicated to the Chinese Foreign Office, and the latter, on the 5th August last, informed the American Minister that the Chinese Government offered as guarantee for the carrying out of the work certain revenues aggregating about 600,000 taels annually. The Foreign Office expressed the hope that this would be accepted by the United States as a sufficient guarantee.\n\nOn the 11th August, the American Minister at Peking, under instructions from this Government, addressed a note to the Chinese Foreign Office, in which, after stating the general acceptance by my Government of the proposals of China, he said that the United States, before considering the abrogation of the provisions of the Final Protocol, must insist that China submit detailed plans and a general programme of the way in which it proposed doing the work. It was to be clearly understood, however, that, whereas the United States was willing to waive temporarily its right to insist on China complying with the terms agreed on by her in Article 6 of the Final Protocol concerning the improvement of the course of the Whangpoo River, it would do so only so long as the Chinese Government promptly and satisfactorily discharged the new obligations which it now wished to assume. Should it become evident at a later date that the conservancy work was not being done promptly, or should there be evidence of a disposition not to carry out the work to the satisfaction of all interests concerned, the United States would insist upon full and strict compliance with the terms of the original Agreement.\n\n[2288 c-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395427, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 764, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "No reply has been received from the Chinese Foreign Office to the above communication, although it has intimated to our Minister that it would submit a detailed plan for the carrying out of the proposed work.\n\nConsidering, however, that the abrogation of these provisions of the Final Protocol of Peking relating to the conservancy of the Whangpoo can only be brought about by the unanimous agreement thereto of the Signatory Powers, my Government is of opinion that the universally recognized urgency of the work makes an early agreement among the interested Powers imperatively necessary, and that such desired agreement can be more promptly reached by direct submission of our views to the interested Powers than through the Diplomatic Representatives at Peking.\n\nI am therefore instructed, in bringing the matter to the attention of your Lordship, to urge your serious consideration of the foregoing views of my Government, and to express its hope that, should the proposals submitted by the Chinese Government to the Signatory Powers in June last meet with the general approval of His Majesty's Government, the British Minister at Peking may be instructed accordingly in order that this important undertaking may be promptly begun to the satisfaction of all parties concerned, and to the benefit of the vast commercial interests which it so vitally affects.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nJOSEPH H. CHOATE.\n\nOffice or Individual.\n\nForeign\n\nYW\n\nHONG KONG\n\nNo 45564\n\n(Subject.)\n\n760\n\nDOMESTIC.\n\nC. O.\n\n43564\n\nLast previous Paper,\n\ntoo do\n\nReports receipt of. And that formey make exquiries as to constitution of the So\n\nwhether it is a British concern\n\n(Minutes.)\n\nSor\n\nOby sw cars carf\n\nAno 23 Marchios\n\nTopy To cif\n\nW & A£ (78)--13860-90906-11-3\n\nNext subsequent Paper.\n\n9074\n\nдочу\n\n?: Copy for: Caye canon\n\n& Topat 20\n\nAle\n\nсмо\n\nreply\n\nAPP\n\nپوشی\n\na\n\n30", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 397806, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 296, "title": "CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\n**C.O.**\n1744\n**CHINA TRADE.**\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\nNo. 1.\n[December 27.]\n\n## SECTION 1.\n\nRECH Red 19 JAN 05\n289\n\n(No. 18.) My Lord,\n\nMr. Jamieson to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received December 27.)\n\nShanghee, November 19, 1904. IN continuation of my despatch No. 17 of the 14th instant. I have now the honour to inclose the English text of the new Treaty between China and Portugal, as published in a local evening newspaper.\n\nThe Chinese text, from which my former précis was made, is not in accord with this English version. Article VIII in the Chinese text, dealing with the naturalization of Chinese in Macao, does not appear in the English text.\n\nIn Article XI of the Chinese text it is the Portuguese Government who undertake to reform the currency of Macao, whereas, in the English text, it is China who is under the obligation to introduce a uniform system of national coinage.\n\nArticle XIII of the English text differs in one very important particular from the Chinese. Article XIV, according to the former, Portuguese and Chinese subjects conjointly may establish commercial undertakings in the interior, whereas the Chinese text explicitly debars them from so doing.\n\nIn all likelihood, by a printer's error, the word \"not\" has been left out after the word \"may\" in the reprint by the newspaper of the original English text, in the same way as the Chinese compositor in Article XI doubtless inadvertently substituted Portugal for China.\n\nA translation of the Canton-Macao Railway Agreement has also been prepared, and will follow by the next opportunity.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. W. JAMIESON, Commercial Attaché.\n\n## Inclosure in No. 1.\n\n### Newspaper Extract.\n\n**Commercial Treaty between China and Portugal.**\n\n#### ARTICLE I\n\nTHE Treaty of Amity and Commerce between China and Portugal, dated the 1st December, 1887 (17th day, 10th moon, 13th year of Kwangsu), continues in force, except in so far as modified by the present Treaty.\n\n#### ARTICLE II.\n\nPortugal accepts the increase in the import duties stipulated for in Article VI of the Peking Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, from the date of the ratification of this Treaty. Portugal will enjoy the privileges of the most favoured nation, and in no case shall Portuguese subjects pay higher or lower duties than those paid by the subjects of any other foreign nation. Article XII of the Treaty of the 1st December, 1887, is therefore rendered null and void.\n\n#### ARTICLE III.\n\nThe duty and li-kin on foreign opium will continue as provided for in existing Treaties.\n\n[2288 dd-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 397904, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 394, "title": "CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\n# CHINA TRADE\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n## No. 1\n\n[February 20]\n\n### SECTION 1\n\n387\n\n## Sir M. Gosselin to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received February 20)\n\nLisbon, February 15, 1905.\n\n**(No. 13. Confidential.)** My Lord,\n\nIN accordance with the instruction conveyed to me in your Lordship's despatch No. 3 of the 18th ultimo, I have the honour to forward herewith the Portuguese text of the new Treaty between this country and China, and of the Regulations for carrying out the provisions of Articles III and V of the Treaty, which have been confidentially given to me by Senhor Villaça.\n\nI also beg to return the English text, inclosed in your Lordship's despatch above referred to, corrected in accordance with the Portuguese text, and a translation of the annexed Regulations.\n\nArticle VIII of the Portuguese text, dealing with the question of the naturalization of Chinese children born in Macao, was correctly summarized in Mr. Jamieson's despatch No. 17 of the 14th November last, but altogether omitted from the English version inclosed in his despatch No. 18 of the 19th of the same month.\n\nAs Mr. Jamieson surmises, it is China, not Portugal, which by Article XI, is under the obligation to introduce a uniform system of currency; and in Article XIV the negative \"not\" was omitted after the word \"may,\" and, consequently, commercial undertakings may not be established in the interior of China conjointly by foreigners and Chinese subjects.\n\nSenhor Villaça asked that this copy of the Treaty and Regulations should be deemed confidential until his Excellency has had an opportunity of laying the same before the new Cortes.\n\nBeing desirous of forwarding the inclosed papers by to-day's steamer, I regret that there has been no time to make a fair copy of the English translation of the Treaty; but I trust the corrections and interleaved additions will be intelligible to the Foreign Office printers.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n**(Signed)** \nMARTIN GOSSELIN.\n\n### Inclosure 1 in No. 1\n\n## Commercial Treaty between China and Portugal (1904)\n\n### ARTICLE I\n\nTHE Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between China and Portugal, dated the 1st December, 1887 (17th day, 10th moon, 13th year of Kwangsu), and the special Convention on opium annexed to the said Treaty, continues in force, except so far as modified by the present Treaty.\n\n### ARTICLE II\n\nPortugal accepts the increase in the import duties stipulated for in Article VI of the Peking Protocol of the 7th September, 1901. Portugal will enjoy the privileges of the most favoured nation, and in no case shall Portuguese subjects pay higher or lower duties than those paid by the subjects of any other nation. Article XII of the Treaty of the 1st December, 1887, is therefore rendered null and void.\n\n### ARTICLE III\n\nThe Government of His Most Faithful Majesty agrees to continue as heretofore to co-operate with the Government of His Imperial Chinese Majesty in the collection...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 397982, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 472, "title": "CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "## CHINA TRADE\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\nNo. 1.\n\n465\n\n[March 11.]\n\n## SECTION 3.\n\n(No. 17.) My Lord,\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received March 11.)\n\nPeking, January 14, 1905.\n\nIN continuation of my despatch No. 425 of the 10th December, I have the honour to report that at a meeting of the Diplomatic Representatives of the Powers who were Parties to the Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, the note from Prince Ch'ing relative to the new proposals for the Whangpoo Conservancy was discussed, and a Committee, consisting of my American, French, and German colleagues and myself, was appointed to prepare a counter-draft. I have the honour to inclose an extract from the procès-verbal of the meeting relating to this question, and also a copy of the counter-draft prepared by the Committee, which has now been approved by all the Representatives concerned. I add also, for convenience of reference, a copy of the English text from which the French version was derived.\n\nThe foreign Representatives are all of opinion that before communicating the counter-draft to the Chinese Government it must receive the approval of their respective Governments, and I have the honour to request that I may be informed by telegram whether His Majesty's Government would be disposed to accept the scheme embodied in it in place of the provisions of the Protocol, it being always understood and agreed that, if China neglects to provide the promised funds or to carry out any other essential provision of the present scheme, the stipulations of the Protocol will immediately revive in full force.\n\nTo complete the papers, I beg to inclose a letter from certain firms and public bodies at Shanghae forwarding a Memorandum drawn up by Sir Robert Bredon, and a copy of the reply returned to it by the doyen of the Diplomatic Body on behalf of the Representatives concerned. The most important point in the Memorandum was the suggestion regarding the engagement of the well-known hydraulic engineer, M. de Rijke, but we did not consider that it could be usefully introduced into the Agreement which is proposed as a substitute for the stipulations of the Protocol.\n\n(Signed)\n\nERNEST SATOW,\n\n### Inclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nExtract from Procès-verbal of Meeting of Diplomatic Body, held December 14, 1904.\n\nLe Doyen. Au mois de Juin le Gouvernement Chinois a proposé de faire lui-même et à ses frais les travaux d'amélioration du cours du Whangpou, en excluant la Commission prévue à l'Annexe 17 du Protocole Final.\n\nLe Quai-d'Orsay nous a envoyé récemment à ce sujet de nouvelles propositions, en douze Articles cette fois.\n\nUne dépêche ci-annexée m'a été adressée hier soir de Shanghaï, à l'issue d'une réunion qui a eu lieu à ce sujet, et un Mémorandum doit nous être remis.\n\nM. Dubail. Je ne peux pas prendre en considération un projet qui n'est pas présenté par le Gouvernement Impérial.\n\nSir Ernest Satow. Ni moi non plus pour le moment. Nous nous occuperons plus tard de l'opinion publique de Shanghai.\n\nMr. Conger. Mon Gouvernement a toujours tenu à ce que les Chinois exécutent le Protocole Final intégralement, mais le travail projeté pour l'amélioration du Whangpou est une chose si importante, sa prompte exécution est si nécessaire, que j'ai reçu l'instruction d'accepter la première proposition qui nous a été faite par le Gouvernement Impérial, pourvu que des garanties suffisantes nous soient données relativement à la prompte et bonne exécution des travaux.\n\nLes nouvelles propositions qui nous sont faites n'apportent pas de grandes modifications aux premières. Je crois pouvoir les accepter, en demandant seulement que...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 397985, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 475, "title": "CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "## J'approuve le projet de la lettre. Quant à l'approbation du contre-projet, je demanderai des instructions. \nA. VAN CITTERS. \n\nId. \nId. \n(Signé) \n(Signé) \nC. BAROLI. \n(Signé) \nJ. G. COOLIDGE, \n\n## Inclosure ō in No. 1. \n### Municipal Council and Others to Baron Czikann. \nSir, \n\nShanghai, December 14, 1904. WE, the Undersigned, representing respectively the Municipal Council, the Chamber of Commerce, and the British, German, American, and Japanese Associations of Shanghae, after careful consideration of certain recent proposals for the Whangpoo River Conservancy laid before his Excellency the Nanking Viceroy by Sir Robert Bredon, K.C.M.G., Deputy Inspector-General of the Imperial Maritime Customs, desire to unite in addressing you on the subject and generally to support these proposals. A copy of a Memorandum communicated to ourselves by Sir Robert Bredon is herewith inclosed for your information and that of the Diplomatic Body. \n\nThe experience of the past three years would appear to justify the view that the arrangements for river conservancy work recorded in the Peking Protocol of September 1901 may be regarded as unworkable under existing conditions. We consider that an alternative scheme, embodying conditions more acceptable to the Chinese Government and recognizing the latter's sovereign rights, has become advisable, if the advantage secured in principle by the Protocol is not to become a dead letter. For this reason, we now desire, as representatives of the most important interests involved, to support generally the scheme outlined in the inclosed Memorandum, which we have therefore the honour to commend to the favourable consideration of the Diplomatic Body, expressing at the same time the hope that some such measures as are here suggested may in the near future be adopted and carried into execution, so that the important work of the conservancy of the river at Shanghae may no longer be delayed. \n\nWe have, &c. \n[Here follow signatures of representatives of the Municipal Council, the Chamber of Commerce, and the British, German, American, and Japanese Associations of Shanghae.] \n\n**(Confidential.)** \n## Inclosure 6 in No. 1. \n### Memorandum by Sir R. Bredon. \n\nTHE conservancy proposals of the former Viceroy Wei having been presented recently by the Board to the Foreign Ministers, one of them, apparently with the approval of his Government, and with the concurrence of at least some of his colleagues, replied to the Board. In his answering despatch, he indicated that the principles of Viceroy Wei's proposals were acceptable, but, as was to be expected, saw the necessity of their being more explicit in detail. He therefore practically made a new proposal, but entirely in accord with Viceroy Wei's original five Articles. The Minister's proposal consisted of twelve, and he gave it to be understood that if the Board accepted them, the Protocol scheme could be placed in abeyance, and a new Convention made to take its place. \n\nThe first ten of the Minister's Articles may be said to be wholly unobjectionable from the point of view of all unprejudiced people, foreign and Chinese. They provide that the necessary work for improving the condition of the river should be done entirely at Chinese expense, under the superintendence of the Taotai and Customs; that work should be done promptly, economically, and efficiently; that a fair arbitration scheme should be established to fix prices of appropriated or newly-made land; that Chinese harbour control should be continued as at present, and the Chinese authority maintained in harbour and quarantine questions. \n\nThe last two Articles are intended to provide a firm guarantee that the money will be found and the work done, but they are so firm that the Chinese consider them harsh, and it is said that they have refused to accept them, or at any rate that they are unwilling to do so. \n\nThe D.I.G., in conversation with the Taotai on the subject as presented by this Minister's despatch, pointed out: \n1. That a fresh start on new and more promising lines than the Protocol ones seemed now possible through the medium of a new Convention. \n2. That what that new Convention would require would be (a) a guarantee that the work would be promptly done, and (b) security that the funds would be forthcoming. \n3. That riparian owners were now making demands for a definite delineation of their particular riparian frontage—a by no means unreasonable claim—and that the harbour authorities were quite as reasonably refusing to permit what appeared to them an excessive demand until satisfied that it would fall in appropriately with, and not be an embarrassment to, the carrying out of the more complete scheme of conservancy from Wusung outer bar to the arsenal (or further), which it is realized is necessary. Even the Protocol was based on the idea that the question of Whangpoo conservancy should be taken up as a broad, general proposition. Though it might be divided into suitable parts or sections, it was clearly never intended that it should be cut into pieces first, and that they later should be patched together into what might be an imperfect and incongruous whole. It is only fair that riparian owners should not be kept indefinitely waiting for a firm decision as to where their frontage line must be, and that, therefore, the necessity of having the general scheme proposed at once and its lines laid down was an actually present one. \n\nThe D.I.G., in view of the early visit of the Viceroy—and feeling that he would surely be approached on the subject by some one—thought it well to discuss the matter with the Taotai, and having done so, that they should lay before the Viceroy the actual position, and suggest how it might be fairly faced with due regard to all the legitimate interests involved. \n\nAll schemes demand first and foremost that a definite plan of action by a competent engineer should be called, and everything, including the demands of riparian proprietors, points to its being essential that no time be lost. The D.I.G. therefore suggested that M. de Rijke be invited to come to Shanghae at once to study the subject with the Customs people, and of course to hear what any one who has anything interesting or useful to say may say. His study being complete, he should make a report and develop and draw out a detailed scheme of work to be done. The D.I.G. did not hesitate to express his belief that there was no engineer whose name had ever come up in this connection, and who was now available, who more fully commanded the respect and confidence of the Shanghae public. His selection and appointment by the Chinese themselves, solely on his professional character, and his early connection with the matter should be sufficient to allay any suspicion that this appointment was due to any outside influence, or that it was made for any but sound business reasons. \n\nThere is no reason why the Chinese should not invite him of their own motion, and there is every reason to think that his opinion and plan would be as generally acceptable as any likely to be found. \n\nThe Taotai seems to have gathered from the remarks of various Consuls that they had engineers to suggest when men were required, but as their names have not been put before the public, no appreciation of their professional status can be formed. M. de Rijke is a well-known and trusted man whose opinion the riparian owners have themselves sought, in full confidence that the one they would get would be a sound one. \n\nAs to the question of guaranteeing the money, what the D.I.G. suggested was that at once, from the beginning of next year, there should be paid monthly to the Customs at Shanghae one-twelfth of the annual sum promised for the work (460,000 taels per annum). By the time the engineers were prepared to begin work, probably a whole year's payment would have been made, and there would be a sum in hand at the start sufficient to provide any materials and plant, or to meet authorized payments on contracts for the first year. By the time the work of the first year had been got well in hand, the funds for the second would have accumulated to provide for its expenditure, and so on, annually. \n\nPage 468", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 398030, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 520, "title": "CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n## CHINA TRADE\n\n### SECTION 1\n\n#### No. 1\n\nQuestion asked in the House of Commons, April 19, 1905.\n\nSir Gilbert Parker,-To ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information showing that the terms of the Mackay Treaty made in pursuance of Article XI of the Peking Protocol of September, 1901, to facilitate commercial relations between China and foreign countries have, in effect, been ignored by China; that the rights referred to have been violated by provincial officials who have levied li-kin on goods covered by transit passes, have forcibly seized cargo at the barriers; and have illegally interfered with agents and employés of British merchants; that, in contravention of the Mackay Treaty, heavier duties are levied upon foreign-owned cotton-mills than on native mills in the country; that, in contravention of Article II of the Treaty which provided for the introduction of a national uniform coinage, the provincial authorities continue to mint new copper currency; and that the reform in mining Regulations arranged for in Article IX of the Treaty have remained unfulfilled; and if so, whether the Government intend taking action, in concert with other Powers, to secure the fulfilment of the obligations into which China entered in 1901.\n\n## Answer\n\nNo information of the acts alleged in the question has reached us. Such acts would be violations, not of the Treaty of 1902, but of Treaties concluded with China at an earlier date.\n\nHis Majesty's Minister at Peking has been informed, in reply to his inquiries as to the steps which had been taken to carry out the provisions of Article II of the Treaty of 1902, that the Office of Financial Administration has presented a Memorial to the Throne proposing the establishment of a general mint at Tien-tsin, for the coinage of silver and copper, and the introduction of a uniform national coinage. As soon as definite arrangements have been made, they will be communicated to Sir E. Satow.\n\nWith regard to the mining Regulations, the Chinese Government state that Regulations have been drawn up, but that it is necessary to consult the provincial authorities before the final arrangements could be settled.\n\nPage 513", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 403339, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 248, "title": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "## Provincial Mints and Uniform Coinage\n\n4\n\nProvincial mints, and that it has been found that the proportion of copper in those which have the appearance of copper is very large, some of them consisting of almost pure metal.\n\nIn the brass pieces, there is in many cases as much as 70 per cent. of copper. But these facts do not indicate that the authorities of the provincial mints are alive to the necessity of uniformity in the coinage.\n\nThe Article of the Treaty is thus worded:-\n\n\"China agrees to take the necessary steps to provide for a uniform national coinage, which shall be legal tender in payment of all duties, taxes, and other obligations throughout the Empire, by British as well as Chinese subjects.\"\n\nAnd the new United States and Japanese Commercial Treaties contain Articles of similar import.\n\nIt is an obvious remark that among the ranks of Chinese officials, it will probably be difficult to find any functionary possessing the knowledge of currency facts and theories requisite for dealing with this vast and complicated problem, and that the most effectual means of carrying this Article into effect would be for the Powers interested in the reform of Chinese currency to combine in lending the services of the necessary number of experts to study existing conditions, and to recommend what remedies should be adopted.\n\n## Revision of Mining Regulations\n\nI come now to the Article regarding the revision of the Mining Regulations. Your Lordship is in possession of Reports relating to the steps which I have taken, under instructions, with the view of urging the speedy execution of this Article. In my despatch No. 204 of the 12th June, I inclosed a note from the Foreign Board stating that the revised draft (which is probably that referred to in Sir Pelham Warren's despatch inclosed herewith) might be expected to reach Peking in about a month's time, when it would be taken into consideration by the Boards of Foreign Affairs and Commerce. In the meantime, it seems clear that, until the new Regulations come into force, British subjects can carry on mining enterprises in China only under existing Regulations.\n\nThe Shanghae letter states that there is no sign of such Regulations as will conform to the requirements of the Treaty. But I am informed that the gentleman who framed the letter was cognizant of the fact that Mr. Broad had completed the draft of the new Regulations. It goes on to call attention to a letter published in the \"North China Daily News,\" in which the British Consul states that British subjects are only allowed to obtain permits to mine under Regulations issued by the Wai-wu Pu, and reference is made to the inclosure marked A. As this inclosure distinctly states that the Consul in question is His Majesty's Consul at Wuhu, it is right to mention that the British merchant referred to is Mr. E. S. Little, and I inclose copies of the correspondence to complete the extract given in the Shanghae letter. It will be seen that Mr. Ker's letter of the 5th December is not accurately reproduced. A more serious error is the statement in Mr. Little's letter of the 12th December, 1904, to Mr. Ker, that clause IX of the Treaty of 1902 gives foreigners exactly the same right to buy and hold land as the natives anywhere in the interior. China has never conferred such a right on foreigners in general, and there is nothing in the clause in question which could possibly be held to justify such an interpretation.\n\n## Taxation\n\nThe next point treated of in the Shanghae letter is taxation. It is alleged that although it was provided that Article VIII of the Treaty was not to come into force until all the other Treaty Powers had agreed thereto, China nevertheless, recognizing certain \"fundamental principles,\" engaged to reform and systematize her taxation as far as merchandize is concerned.\n\nThis is a complete misrepresentation of the wording and intent of Article VIII. Independently of that Article, China has entered into no \"engagement to reform and systematize her system of taxation as far as merchandize is concerned.\" The \"fundamental principles\" alluded to in it are, firstly, that China would discard completely the system of levying li-kin and other dues on goods at the place of production, in transit, and at destination, with the limitation that she should be at liberty to impose a consumption tax on articles of Chinese origin not intended for export; secondly, that the British Government would in return consent to a surtax on foreign goods imported, and on Chinese produce destined for export abroad or coastwise; thirdly, that no attempt should be made to revive li-kin barriers and other stations for taxing goods in transit, that the surtax should in no case exceed one and a-half times the import duty leviable in terms of the Final Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, that payment of import duty and surtax should secure for foreign imports complete immunity from other taxation, examination, or delay, and that the total amount of taxation on native produce for export abroad should under no circumstances exceed 7 per cent. ad valorem.\n\n\"Keeping these fundamental principles steadily in view, the High Contracting Parties have agreed upon the following methods of procedure.\" is the wording of the Article, and it is plain that neither the methods of procedure nor the fundamental principles on which they are based come into operation or receive application until, as stated in section 15, all the Powers shall have signified their acceptance of the engagements embodied in the Article.\n\n## Cases Cited\n\nThe cases referred to under Inclosures B, C, D, and E consequently are not violations of the Treaty of 1902, but in so far as the acts complained of are violations of Treaty, they must, as stated in Earl Percy's reply to Sir Gilbert Parker's Parliamentary question of the 19th April, be referred to Treaties concluded with China at an earlier date.\n\nIt may consequently be inferred that, if the signatories of the Shanghae letter had been at leisure to examine into the statements made under this heading and to compare them with the actual wording of Article VIII of the Treaty of 1902, they would have been disinclined to append their signatures.\n\nOf the cases cited, Sir Pelham Warren's despatch reports on three-C, D, and F. B is a case in which Messrs. Brunner, Mond, and Co., for whom Mr. E. S. Little is the agent, are concerned. His Majesty's Consul at Chinkiang has been asked to furnish a detailed report on case B. Case E is that of the British merchant Bennertz, on which reports have been furnished to your Lordship in my despatches Nos. 12 of the 10th January, 107 of the 29th March, 113 of the 5th April, 118 of the 11th April, 142 of the 27th April, 183 of the 29th May, and 233 of the 3rd July, 1905, and the question whether the walled city of Changsha forms part of the port of that name is still the subject of discussion between myself and the Chinese Government. Case A comes under the head of mining, and has already been explained.\n\n## Navigation\n\nThe last point is navigation. Mention is made of the fact that as yet no steps have been taken to carry out the promised works for the improvement of the Huangpu River, provided for by Annex 17 to the Final Protocol. The causes which have led to this delay have been fully placed before your Lordship in a long series of despatches, and I will only observe now that this delay is no case of ignoring the Commercial Treaty of 1902. It is further stated that there is also evident a great reluctance on the part of the Chinese officials to allow the free use of inland waters to vessels carrying a foreign flag, and one case (F) is cited. Two other cases in which the Chinese authorities are opposing the issue of inland water certificates have been reported to me, but there is at present no reason to suppose that they will not be satisfactorily disposed of.\n\nThe letter concludes with a statement that the Chinese Government and the officials throughout the Empire are now more obstructive in their treatment of British subjects and trade than formerly, and that there is no evidence of any endeavour to carry out either the spirit or the letter of the Treaty. I think it my duty to say that I do not share this view. Differences of opinion from time to time in regard to the interpretation of the Treaties have arisen in the past between His Majesty's Consuls and the local authorities, and between His Majesty's Legation and the Central Government, but such differences do not appear to me to have recently become more numerous than usual.\n\nIt will, however, be for His Majesty's Government to decide, upon a review of the complaints contained in the Shanghae letter, and of the explanations given in this despatch, whether the state of our present relations renders it necessary to bring special pressure to bear upon the Chinese Government in order to insure the observance of Treaty stipulations.\n\nI have, &c.\n(Signed) **ERNEST SATOW**\n\n## Inclosure 1 in No. 1\n\nMessrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co., and other British Merchants to the Marquess of Lansdowne,\n\nMy Lord Marquess,\n\nShanghae, June 6, 1905.\n\nWe have the honour to inclose herewith a copy of the cablegram forwarded on the 3rd May, together with a list of the Signatories thereto. The original of this document has been deposited with His Majesty's Consul-General at this port.\n\n[2140 ee-1] \n5 \n243", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 403504, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 413, "title": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "# \n\n406\n\nThe Article of the Treaty is thus worded:- \n\"China agrees to take the necessary steps to provide for a uniform national coinage, which shall be legal tender in payment of all duties, taxes, and other obligations throughout the Empire, by British as well as Chinese subjects.\" \n\nAnd the new United States and Japanese Commercial Treaties contain Articles of similar import. \n\nIt is an obvious remark that among the ranks of Chinese officials it will probably be difficult to find any functionary possessing the knowledge of currency facts and theories requisite for dealing with this vast and complicated problem, and that the most effectual means of carrying this Article into effect would be for the Powers interested in the reform of Chinese currency to combine in lending the services of the necessary number of experts to study existing conditions, and to recommend what remedies should be adopted. \n\nI come now to the Article regarding the revision of the Mining Regulations. Your Lordship is in possession of Reports relating to the steps which I have taken, under instructions, with the view of urging the speedy execution of this Article. In my despatch No. 204 of the 12th June, I inclosed a note from the Foreign Board stating that the revised draft (which is probably that referred to in Sir Pelham Warren's despatch inclosed herewith) might be expected to reach Peking in about a month's time, when it would be taken into consideration by the Boards of Foreign Affairs and Commerce. In the meantime, it seems clear that, until the new Regulations come into force, British subjects can carry on mining enterprises in China only under existing Regulations. \n\nThe Shanghae letter states that there is no sign of such Regulations as will conform to the requirements of the Treaty. But I am informed that the gentleman who framed the letter was cognizant of the fact that Mr. Broad had completed the draft of the new Regulations. It goes on to call attention to a letter published in the \"North China Daily News,\" in which the British Consul states that British subjects are only allowed to obtain permits to mine under Regulations issued by the Wai-wu Pu, and reference is made to the inclosure marked A. As this inclosure distinctly states that the Consul in question is His Majesty's Consul at Wuhu, it is right to mention that the British merchant referred to is Mr. E. S. Little, and I inclose copies of the correspondence to complete the extract given in the Shanghae letter. It will be seen that Mr. Ker's letter of the 5th December is not accurately reproduced. A more serious error is the statement in Mr. Little's letter of the 12th December, 1904, to Mr. Ker, that clause IX of the Treaty of 1902 gives foreigners exactly the same right to buy and hold land as the natives anywhere in the interior. China has never conferred such a right on foreigners in general, and there is nothing in the clause in question which could possibly be held to justify such an interpretation. \n\nThe next point treated of in the Shanghae letter is taxation. It is alleged that although it was provided that Article VIII of the Treaty was not to come into force until all the other Treaty Powers had agreed thereto, China nevertheless, recognizing certain \"fundamental principles,\" engaged to reform and systematize her taxation as far as merchandize is concerned. \n\nThis is a complete misrepresentation of the wording and intent of Article VIII. Independently of that Article, China has entered into no \"engagement to reform and systematize her system of taxation as far as merchandize is concerned.\" The \"fundamental principles\" alluded to in it are, firstly, that China would discard completely the system of levying li-kin and other dues on goods at the place of production, in transit, and at destination, with the limitation that she should be at liberty to impose a consumption tax on articles of Chinese origin not intended for export; secondly, that the British Government would in return consent to a surtax on foreign goods imported, and on Chinese produce destined for export abroad or coastwise; thirdly, that no attempt should be made to revive li-kin barriers and other stations for taxing goods in transit, that the surtax should in no case exceed one and a-half times the import duty leviable in terms of the Final Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, that payment of import duty and surtax should secure for foreign imports complete immunity from other taxation, examination, or delay, and that the total amount of taxation on native produce for export abroad should under no circumstances exceed 7 1/4 per cent. ad valorem. \n\n\"Keeping these fundamental principles steadily in view, the High Contracting Parties have agreed upon the following methods of procedure\" is the wording of the Article, and it is plain that neither the methods of procedure nor the fundamental principles on which they are based come into operation or receive application until, as stated in section 15, all the Powers shall have signified their acceptance of the engagements embodied in the Article. \n\nThe cases referred to under Inclosures B, C, D, and E consequently are not violations of the Treaty of 1902, but in so far as the acts complained of are violations of Treaty, they must, as stated in Earl Percy's reply to Sir Gilbert Parker's Parliamentary question of the 19th April, be referred to Treaties concluded with China at an earlier date. \n\nIt may consequently be inferred that, if the signatories of the Shanghae letter had been at leisure to examine into the statements made under this heading and to compare them with the actual wording of Article VIII of the Treaty of 1902, they would have been disinclined to append their signatures. \n\nOf the cases cited, Sir Pelham Warren's despatch reports on three-C, D, and F. B and C are cases in which Messrs. Brunner, Mond, and Co., for whom Mr. E. S. Little is the agent, are concerned. His Majesty's Consul at Chinkiang has been asked to furnish a detailed report on case B. Case E is that of the British merchant Bennertz, on which reports have been furnished to your Lordship in my despatches Nos. 12 of the 10th January, 107 of the 29th March, 113 of the 5th April, 118 of the 11th April, 142 of the 27th April, 183 of the 29th May, and 233 of the 3rd July, 1905, and the question whether the walled city of Changsha forms part of the port of that name is still the subject of discussion between myself and the Chinese Government. Case A comes under the head of mining, and has already been explained. \n\nThe last point is navigation. Mention is made of the fact that as yet no steps have been taken to carry out the promised works for the improvement of the Huangpu River, provided for by Annex 17 to the Final Protocol. The causes which have led to this delay have been fully placed before your Lordship in a long series of despatches, and I will only observe now that this delay is no case of ignoring the Commercial Treaty of 1902. It is further stated that there is also evident a great reluctance on the part of the Chinese officials to allow the free use of inland waters to vessels carrying a foreign flag, and one case (F) is cited. Two other cases in which the Chinese authorities are opposing the issue of inland water certificates have been reported to me, but there is at present no reason to suppose that they will not be satisfactorily disposed of. \n\nThe letter concludes with a statement that the Chinese Government and the officials throughout the Empire are now more obstructive in their treatment of British subjects and trade than formerly, and that there is no evidence of any endeavour to carry out either the spirit or the letter of the Treaty. I think it my duty to say that I do not share this view. Differences of opinion from time to time in regard to the interpretation of the Treaties have arisen in the past between His Majesty's Consuls and the local authorities, and between His Majesty's Legation and the Central Government, but such differences do not appear to me to have recently become more numerous than usual. \n\nIt will, however, be for His Majesty's Government to decide, upon a review of the complaints contained in the Shanghae letter, and of the explanations given in this despatch, whether the state of our present relations renders it necessary to bring special pressure to bear upon the Chinese Government in order to insure the observance of Treaty stipulations. \n\nI have, &c. \n\nERNEST SATOW, \n\n(Signed) \n\n## Inclosure 1 in No. 1 \n\nMessrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co. and other British Merchants to the Marquess of Lansdowne. \n\nMy Lord Marquess, \n\nShanghae, June 6, 1905. \n\nWE have the honour to inclose herewith a copy of the cablegram forwarded on the 3rd May, together with a list of the Signatories thereto. The original of this document has been deposited with His Majesty's Consul-General at this port.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 406906, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "page_number": 202, "title": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "content_text": "the foreign Representatives in Peking? Further, if such consent is necessary, will it be accorded in the present instance? It is on these two points that I have the honour to ask for your instructions.\n\nAs regards the first, I have been unable to find in the archives of this Consulate any definite ruling on the subject. Article 6 of the Revised Yang-tsze Regulations says, \"Native craft owned or chartered by British merchants on entry into any port will pay port dues according to Chinese tariff,\" while the Chungking Agreement (Article 4) differentiates between foreign-owned and chartered junks, the former to pay tonnage dues according to Treaty, the latter port dues, as above stipulated. (I should here mention that there are at present no foreign-owned vessels plying between this port and Chungking.)\n\nThe Commissioner of Customs, with whom I have discussed the matter, is of opinion that the levy in question need not, and should not, be regarded as an increase in the port dues; that it should be considered as a special contribution made by all vessels using the upper river to an object in which they are directly interested; and that as long as a sufficient portion of the revenue derived from the Native Customs is devoted, in the terms of the Final Protocol, to the payment of the indemnity, no objection can be taken to the Chinese authorities levying an extra tax in the manner and for the purpose indicated.\n\nHis argument appears to me to be eminently reasonable, but, as a question of principle and of precedent, I venture to think that your consent is necessary to these fees being levied on vessels chartered by British firms at Ichang and Chungking.\n\nAssuming this view to be correct, I would submit that, with certain reservations, the scheme proposed by the Chinese authorities might well be given a trial. It should be distinctly understood that, as the collection is to be in the hands of the Maritime Customs, that Department must have some, if not the whole, control over the expenditure. One might even go a step further and suggest that the Commissioner of Customs at Ichang, with the expert assistance at his disposal in the Coast Department, should direct the operations of the Pao Lu Chu. This arrangement was recommended by Lieutenant-Commander Watson, of His Majesty's ship Woodcock, in December 1901. (Hydrographic Department Reports No. 181, Yang-taze No. 2.)\n\nIt is, I venture to think, necessary to guard against the Chinese authorities prejudicing, by ill-considered and imperfect attempts at bridling the rapids of the Upper Yang-tsze, the Treaty right of foreign shipping firms to effect the necessary improvements themselves. On the other hand, we should, perhaps, do well not to discourage the somewhat new and unusual interest now being displayed by the local authorities in this important question.\n\nI have briefly replied to the Taotai (copy and translation of my despatch inclosed) intimating that your approval is necessary before I can agree to any further fees being levied on chartered junks, and in conversation with Mr. Chang, the new Deputy, who has called on me, I have assured him that any practical scheme for the improvement of the waterways above Ichang will most certainly have the sympathy and support of the British Government.\n\nDr. Müller, the German Consul, has written to the Taotai in a similar sense.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) HARRY H. FOX.\n\nThe special rate, if levied impartially, on native junks would appear to be within the province of the Chinese authorities.\n\nE. H. FRASER.\n\nHankow, November 24, 1905.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nSir,\n\n(Signed)\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nChin Taotai to Acting Consul Ottewill.\n\nKuang Hsü, 31st year, 10th moon, 2nd day\n\n(October 29, 1905).\n\nTHE rapid flow of the waters of the upper river is a constant source of danger to life, and, accordingly, vessels greatly dread the journey, owing to the fact that, the banks on both sides being precipitous, there is no room for a proper tracking path, so that trackers have the greatest difficulty in passing the dangerous places. Last year my predecessor, Yü Taotai, obtained permission from the high authorities to raise a fund (for the purpose of constructing a road), and, in conjunction with the Provincial Treasurer Li and a gentleman of Chiang Hsia, named Han, collected the money required. They appointed Chang Te Ping, late Department Magistrate of Kuei Chou, and others to place in thorough repair the tracking paths through the gorges. A year was spent in completing this work.\n\nIt is obvious that work of this kind, to be of any real value, must be continued and not allowed to drop; if these paths are not kept in good repair they will certainly not last, and the labour spent on them will be in vain.\n\nMr. Chang has therefore, in accordance with his instructions, drawn up a set of proposed Regulations, ten in number, whereby an Office, to be called Pao Lu Chu, is established at Ichang, and all vessels proceeding up-river, whether chartered by foreigners or native-owned, shall pay a fee based on the amount of their freight—viz., 2 cash per 1,000 (tiao) to be paid by the shipper, and 2 cash per 1,000 by the junk-master, the proceeds to be devoted to the annual upkeep of the tracking paths. As this proposal will affect chartered junks, he asks me to request the Consul to be good enough to instruct all owners of British chartered junks to pay in accordance with the above Regulations.\n\nI am\n\nI have the honour to observe that a levy of this kind is a worthy undertaking for the benefit of merchants, and, moreover, the subscription of 2 cash on every 1,000 cash worth of freight is extremely light. Knowing well the great interest you take in commercial matters, I am sure (the proposal) will meet with your approval. Addressing a similar despatch to the German Consul and the Commissioner of Customs, and I beg to inclose, for your information, a copy of the Regulations referred to.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Seal of Taotai.)\n\nSir,\n\nInclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nConsul Fox to Chin Taotai.\n\nKuang Hsü, 31st year, 10th moon, 20th day\n\n(November 16, 1905).\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch addressed to my predecessor, Mr. Ottewill, dated the 29th October, in which you state that, in order to maintain in good repair the tracking path through the gorges constructed last year, it is proposed to levy a small fee on all vessels, both foreign-chartered and native-owned, proceeding up-river. You add that for this purpose an Office named Pao Lu Chü will be established at Ichang, and you ask me to instruct British owners of chartered junks to subscribe in accordance with the Regulations, copy of which is inclosed.\n\nI have the honour to observe that, all dues paid by foreign-owned and chartered vessels being regulated by Treaty and Agreements concluded between our respective Governments, I myself have not the power to consent or to withhold my consent to any additional levy being made; this is a matter for settlement between the Wai-wu Pu and the British Minister in Peking.\n\nI am accordingly forwarding copy of your despatch and the proposed Regulations for the consideration of the Minister, and on the receipt of his reply I will again communicate with you on the subject.\n\nThe scheme of maintaining in good repair the tracking path through the gorges and providing capstans and hawsers at the most difficult points for the assistance of ascending vessels is undoubtedly a most excellent one, benefiting alike native and foreign merchants and travellers. If hereafter it is mutually agreed to raise funds for the purpose, the simplest way, in my opinion, would be for the Foreign Customs at Ichang to undertake the collection of subscriptions, on behalf of the Pao Lu Chu, as a temporary measure.\n\nThe Foreign Customs have for some years past collected all dues on both foreign and native shipping at this port, so that their so doing in the present case would on the one hand save expenses, and on the other be more likely to meet with the approval of the merchants concerned.\n\n(Signed)\n\nI have, &c.\n\nHARRY H. FOX.\n\nPage 199", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407397, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "page_number": 693, "title": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "content_text": "12\n\nWogack of financial assistance from the Tien-tsin Provisional Government on the condition that the commercial interests concerned would raise funds on their side also.\n\nSir E. Satow, in reply, on the 29th June, asked for a schedule of the proposed dues, and said that it would be necessary for him to issue a Regulation provisionally under Articles 9 and 11 of the Order in Council of the 25th October, 1881, making the payment of the wharfage dues as municipal taxes binding on British subjects; and on the 8th July Sir E. Satow forwarded, for perusal and comment, a draft Regulation providing for the imposition of the tax. This Regulation would be inserted in the Tien-tsin Land Regulations next after Regulation 7.\n\nOn the 15th July Mr. Hopkins returned the draft Regulations, expressing his concurrence, and later in the same month Sir E. Satow forwarded the Regulation, with instructions that it should be printed and made known to the British community in Tien-tsin.\n\nIt should be mentioned that, by Article 11 of the Final Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, the Chinese Government undertook to be represented on the International Commission for improving the Pei Ho, and to pay the sum of 60,000 Haikwan taels each year for this purpose. This undertaking has been carried out since 1902.\n\nThe Conservancy Board have effected three cuttings in the river between 1902 and 1904, and many other works of improvement have been carried out; the sums spent were raised by loans secured by taxes known as \"river dues,\" but it was felt that the deplorable condition of the bar was a perpetual hindrance to commercial interests.\n\nIn April 1903, at a general meeting of Landrenters, a Resolution was passed providing for a further tax of 1 per cent. of the duties to be devoted to the improvement of the Taku Bar, and in July 1903 Mr. Hopkins informed the Tien-tsin Municipal Council that the consent of the Ministers in Peking had been received to the levy of additional river dues for the bar purposes, but the shipping Companies did not see their way to co-operate and nothing was done.\n\nMeanwhile a bar improvement scheme had been devised by the Conservancy Commission, and only funds were lacking to carry it out.\n\nOn the 30th May, 1905, the Chairman of the Tien-tsin Municipal Council was informed by the German Minister that the Council might be assured that the Hamburg-America line would fall into line with any scheme that commended itself to the Steamer Companies.\n\nMr. Dickinson informed Sir E. Satow that the extra 1 per cent. was still in suspense pending a contribution from the Steam-ship Companies.\n\nAt an extraordinary general meeting of the Landrenters of the 14th June, 1905, the Municipal Council proposed a Resolution asking to be authorized to convey an offer to the Hai Ho Conservancy Commission to provide the necessary sum of 450,000 taels on and subject to certain conditions:--\n\n(1.) No part of the loan to be redeemed until the amortization of existing river loans.\n\n(2.) Loan of 250,000 taels at 7 per cent., payable by Hai Ho Conservancy Commission.\n\n(3.) The tax of per mille authorized in 1903 shall be levied in addition to the existing dues.\n\n(4.) Shipping Companies shall pay tax.\n\n(5.) Taxes and dues provided for in (3) and (4) shall continue to be levied until the amortization of loan and interest.\n\n(6.) On final amortization of river loans, taxes and dues devoted to service of these river loans to be continued, and with taxes and dues under (3) and (4) be devoted to payment of interest on 250,000 taels and accumulated interest on balance of 200,000 taels to bar works, and to amortization of principal sum.\n\nAll this was, of course, dependent on the sanction of the Diplomatic Body and payment by the Shipping Companies. The latter finally agreed to pay 1 mace per registered ton per trip from the time of issue to the final amortization of the loan subject to certain conditions, one of which is that ships unable to cross the bar shall pay 5 candareens per ton per trip on their net registered tonnage, with the option of paying 1 mace per ton on cargo discharged and loaded.\n\nOn the 8th March, 1906, M. Rocher, Consul-General for France, resigned his position as Delegate of the Consular Body on the Conservancy Board, and Mr. Hopkins was selected to take his place.\n\nIn June 1905 the Landrenters put forward a scheme for providing the necessary funds for the improvement of the bar in its final form, and requested the sanction of the Diplomatic Body.\n\n13\n\nWhat the Diplomatic Body was requested to sanction were-\n\n(1.) A continuation of the existing taxes and dues until the amortization of the loan of 425,000 taels, the initial expenditure for the bar improvement scheme.\n\n(2.) Now that an agreement with the Shipping Companies had been arrived at, it was necessary to have a reaffirmation of the sanction given by the Diplomatic Body to the Resolutions of the 6th April, 1903, to levy the additional tax of per mille on the value of all goods on which duty has been paid or may become payable, which with the shipping tax is to meet the service of the loan and the necessary maintenance expenses of the river.\n\nAs regards the tax on shipping, it would appear that the bond to be signed by the Shipping Companies is to be considered sufficient guarantee for payment, and the Council lays down that it will agree with the signatories to the bond to use every means in their power in conjunction with the General Chamber of Commerce to prevent any ship-owners from taking advantage of the terms of the bond to the detriment of the signatories thereto, the Council and the General Chamber of Commerce recognizing the shipping levy as a general port charge to be paid by all ships coming to the bar.\n\nPeking, May 26, 1906.\n\nInclosure 13 in No. 1.\n\nTien-tsin Land Regulations.\n\n[Not printed.]\n\n0\n\n684", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407479, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "page_number": 775, "title": "CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n[B]\n\n# AFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[32763]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n765\n\n[September 29.]\n\nSECTION 5.\n\n3943/\n\nSir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.~(Received September 29.) RECO\n\n(No. 187.)\n\nRe 26 DCT 06 Sir,\n\nTokió, September 5, 1906.\n\nIN an interview which I had this morning with Mr. Chinda, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, I alluded to the question of restoring the administration of Newchwang to the Chinese authorities, and asked his Excellency what exactly were the conditions required by the Japanese Government, and whether it was correct that there was a balance of 3,000,000 yen from customs duties, which Japan was prepared to hand over (see Mr. Carnegie's telegram No. 159 of the 25th August, which he kindly repeated to me).\n\nOn the latter point Mr. Chinda assured me that there was a very considerable balance, though he could not give me the exact figure, the statement of accounts not having yet been finally adjusted. His Excellency subsequently gave me a Memorandum, copy of which I have the honour to inclose, embodying the conditions which the Japanese Government were prepared to accept, and which present no material difference from the information on the subject given to Mr. Carnegie by the Japanese Minister in Peking, though entering somewhat more fully into details.\n\nYou will observe that the Japanese Government insist on the receipts from both the maritime and native customs being deposited in the Yokohama Specie Bank, which insures to the Japanese authorities a means of directly supervising the customs receipts in the port, and it is perhaps not unnatural that the Chinese Government should make an effort to resist the enforcement of this condition.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\n## Memorandum.\n\n1. THE Chinese Government to provide, in consultation with the Japanese Government, such regulations for quarantine and for prevention of contagious and infectious diseases as are necessary for maintenance of the health of Japanese troops stationed in Manchuria, in pursuance of the Agreement between Japan and China (Protocol No. 14 of the Conference at Peking).\n\n2. The Chinese Government to recognize the measures hitherto taken by the Military Administrator.\n\n3. Police and sanitary affairs to be handed over to the Chinese local authorities, on the understanding that those authorities shall, in compliance with the request of the Japanese Consul, take all proper measures which he may consider necessary, and that in the execution of the affairs aforesaid some of the police officers and physicians engaged by the Chinese authorities shall be Japanese.\n\n4. Administration of the maritime customs to be transferred to the Chinese Government, but the customs receipts to be deposited as hitherto with Yokohama-Shokin-Ginko, which shall be made the customs bankers.\n\n5. Administration of the native customs also to be transferred to the Chinese Government, but the receipts therefrom to be deposited with Yokohama-Shokin-Ginko, and to be appropriated, pending the expiration of the term of evacuation, by the Chinese local authorities in consultation with the Japanese Consul, for the public benefit of the locality.\n\n[2146-5]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-337 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407628, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 92, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "-12 \n\nWogack of financial assistance from the Tien-tsin Provisional Government on the condition that the commercial interests concerned would raise funds on their side also.\n\nSir E. Satow, in reply, on the 29th June, asked for a schedule of the proposed dues, and said that it would be necessary for him to issue a Regulation provisionally under Articles 9 and 11 of the Order in Council of the 25th October, 1881, making the payment of the wharfage dues as municipal taxes binding on British subjects; and on the 8th July Sir E. Satow forwarded, for perusal and comment, a draft Regulation providing for the imposition of the tax. This Regulation would be inserted in the Tien-tsin Land Regulations next after Regulation 7.\n\nOn the 15th July Mr. Hopkins returned the draft Regulations, expressing his concurrence, and later in the same month Sir E. Satow forwarded the Regulation, with instructions that it should be printed and made known to the British community in Tien-tsin.\n\nIt should be mentioned that, by Article 11 of the Final Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, the Chinese Government undertook to be represented on the International Commission for improving the Pei Ho, and to pay the sum of 60,000 Haikwan taels each year for this purpose. This undertaking has been carried out since 1902.\n\nThe Conservancy Board have effected three cuttings in the river between 1902 and 1904, and many other works of improvement have been carried out; the sums spent were raised by loans secured by taxes known as \"river dues,\" but it was felt that the deplorable condition of the bar was a perpetual hindrance to commercial interests.\n\nIn April 1903, at a general meeting of Landrenters, a Resolution was passed providing for a further tax of 1 per cent. of the duties to be devoted to the improvement of the Taku Bar, and in July 1903 Mr. Hopkins informed the Tien-tsin Municipal Council that the consent of the Ministers in Peking had been received to the levy of additional river dues for the bar purposes, but the shipping Companies did not see their way to co-operate and nothing was done.\n\nMeanwhile a bar improvement scheme had been devised by the Conservancy Commission, and only funds were lacking to carry it out.\n\nOn the 8th May, 1905, the Chairman of the Tien-tsin Municipal Council was informed by the German Minister that the Council might be assured that the Hamburg-America line would fall into line with any scheme that commended itself to the Steamer Companies.\n\nMr. Dickinson informed Sir E. Satow that the extra 1 per cent. was still in suspense pending a contribution from the Steam-ship Companies.\n\nAt an extraordinary general meeting of the Landrenters of the 14th June, 1905, the Municipal Council proposed a Resolution asking to be authorized to convey an offer to the Hai Ho Conservancy Commission to provide the necessary sum of 450,000 taels on and subject to certain conditions:\n\n(1) No part of the loan to be redeemed until the amortization of existing river loans.\n(2) Loan of 250,000 taels at 7 per cent., payable by Hai Ho Conservancy Commission.\n(3) The tax of per mille authorized in 1903 shall be levied in addition to the existing dues.\n(4) Shipping Companies shall pay tax.\n(5) Taxes and dues provided for in (3) and (4) shall continue to be levied until the amortization of loan and interest.\n(6) On final amortization of river loans, taxes and dues devoted to service of these river loans to be continued, and with taxes and dues under (3) and (4) be devoted to payment of interest on 250,000 taels and accumulated interest on balance of 200,000 taels to bar works, and to amortization of principal sum.\n\nAll this was, of course, dependent on the sanction of the Diplomatic Body and payment by the Shipping Companies. The latter finally agreed to pay 1 mace per registered ton per trip from the time of issue to the final amortization of the loan subject to certain conditions, one of which is that ships unable to cross the bar shall pay 5 candareens per ton per trip on their net registered tonnage, with the option of paying 1 mace per ton on cargo discharged and loaded.\n\nOn the 8th March, 1906, M. Rocher, Consul-General for France, resigned his position as Delegate of the Consular Body on the Conservancy Board, and Mr. Hopkins was selected to take his place.\n\nIn June 1905 the Landrenters put forward a scheme for providing the necessary funds for the improvement of the bar in its final form, and requested the sanction of the Diplomatic Body.\n\nWhat the Diplomatic Body was requested to sanction were--\n\n(1) A continuation of the existing taxes and dues until the amortization of the loan of 425,000 taels, the initial expenditure for the bar improvement scheme.\n(2) Now that an agreement with the Shipping Companies had been arrived at, it was necessary to have a reaffirmation of the sanction given by the Diplomatic Body to the Resolutions of the 6th April, 1903, to levy the additional tax of per mille on the value of all goods on which duty has been paid or may become payable, which with the shipping tax is to meet the service of the loan and the necessary maintenance expenses of the river.\n\nAs regards the tax on shipping, it would appear that the bond to be signed by the Shipping Companies is to be considered sufficient guarantee for payment, and the Council lays down that it will agree with the signatories to the bond to use every means in their power in conjunction with the General Chamber of Commerce to prevent any ship-owners from taking advantage of the terms of the bond to the detriment of the signatories thereto, the Council and the General Chamber of Commerce recognizing the shipping levy as a general port charge to be paid by all ships coming to the bar.\n\nPeking, May 26, 1906.\n\n## Inclosure 13 in No. 1\n\n### Tien-tsin Land Regulations\n\n[Not printed.]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407651, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 115, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "## The American Minister tells me that, under instructions from his Government, he made representations in the same sense verbally to the Wai-wu Pu, and that he had received a reply similar to the one sent to me. I have also been informed by my Russian colleagues that he has recommended his Government to agree to the immediate establishment of customs stations in North Manchuria at the places mentioned by the Wai-wu Pu in their note to me. He is now awaiting instructions, but he thinks that his Government will raise no difficulties, provided that a satisfactory arrangement is made for the free admission of military supplies for the Russian troops still in operation.\n\nA copy of this despatch has been sent to Tôkiô.\n\nI have, &c. \n(Signed) **LANCELOT D. CARNEGIE**\n\n## Inclosure 1 in No. 1\n\n### Agreement between Chinese Government and Russo-Chinese Bank\n\nHSU-KING-CHEN, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the Emperor of China at St. Petersburgh, acting in virtue of the Imperial Edict of the 20th day of the 7th moon of the 22nd year of Kuang Hsü (16th (28th) August, 1896), and the Russo-Chinese Bank, have, for the purpose of entering into partnership, agreed to the following stipulations :-\n\n#### Article 1\nThe Chinese Government engage to enter into partnership with the Russo-Chinese Bank with the capital of 5,000,000 Kuping taels, and to share pro ratá, from the date of the investment of the fund to the said Bank, all profits realized as well as all losses sustained.\n\n#### Art. 2\nOn the 1st day of January of each year (Russian Calendar) when the annual settlement of all accounts of the Bank is to be made, the proportion of the capitals of the Chinese Government and the Russo-Chinese Bank shall be examined and determined respectively, and according to the basis thus established the amount of the profits or losses to be shared by the Chinese Government shall be fixed in Kuping taels at the end of the year.\n\n#### Art. 3\nIn accordance with the Articles of Association of the Bank, a certain per cent. of the net profit annually realized shall be set aside to be allowed to the Directors of the Bank as bonus. The profits remaining after such deduction shall be divided pro ratá between the Chinese Government and the Russo-Chinese Bank, each of whom is to contribute towards the reserve fund 10 per cent. of the amount so divided; and, if the rest still exceed 6 per cent. of the whole amount of each capital, 20 per cent. of such surplus, after deduction of the said 6 per cent., shall be distributed among the employés of the Bank as gratuity. In case of a loss, the portion to be borne by the Chinese Government shall, in the first instance, be supplied from the reserve fund on their account.\n\n#### Art. 4\nThe monthly and annual balance sheets of the accounts of the Bank shall, after examination and approval by the general meeting of shareholders, be transmitted by the agent of the Bank in China to the President of the Eastern China Railway appointed by China, for final submission after his examination to the proper quarters.\n\n#### Art. 5\nIn case of dissolution of the Bank on account of losses or some other causes, the portion of losses to be borne pro rata by the Chinese Government for the liquidation shall be duly determined, and the remaining amount of the capital invested by the said Government shall be refunded.\n\nThis 2nd day of the 8th moon of the 22nd year of Kuang Hsü. (The 27th August (8th September), 1896.)\n\n## Inclosure 2 in No. 1\n\n### Supplementary Agreement between China and Eastern China Railway Company\n\nHSU-KING-CHENG, Ambassador Extraordinary of His Majesty the Emperor of China, and Yang-yu, His Imperial Chinese Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of St. Petersburgh, acting in virtue of the Imperial Edict of the 7th day of the 5th moon of the 24th year of Kuang Hsü (13th (25th) June, 1898), and the Eastern China Railway Company, in conformity to the Agreement between Russia and China, signed at Peking on the 15th (27th) March, 1898, and of the Additional Protocol, signed at St. Petersburgh on the 25th April, 1898, by which documents it has been stipulated that \"the Chinese Government agree to extend, from the date of the signature of the Agreement, the terms of the Agreement concluded with the Eastern China Railway Company on the 27th August (8th September), 1896, concerning the construction and exploitation of a branch line starting from one of the stations on the main line of the Eastern China Railway and reaching the ports of Talienwan and Port Arthur, on the coast of the Liaotung Peninsula\"; that \"all the stipulations of the Agreement concluded between the Chinese Government and the Russo-Chinese Bank on the 27th August, 1896, shall apply with equal strength to this branch line\"; and that the tracks, as well as the points where this line will pass, shall be determined by Ambassador Hsu-king-cheng in common accord with the Eastern China Railway Company\"; have, for the purpose of completing the Agreement for the construction and exploitation of the Eastern China Railway, agreed to the following stipulations :--\n\n#### Article 1\nThis branch line of the Eastern China Railway shall reach the seaports of Port Arthur and Talienwan, and shall thus be called the South Manchurian branch line of the Eastern China Railway.\n\n#### Art. 2\nIt being understood, according to Article 4 of the Agreement of the 27th August, 1896, that the Chinese Government are to take measures, whenever circumstances require, to facilitate the transportation, by land and water, of materials required for the construction of the line, the said Government authorize the Company's steamers and other boats under the Company's flag to navigate the Liao-ho and its tributaries, as well as to enter and unload materials at, the port of Yingkow and all the ports in the neutral zone, where it is found possible to do so, as well as necessary to accelerate the completion of the construction of the branch line.\n\n#### Art. 3\nEqually, in order to facilitate the transportation of materials and provisions necessary for the construction of the South Manchurian branch line, the Eastern China Railway Company has the right to extend temporary branch lines to Yingkow and to other ports of the neutral zone; but as soon as the line is completed and the traffic is fully opened, the Company shall, on demand from the Chinese Government, demolish those branch lines. This demolition shall, at all events, become obligatory on the Company after the lapse of eight years from the date of the completion of the definitive survey and the assignment of the necessary land required for the construction.\n\n#### Art. 4\nIn virtue of the concession granted to the Company by the Chinese Government in 1895 (November 1897 in French text) concerning timber and coal needed by the railway line, the Company is authorized to fell trees in the State forests and appropriate them, on condition that it shall pay for each tree so felled a price to be fixed in common accord with the Chinese local authorities, not exceeding the current price of the locality. Such forests, however, in Sheng-king Province, as particularly belong to the Imperial domain or represent a great religious importance, and are on that account specially protected by the Central Government of Peking, shall be respected and preserved intact. In the region through which the proposed railway line passes, the Company is also authorized to work coal mines in order to meet the demand required for the construction and exploitation of the branch line, by paying a certain price calculated by weight of the coal extracted. The price shall be determined by the Chief Superintendent of the Company or his deputy in common accord with the Chinese local authorities, and it shall not exceed the current price of the locality paid by other persons for the right of working coal mines.\n\n#### Art. 5\nThe Russian Government, having the right to establish such custom Tariff as they may deem suitable for that region of Liaotung Peninsula, which is ceded to them in usufruct, the Chinese Government shall, on their part, levy the custom duties at the frontier on goods imported into, or exported from, the above-mentioned region of the Peninsula. For this purpose the Chinese Government shall, if Russia consents thereto, establish a custom-house at Talienwan from the day of opening of that port for commerce. In case such custom-house is established, the organization and administration thereof shall be intrusted to the Eastern China Railway Company, which shall levy the duties as agent, and for the profit of the Chinese Treasury Department. This custom-house shall be under the direct control of the Central Government.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407916, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 380, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "2\n\nannexed telegram from Hong Kong, that nothing but reversion to the status quo ante the Imperial Edict can save the Imperial Maritime Customs Service from deterioration.\n\nAn example of the deterioration that ensues when a Department is removed from foreign control and placed under Chinese control is furnished by the so-called Water Police at Canton. For many years the shipping, both native and foreign, has been controlled to the satisfaction of everybody by the Harbour Master, who, as in all other Treaty ports, is a foreigner in the employ of the Imperial Maritime Customs. The Viceroy created not long ago a new force, under Chinese control, which challenged the Harbour Master's authority, announcing that their orders only were to be obeyed. The consequence (we are informed by our Hong Kong branch) was that \"Disorder set in, and the work of years spent in instilling obedience into the owners of native craft was wiped out. No funds being provided for the maintenance of these so-called police, their first care was to make up for this neglect by instituting a method of squeeze. The best berths were put up to the highest bidders among the flower-boat owners, who paid highly were allowed to lie even in the fairway, whereas formerly these craft had to maintain their existence outside the harbour limits. The Harbour Master protested in vain, until at length the inconvenience grew to be so great that some channels—notably, a narrow one close to the Dutch Folly—were well-nigh impassable. The magnitude of this evil worked its own cure eventually, and these particular flower-boats were ordered away, but lesser numbers of them still obstruct the fairway in other places, and all efforts to have them removed prove vain because the Water Police have an interest in their remaining where they are, and encourage them to defy the efforts of the Harbour Master to keep the fairways clear.\n\nIn a small way the establishment of this new service is on all fours with the creation of the new Board.\n\nAs in the case of the latter, so it is with the former—abolition is the only cure.\n\nThe difficulty of substantiating certain reports of act and intention is admitted, and it may be that the storm of objection will persuade the new authority to stay temporarily its hand, but the conviction of the Committee that serious changes were and are intended remains unshaken. It is in that conviction that they venture to impart to you reports which have reached them, as tending to confirm their impression that pre-existing conditions will be modified insidiously rather than de front.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) JOSEPH WELCH,\n\nHon. Secretary.\n\n3\n\nExtract from the \"North China Herald\" of August 24, 1906.\n\nThe Governor of Shantung has received a despatch from the Customs Comptrollers-General, their Excellencies Tich Liang and Tang Shao-yi, in which he is instructed to note that, since a Customs Department has been established by Imperial Decree, all questions relating to Customs affairs are to be referred to that Department, excepting questions having an international bearing, which are to be referred to the Wai-wu Pu, and other matters relating purely to the receipt and disbursement of the revenues, which should be referred to the Board of Revenues. On receipt of the despatch, his Excellency the Governor has issued instructions to his subordinates accordingly.\n\nExtract from the \"Journal\" (for October) of the American Asiatic Association.\n\nThe United States is not less interested than Great Britain in preserving unimpaired the status of the Imperial Maritime Customs, and our Government may very properly be urged to join that of Great Britain in insisting on assurances more definite, more comprehensive, and more binding for the future than the somewhat equivocal assertion of Prince Ching.\n\nAddendum.\n\nAs the question of the immutability of an Imperial Edict has been raised, I may be permitted to remark on the incompatibility of the position of Tang Shao-yi with the Edict of the 24th July, 1901, relating to Article XII of the Protocol of Peking. That Edict admits, as a reason for changing the constitution of the Tsung-li Yamen, that \"the Princes and Ministers who composed it exercised the functions appertaining to it, for the most part, accessorily to others, (so that) they could not devote themselves to it exclusively\"; and concluded \"il convient donc naturellement de créer des fonctions spéciales, afin que chacun ait son attribution propre.\" The case of Tang Shao-yi, who holds numerous appointments, would appear to represent a breach of this Edict, and a reversion to the evils it was intended to combat. The subsidiary inconvenience of having to negotiate with Tang Shao-yi at the Wai-wu Pu regarding the position and acts of Tang Shao-yi at the Shui Wu Chu are too obvious to need comment.\n\n(Telegraphic,)\n\n35\n\nChina Association, Hong Kong, to China Association, London,\n\nHong Kong, October 16, 1906. We indorse views expressed in the \"Times\" London leader, of the 13th September. We advocate continuing to press for a new Edict superseding the Decree of 9th May, cancelling the appointment of High Commissioners, and reinstate the Inspector-General in former powers. No other solution of full control and in previous direct relations with Wai-wu Pu is satisfactory.\n\n375", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411247, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 424, "title": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# [This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n418 \nC.O. \n9150 \n**AFFAIRS OF CHINA.** \n**CONFIDENTIAL.** \n[6019] \nNo. 1. \n[February 28de \nREGE 12 MAR 07, \nSECTION 2 \n\n## Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received February 23.) \n\n**(No. 10.)** Sir, \n\nPeking, January 7, 1907. WITH reference to your despatch No. 351 of the 12th October and telegram No. 206 of the 29th November, informing me of the view held by His Majesty's Treasury that the Shanghae Taotai's contention regarding the deduction of interest on indemnity payments was not unreasonable, I have the honour to report that, at the special request of my colleagues, who had not received instructions from their Governments on this question, I agreed to wait until after the end of the past year before communicating this decision to the Chinese Government.\n\nOn the 31st December I learnt from the British Delegate that the Taotai had paid over in accordance with his own method of calculation, leaving an apparent deficit of £1657. 1s. 8d. The British Delegate therefore awaited my instructions before remitting to London.\n\nAt a meeting of the Diplomatic Body on the 5th January I was informed that similar news had been received only from the Belgian Delegate. I informed my colleagues that I must instruct the British Delegate to make his remittance, and did so on returning from the meeting.\n\nThe same evening I received a note from Prince Ch'ing, translation of which I have the honour to inclose, in which the Taotai's method of calculation is described. This coincides with the directions contained in your telegram No. 206.\n\nI am circulating this communication among my colleagues, and propose to inform the Wai-wu Pu that the contention of the Shanghae Taotai is accepted by His Majesty's Government.\n\nI have, &c. \n(Signed) \nJ. N. JORDAN, \n\n### Inclosure in No. 1. \n## Prince Ch'ing to Sir J. Jordan. \n\nJanuary 5, 1907. IN my note of the 29th October the Board's views were clearly expressed on the question of the deduction of interest in making payments of the indemnity. We held that, when the settlement of accounts is made at the end of each six months, the rule laid down in the Protocol, Article 6, must still be adhered to, viz., that interest is payable half-yearly and capital annually, and we asked your Excellency to give instructions to the British Delegate on the Bankers' Commission at Shanghae to this effect.\n\nWe have now just received a telegram from the Shanghae Taotai reporting that, in making deductions of interest, he calculates the amounts to be deducted for the first half-year and then for the second half-year, still making a further deduction of interest on the capital paid in advance during the first half-year at the end of the half-year 1st July-31st December.\n\nThis method of calculation is employed for all the Powers, yet the Hong Kong and Shanghae Bank has repeatedly disputed it, and demands recovery of the further deduction of interest on the capital paid in advance during the first half-year, stating that the payment must be made in full before they can remit to London.\n\nThis Board have the honour to observe that, by the stipulations of the Protocol concerning the indemnity, the only duty of China during the first half of the year is to pay off interest. Then, when China combined capital and interest in equal monthly instalments, it follows that the proportion of capital paid in advance during the first half of the year constitutes a surplus sum when the accounts are made up at the end of June, and should therefore continue to be subject to the deduction of interest till...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411398, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 575, "title": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## No. 1\n\nThe same day the French Minister addressed a note to the doyen of the Diplomatic Body, copy of which is likewise inclosed, formally notifying the adhesion of the French Government to the scheme.\n\nM. l'Ambassadeur,\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n### Inclosure 1 in No. 1\n\nM. Pichon to Mr. MacCormick,\n\nParis, le 8 Novembre, 1906.\n\nPAR une note que vous m'avez transmise le 3 de ce mois, vous avez bien voulu appeler mon attention sur le projet formé par la Chambre de Commerce de Tien-tsin de faire un emprunt en vue d'améliorer la barre à l'entrée du Pei-ho et de solliciter l'assentiment des Puissances étrangères afin d'établir des taxes supplémentaires sur les importations et sur les navires pour faire face à cet emprunt.\n\nLe Gouvernement de la République estime que les travaux d'amélioration de la Barre de Takou ne sont pas seulement utiles au commerce étranger, mais qu'ils sont le complément nécessaire des travaux de rectification du cours du Pei-ho que la Commission Internationale, dont l'existence a été consacrée par l'Article 11 du Protocole Final de Pékin en 1901, a menés à bien jusqu'ici. Aussi le Gouvernement de la République ne voit-il pas de motifs sérieux pour constituer un nouveau Comité qui n'aurait à diriger exclusivement que les travaux d'approfondissement de la barre du fleuve. Pour que ces entreprises d'amélioration donnent tous les résultats que le commerce international, par les sacrifices pécuniaires qu'il a consentis, est en droit d'en attendre, il est essentiel de conserver l'unité de direction et la coordination des efforts. D'autre part, il serait peut-être inopportun au regard des Chinois de paraître retirer à la Commission du Pei-ho, à laquelle les Puissances ont voulu donner un caractère international, la confiance de ces mêmes Puissances au moment où aboutissent ses efforts et de transférer à une autre Commission organisée sur les bases proposées par la Chambre de Commerce de Tien-tsin, dont le projet ne paraît pas résoudre d'une manière complète le problème à envisager, la direction d'un travail qui doit être considéré comme le complément de l'œuvre jusqu'ici conduite par la Commission Internationale à l'entière satisfaction des Puissances Maritimes.\n\nLes instructions données au Ministre de la République à Pékin se sont inspirées des considérations ci-dessus développées et sont une preuve que le Gouvernement Français, bien loin de faire obstacle aux améliorations qu'il y aurait lieu d'apporter à la Barre de Takou, désire, au contraire, voir se réaliser le plein développement de cette entreprise. Je ne puis, en conséquence, que prier votre Excellence de vouloir bien donner connaissance de la présente communication à son Gouvernement. Je ne doute pas que le Département d'Etat ne reconnaisse les avantages qu'il y aurait, tant au point de vue matériel qu'au point de vue moral, à confier l'amélioration de la Barre de Takou à la Commission Internationale qui a en mains les moyens de mener à bien cette œuvre nécessaire.\n\n### Inclosure 2 in No. 1\n\n**Telegraphic Instructions sent by M. Pichon to M. Bapst**\n\nACCORDING to your Commercial despatch No. 94, the International Pei-ho Conservancy Board will play the same part in the execution of the works to be made at the Taku Bar as it does in the mending of the river itself.\n\nIf that principle is recognized, and if the Board of Reference is altered in its composition so that the representatives of the general interests be no longer in minority, you are at liberty to join your colleagues in giving your adhesion to the scheme of the British Municipal Council.\n\nI think, however, it expedient to point out when you will give your assent to the scheme that, according to our opinion, the works intended for the dredging of the Taku Bar should be thoroughly executed for the benefit of the shipping interests at large.\n\n### Inclosure 3 in No. 1\n\nSir J. Jordan to M. Bapst,\n\nMy dear Colleague,\n\nPeking, December 28, 1906.\n\nWHEN we talked over the question of the removal of the Taku Bar the other day you were, I think, under the impression that the Conservancy Board had sufficient funds in hand to carry out at least a portion of the work.\n\nI have asked our Consul at Tien-tsin for information on this point, and he tells me that the funds in hand for possible use on the improvement of the bar are about 65,000 taels, but that it is doubtful whether this sum could be legally used for the purpose. In any case, it would not, he complains, be sufficient for the purchase of the dredger required for the work.\n\nAs to Mr. Dickinson's relations to the Taku Tug and Lighter Company, I have made further inquiries, and beg to repeat the assurance which I gave you verbally. He does not now own, nor has he owned for nearly four years, a single share in the Lighter Company.\n\nThere is every desire to meet the views of the French Government as far as is possible and remove any apprehensions that may be felt on the subject, and I shall be only too happy to do anything I can to secure your friendly co-operation.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n### Inclosure 4 in No. 1\n\nM. Bapst to Sir J. Jordan.\n\nDear Sir John,\n\nFrench Legation, December 28, 1906.\n\nI BEG to return herewith to you the copies you kindly lent me. The unconditional power granted by the scheme to the Board of Reference of deciding the continuation or non-continuation of the bar works has given rise to some doubts as to the suitable fulfilment of those works.\n\nThe Chinese Government, which would very much dislike the possibility for foreign gun-boats of coming up to Tien-tsin, and most of the local shipping agencies have no interest for the bar being dredged for more than a few feet. The French interest, on the contrary, is the dredging for 16 feet, or at the least for 14 feet. Therefore, if we have no guarantee that the work will be done to that extent, we have no reason for giving our money.\n\nI should be very happy if you would kindly devise some means which could allow me to give the French Government's assent without referring again the matter to Paris.\n\nYours, &c.\n\n(Signed) EDOUARD BAPST.\n\n### Inclosure in No. 1\n\nM. Claudel to Consul-General Hopkins.\n\nM. le Consul-Général et cher Collègue,\n\nTien-tsin, le 29 Décembre, 1906.\n\nJ'AI été avisé par le Ministre des difficultés que soulèvent, au point de vue de notre Gouvernement, la rédaction et l'application de l'arrangement relatif à la coupure de la Barre de Takou actuellement soumis à l'approbation du Corps Diplomatique. J'ai pensé que des explications données par vous pourraient dissiper les malentendus existants.\n\nComme vous le savez, la principale objection que fait le Gouvernement Français à l'acte dont il s'agit est la crainte de voir substituer à l'autorité de la Commission du Hai-ho établie par le consentement des différentes Puissances, celle d'une Commission nouvelle qui présenterait en fait le caractère d'une organisation étroitement locale.\n\nLes assurances données par vous que la Commission du Hai-ho aura, en ce qui concerne la barre, le même rôle et la même autorité qu'en ce qui concerne la rivière proprement dite, ont déjà éclairé un côté fort important de la question.\n\nPage 569", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411627, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 127, "title": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# \n3 \n126 \n4. \n\nhad then been found; and that I have lately been shown by the Company cigarettes of pure Chinese leaf with which they are experimenting.\n\n## Inclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nI have, &c. \n**(Signed)** \nALEX. HOSIE.\n\n## Shanghae Custom-house Order No. 601.\n\n**NOTICE** is hereby given that from this date (22nd January, 1904) Chinese manufactures of foreign type will, until the Mackay Treaty, Article VIII, comes into operation, be liable to a single 5 per cent. ad valorem duty, and thereafter be free from further taxation.\n\n5 \nIf 5 per cent. ad valorem is not paid, the privilege cannot be enjoyed of exemption from further taxation, and the rule applicable to native produce must be applied: that if, after payment of export duty, there is a re-entry into another port, coast trade duty must be paid, and if there is a further conveyance into the interior customs dues must be paid at customs stations, and li-kin at li-kin stations.\n\nAs regards the dues previously levied in excess by the Shanghae Customs, if it is ascertained that after export the goods in question did not enter another port, or were not again conveyed into the interior, instructions will be given for the amount levied in excess to be ascertained and it will be returned to the firm concerned in the shape of drawback certificates.\n\nIn making this reply for your Excellency's information, I have the honour to request a reply in order that the necessary instructions may be issued to the Customs authorities concerned.\n\n## Inclosure 4 in No. 1.\n\n**Memorandum** from Deputy Commissioner to Commissioner of Customs, Shanghae.\n\n**Manufacturing Industries in China.**\n\nTHE right of foreigners to engage in manufacturing industries in the China open ports is recognized in the Japanese Commercial Treaty (Article VI, section 4) of 1896 (1895), previous to which date the Chinese Government did not concede the right.\n\nArticle III of the Protocol to that Treaty agrees that taxes on such manufactures shall be the same as are payable by Chinese subjects for the same things.\n\nThe only stipulation for a rebate on imported materials is found in Article VIII (section 9) of the Mackay Treaty, and that Article is not in operation.\n\n**(Initialled)** \n**(Signed)** \nH. E. H. \nJ. W. INNOCENT, \nDeputy Commissioner.\n\nSir,\n\n## Inclosure 6 in No. 1.\n\n**British Cigarette Company to Consul-General Sir P. Warren,**\n\nShanghae, January 14, 1905, \nI BEG to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, covering copy of Prince Ch'ing's Minute to Sir Ernest Satow, relative to the 5 per cent. export duty on cigarettes.\n\nI laid the matter before my Board, and I am instructed to inform you that the proposed arrangements will be satisfactory to the Company.\n\nI would request you therefore to communicate this decision to Sir Ernest Satow with a view to having the necessary instructions issued to the local customs, so that they may cease to levy duty at the higher rate, and issue the necessary drawback certificates for the amounts overpaid during the last year.\n\nMy Board desire to express to you their thanks for all you have done to secure them justice in this very difficult matter, and further desire me to ask you if you will be good enough to convey to Sir Ernest Satow an expression of their thanks to him, and their high appreciation of his great exertions on behalf of the Company.\n\nThanking you in anticipation, I remain, &c. \n**(Signed)** \nH. A. KELLY, \nDirector.\n\nCustom-house, Shanghae, January 14, 1907.\n\n**(Translation.)**\n\nYour Excellency,\n\n## Inclosure 5 in No. 1.\n\n**Prince Ching to Sir E. Satow.**\n\nPeking, December 26, 1904. \nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's note of the 13th December, on the subject of export duty on cigarettes manufactured at Shanghae. (Note summarized.)\n\nMy Board have to observe that cigarettes are manufactured from \"`yen ssu`\" (prepared tobacco), but cannot themselves continue to be called by the latter names, just as foreign cloth manufactured from cotton yarn cannot itself be called cotton yarn. The duty on foreign cloth is not the same as that on cotton yarn, and there would seem to be a lack of equity in declaring that cigarettes must pay the same duty as \"`yen ssu`\" (prepared tobacco). The course previously taken by the Shanghae Customs in levying duty on cigarettes as on \"`yen ssu`\" was no more than a compromise based on analogy and adopted with a view of avoiding the difficulties of detail involved in the estimate of the value, and the proper course would have been undoubtedly to levy an ad valorem duty of 5 per cent. as on articles not enumerated in the Tariff lists.\n\nMoreover, as this Board had decided with a view to the encouragement of manufactures that only the single levy of 5 per cent. ad valorem should be made, and no further duties imposed, there were fully compensating advantages; but as your Excellency has debated the point in previous communications, insisting that duty should continue to be paid as on catties, this Board has no objection in agreeing to this. \"`yen ssu`\" at the rate of 4 m. 5 c., per hundred\n\nDear Sir John,\n\n## Inclosure 7 in No. 1.\n\n**Sir R. Hort to Sir J. Jordan.**\n\nPeking, February 14, 1907. \nI HAVE received, and now return, Mr. Hosie's Report on cigarettes manufactured in China.\n\nAs you are already aware, the 5 per cent. rate, with exemption afterwards, was applied to such cigarettes, just as to other foreign-type manufactures, but, at the request of the Legation, the original local treatment was reverted to and the native produce rate-export duty at port of shipment, coast trade duty at port of discharge, liability to local taxation as native goods afterwards-acted on.\" The Maritime Customs collect only these two duties, export and coast trade; whatever other charges is levied is demanded by other tax offices acting on their own rules.\n\nRegarding the general question of the treatment of goods at open ports after payment of import duties, the point has often been raised, but never settled. My own view is that payment of import duties-that is, full Tariff import duty in the case of foreign, or coast trade duty in the case of native goods-should free the goods in question while at, or within the area of, the port itself; but here we are met by several unsettled questions, e.g.:—\n\n| Point | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| (a.) | What are the boundaries of an open port ? |\n| (b.) | What is the port area of such open port? |\n| (c.) | Does freedom within the port area cover only goods in their original condition and unopened packages? |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411628, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 128, "title": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## 6\n\n(d.) Or does it mean exemption for all goods that have once paid duty, no matter when met, how handled, or in what sizes, shapes, and quantities?\n\n(e.) And if this last, how can distinction be made, in the case of native goods, between those that ought to be so free, having arrived by ship and paid duty, and those others which are really locally taxable, having arrived in some other way?\"\n\nAccordingly, considering how much there is that is still unsettled in connection with the general question, it is difficult to formulate any statement concerning cigarettes such as \"after payment of export and coast trade duties, such and such is the treatment they are entitled to within port areas.\" The drafting of such a rule--supposing such a rule possible--would be easier if a specific case were stated, for from its settlement a generally applicable principle or modus operandi might be evolved. If therefore you could put a specific case, setting forth that on such a day and at such a place such cigarettes which had paid such duties were called on to pay such additional tax by such office while in the port area, and in the possession of such person, and in such quantity and in such condition, &c., a step might be considered as taken towards making understanding or arrangement possible.\n\nAs for the Shimonoseki Treaty, Article VI, paragraph 4, it seems to me to have lost its significance when interpreted by the October Protocol of 1896, which says: \"The Chinese Government may impose such tax as it may see fit, provided such tax shall neither be other than that payable by Chinese nor higher.\"\n\nThis lengthy letter is simply to point out the direction in which the ground remains to be cleared, unless you can get the Chinese Government to say that cigarettes are to pay export or coast trade duties at the Maritime Customs and nothing else to any other tax-office; but I fear that assent to such a general rule is not possible, and so you will have to tackle the question of the definition of port areas, otherwise local tax-offices will certainly continue to charge on cigarettes that have no papers to protect them, seeing that opening a port by Treaty does not mean the disappearance of such offices and taxes.\n\n## 7\n\nI am aware that the subject presents some difficulty, and must be treated with discretion. Should the Chinese authorities of Manchuria refuse to recognize the claim of the British-American Company's cigarettes to exemption from li-kin in Treaty ports and trade marts, and the question be referred to the Legation, it will assist me materially if you can submit a specific case in full detail in which the goods can be proved to have paid an additional levy within the port area. Time, place, quantity, ownership, amount of extra tax and by whom levied, together with other facts of importance, should be carefully stated, and evidence of the payment of export and coast-trade duties should also be furnished.\n\n&c.\n\nI am,\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\nSincerely yours,\n(Signed) ROBERT HART.\n\n**(No. 11.) Sir,**\n\n## Inclosure 8 in No. 1.\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Consul-General Fulford.**\n\nPeking, February 22, 1907. WITH reference to your despatch No. 8 of the 22nd December, I beg to inclose, for your information, copies of correspondence relating to the duties leviable on cigarettes manufactured at Shanghae.\n\nPrince Ch'ing's note of the 26th December, 1904, closed a correspondence between the Legation and the Wai-wu Pu which arose from a protest made by the British-American Tobacco Company against a 5 per cent. ad valorem tax imposed by the Chinese Government in January 1904 on Chinese manufactures of foreign type. His Highness, in conceding that the earlier specific export duty of 4 m. 5 c. per 100 catties should be levied, made it a condition that the cigarettes should be treated as native produce, and should pay coast trade duty, if reimported at another Treaty port, and internal customs dues if conveyed into the interior from that port. You will notice that his Highness did not stipulate for the payment of any duty other than the coast trade duty in the port of re-entry, and it would appear only reasonable that goods which have already contributed both an export and a coast-trade duty should be free from further taxation until they actually leave that port for the interior.\n\nIt seems to me therefore that, while it must be conceded that you are not entitled under Treaty or Regulation to protest against the imposition of internal taxes in a Treaty port on produce classed as native, you may fairly represent to the Chinese authorities that these cigarettes, which are not, in reality, ordinary native produce, have been made the subject of a Special Arrangement, and that the fact of their having already paid export and coast-trade duties does give them a legitimate right to exemption from further levies in the Treaty port, and in support of your arguments you may find it useful to point to the statement in Prince Ch'ing's note which I have referred to above.\n\n## 127", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412507, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 267, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## Inclosure 1 in No. 1\n\ninterest in the question and gave evidence of a lively desire to further the negotiations. His Excellency was, however, dominated by his fear of the literati of the three provinces, who, if the wishes of the more reasonable and representative among them were not taken into account, would cause the people under their influence to obstruct land purchase and construction work. The Government of China was at this moment not in a position to withstand this pressure. It was therefore necessary to steer a middle course between the foreign claims based on the Preliminary Agreement and the demands of the gentry. Only thus could anything beneficial accrue from the undertaking. His Excellency promised to bring all his influence to bear on the literati if Mr. Cordes would lend his assistance in that sense. Towards the end of the interview, during which Mr. Cordes confined himself to an explanation of the draft Agreements, the Viceroy noted down fifteen points which seemed to his Excellency to embody the essentials of a satisfactory solution. A copy of them was supplied to Mr. Cordes for communication to Mr. Liang. These fifteen points were not to be considered as unalterable demands on the part of the Viceroy, but merely contained the expression of his Excellency's view of what was required, according to his knowledge of the conditions as above expressed, to direct the negotiations into the proper channel.\n\nThe points were as follows:-\n\n| Point | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1 | Loan not to exceed 5,000,000%. (China only took up 5,000,000l. for the Lu-Han line; the most economical arrangements possible in the circumstances must be made.) |\n| 2 | A single track to be laid first of all. (The Viceroy added verbally that it would be well to buy in advance the land for a double track.) |\n| 3 | The whole line to be completed in three years' time. |\n| 4 | The Yellow River bridge at Lao K'ou (Lokow) to be likewise completed within that period. (Verbally. An effort should at any rate be made--the time limit might be extended.) |\n| 5 | Loan to be at 94. Interest 5 per cent. per annum. |\n| 6 | Interest only payable for first ten years. Amortization to begin from eleventh year. If funds allow the loan can be paid off in full in the eleventh year, or the instalments can be increased. |\n| 7 | If the capital sum should be repaid in the eleventh year, no premium of 2 per cent. to be paid. |\n| 8 | The line shall not be pledged as security for the loan, but certain revenues of the three provinces will be pledged. Yüan Shih-kai will decide which. |\n| 9 | A German engineer will be engaged for the northern section, and a British engineer for the southern. Both will be independently selected and appointed by the high Chinese authorities intrusted with the management of the line. These engineers will be under the control and orders of the Chinese Directors. |\n| 10 | The British and German engineers have only to concern themselves with the work of construction and may not interfere in other matters. |\n| 11 | It has hitherto been stipulated that the Syndicate (and) the engineers shall receive 20 per cent. of the working profits. This must be renounced in order to prevent delay in amortization. Mr. Liang will discuss means to concede an extra bonus in commutation. |\n| 12 | The arrangements regarding the amount of commission accruing to the banks on purchase of material, or in the event of a different solution of this question (by commutation) shall be made by Mr. Liang. (The Viceroy explained that a sum as commutation might be computed on the lines of the 35,000l. allowed by the Canton-Kowloon Agreement.) |\n| 13 | Work must be simultaneously begun on the northern section from Tien-tsin and on the southern section from Pukow, as well as on the central section north and south from Chinan. (This means no delay.) |\n| 14 | Germany shall construct no competing line in Shantung. |\n| 15 | If, when the construction nears completion, the amount of the loan does not suffice, the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank and Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation can negotiate a supplementary loan.\n\nJuly 2, 1907.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nPage 3\n\n## Inclosure 2 in No. 1\n\nNotes on Mr. Cordes' Interview with Mr. Liang, July 12, 1907.\n\nCHANG CHIH-TUNG'S fifteen points were discussed with Liang. Mr. Cordes declared that the finding of a good security was the most important point, and urged Liang to ask the Viceroy Yüan, in whose hands the decision lay, at Chang Chih-tung's own suggestion, what provincial revenues he had in mind, and whether the salt revenues of the three provinces could be earmarked; or, failing that, the li-kin of Chihli, Shangtung, and Kiangsu. This did not commend itself to Liang. He was doubtful how the Viceroy would take such a question, even if asked verbally. Liang personally would prefer the Maritime Customs revenue to be pledged. He did not care to deal with the provincial Governments, which were entirely in the hands of the unreasonable gentry. He had that day received a most unreasonable telegram from the Shantung Governor regarding the Shantung portion of the security for the railway loan. The obligations arising from the Preliminary Agreement were Chinese Imperial ones, and the provinces should have no more to do with the unravelling of the affair than was absolutely necessary. Liang then wrote to Sir Robert Bredon asking the amounts of customs receipts in recent years and the total sum hypothecated for foreign loans. Later, Sir Robert Bredon called on Mr. Cordes in the bank and stated that he estimated about 15,000,000 taels were not hypothecated to the service of foreign loans. But according to the Protocol of 1901 the indemnity of 450,000,000 taels was secured on the customs.\n\n[Protocol to that effect quoted.]\n\nPeking, July 12, 1907.\n\n## Inclosure 3 in No. 1\n\n(Signed)\n\nH. CORDES.\n\n## Draft Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze Final Agreement: Chinese Offer\n\n**ARTICLE 1**. The Imperial Government of China authorizes the Syndicate banks to issue a 5 per Cent. Gold Loan for an amount of 5,000,000l. and called \"the Imperial Chinese 5 per Cent. Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze Railway Loan.\"\n\n**Art. 2**. The loan is designed to provide the capital for the construction of a Government Railway line from a point connecting the Imperial Railways of North China at or near Tien-tsin through Techon and Tsinanfu to Theien, near the southern frontier of Shantung, hereinafter known as the northern section of the Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze Railway line, and from Ihsien to Pukou (opposite Nanking, on the Yang-tsze-kiang), hereinafter known as the southern section of the Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze Railway line, the total length of these two sections being about 1,085 kilom., equal to about 2,170 Chinese *li* (Roughly 700 miles). The survey line shall be open to revision by the Director-General.\n\n**Art. 3**. The capital so provided will be solely devoted to the construction of the above railway line, and will include the funds required for the purchase of land, rolling-stock, and other equipment and for working the line, together with interest on the loan during the period of construction, which should not exceed three years from the actual beginning of the works, the commencement of the works not to be delayed beyond six months after this Agreement has been signed, within which period the sum of 500,000l. shall be placed at the disposal of the Director-General, in China or Europe as he may direct, as a first instalment on account of the proceeds of the loan. This amount of 500,000l., together with interest thereon not exceeding a charge of 6 per cent. per annum, shall be deducted from the proceeds of the first sale of the bonds.\n\n**Art. 4**. The rate of interest for the loan shall be 5 per cent. per annum on the nominal principal, and shall be paid for account of the Imperial Chinese Government during the time of the construction out of the proceeds of the loan and afterwards out of...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412596, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 356, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n### CONFIDENTIAL\n\n[33104]\n\n353\n\n[October 3, 1907]\n\nSECTION...\n\n1R$ 29 OCT 07.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received October 5.)**\n\n(No. 396.)\n\nPeking, August 20, 1907.\n\nWith reference to my despatch No. 353 of the 22nd July, respecting the attitude of the Viceroy of Chihli towards the mining rights of the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company (Limited), I have the honour to inclose copies of recent correspondence which has passed between Major Nathan, the representative of the Limited Company, and the Tien-tsin Customs Taotai, Mr. M. T. Liang.\n\nIn his letter to Mr. Liang of the 4th July, Major Nathan proposes a scheme for converting the present capital of the Mining Company into a loan made to the Chinese authorities, while the management of the undertaking would be under a Board of Directors to be elected by the shareholders, the Viceroy or his deputy being, ex officio, a member of the Board and President of the Company. This Board would, nevertheless, have its head-quarters in London, but a local Board could be set up in China to control the local affairs of the Company, under the general control of the London Board. The foreign Manager would have a Chinese colleague appointed by the Viceroy, whose powers would be restricted till the loan was redeemed. The redemption of the loan, Major Nathan suggested, should take place after thirty years, the share capital to receive a bonus of 50 per cent.\n\nMr. Liang's reply to these proposals, under cover of his letter of the 7th July, is couched in the vaguest terms, but appears to contemplate the conversion of the Company into a Chinese Government undertaking by transforming its shares into the capital of \"The Kaiping Mining Bureau,\" which the Company, i.e., the foreign shareholders, would, nevertheless, continue to hold for thirty years. At the same time, he proposes that the Limited Company should liquidate its obligations to the Chinese Government by issuing to them 400,000 shares of £1 each, a proportion of which would be devoted towards forming a sinking fund for the redemption of the shares held by \"the Company\" after thirty years.\n\nDuring this period, he proposes that the undertaking should be managed by the Viceroy, as Director-General, with two Chinese Directors and two appointed by \"the Company.\"\n\nAs I wished to prevent the Viceroy from trying to bring pressure to bear on the Limited Company by any open act of aggression while the question of an adjustment was under consideration, I sent word to his Excellency on the 1st August that I desired to convey a message to him regarding the Mining Company's case, and that I would send Mr. Mayers, the Acting Chinese Secretary, to Tien-tsin for this purpose. The Viceroy replied that as he was on sick leave, he could not receive visitors, but would be glad if the message could be delivered to him through the Customs Taotai.\n\nI accordingly sent Mr. Mayers to Tien-tsin on the 15th August, when he informed the Customs Taotai on my behalf that I was prepared to use my best endeavours towards effecting a reasonable and amicable adjustment of the existing difficulties, and was ready to depute Sir Alexander Hosie to meet with the Viceroy's delegate and the Company's representative with the object of arranging a settlement acceptable to both parties. In the meantime, I desired to strongly impress on his Excellency the inadvisability of resorting to any overt act of hostility towards the Limited Company. The establishment of the Lanchow Mining Company under the Viceroy's protection showed an intent to force the hand of the Limited Company, and if this Chinese Company was allowed to start active mining operations on lands over which the Limited Company claimed mining rights, at a time when a settlement was under consideration, such action on the part of the Viceroy would be vigorously opposed by us.\n\nIn a letter dated the 16th August, the Customs Taotai stated that he had conveyed my message to the Viceroy, who was quite prepared to accept Sir Alexander Hosie's mediation in the matter.\n\nPage 353\n\n## Previous Document\n\n**report of the Allied Commanders was not forwarded to the Chinese Government, and that the stipulation to which you refer is consequently not binding upon them.**\n\nAll that the Chinese Government appear to have agreed to in this connection is that no Chinese troops should be stationed within 6 miles of the city of Tien-tsin, and that the arrangement made previous to the signature of the Protocol, under which the jurisdiction of the Commanders of the posts along the line of communications was to extend to a distance of 2 miles on either side of the railway, should be maintained as long as the line of posts specified in Article 9 of the Protocol continued to be occupied.\n\nAs many of the posts mentioned in the foregoing Article have been evacuated, there being no foreign troops at all between this and Tien-tsin, the stipulation would seem to have largely fallen into abeyance, and we could scarcely, I conceive, object to the Chinese taking reasonable measures for safeguarding an important line of communications for whose protection we no longer exercise the right conceded by the Protocol.\n\nBut it would, I think, be advisable that the Intelligence Department should continue to keep a watch upon these stations and furnish periodical reports as to any change in the strength and composition of the Chinese troops, which at present appear to be of a poor class.\n\nWith regard to paragraph 7 of your despatch, I am strongly of opinion that it is very desirable to retain a small body of British troops at Tongshan. The attitude of the Viceroy towards the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company has lately become far from friendly, and, under instructions from His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State, I recently notified his Excellency that the confiscation of the Company's property could not be allowed.\n\nThe fact that we had left a post there while withdrawing from other places would indicate to the Viceroy that we attached especial importance to Tongshan, and if necessary, I am prepared to submit this suggestion for the approval of His Majesty's Government by telegraph.\n\nI have, &c. \n(Signed) **J. N. JORDAN**\n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government. \n\n[2692 e-6]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412630, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 390, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## Inclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nHerr von Buri to M. Siffert.\n\nShanghue, July 15, 1907.\n\n**REGARDING** the letter addressed to the Senior Consul by the Dean of the Diplomatic Body, dated Peking, June 6th, concerning the Whangpu Conservancy Board, in which it was stated that Board should be requested to furnish the Consular Body with a detailed working scheme of the entire river conservancy, together with an estimate of costs, I beg to make the following observations. The question, \"If the works have been carried out with diligence, care, and economy,\" can, in my opinion, only be answered when one is able, by the light of a working scheme, to pass in review not only the different works already executed, but also those to be executed in due order, and in their relation to and bearing upon one another, and when, by means of an estimate of costs, it is shown how the means at the disposal of the Board are to be distributed on the different parts of the work. Speaking quite generally, there is, without such a working scheme, a danger that too much money might be spent on a particular part of the work to the detriment of the river conservancy as a whole.\n\nThe working scheme would, in particular, have to show that the waterway in the ship channel, which has been much altered and deepened since the original project was put forward (see Quarterly Reports of the Whangpu Conservancy Board), will not, by the working and appliances used in carrying out the work, become so narrowed as to endanger shipping, or even be blocked before the new waterway is open.\n\nYou will oblige me by circulating this letter, so that the matter may be discussed at the next Consular meeting.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nVON BURI, Consul-General for Germany.\n\n(Signed)\n\n## Inclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\n**Niemorandum** on some Questions connected with the Improvement of the Whangpu. [Sent in by Mr. A. Van de Sande Bakhyusen, Dutch Acting Consul-General, on July 23, 1907.]\n\nThe Consular Body decided, at its meeting on the 11th June last, to inquire closely into the financial situation of the Whangpu Conservancy Board, and since then we have received from the Diplomatic Body in Peking a list of questions referring to the same point, whilst some other questions referring to the technical part of the improvement have been submitted by the German Consul-General. As the whole matter of the working and carrying out of the new Agreement will therefore have to be looked into, and as this affords a very good opportunity for us to consider all the difficulties which have arisen or may arise with regard to this vital interest of Shangbae, I beg to suggest that the inquiry be extended still a little further, and I take the liberty of drawing attention to some points which require elucidation before we will really be able not only to give a satisfactory answer to the letter of the Diplomatic Body, but also to enable us to form an opinion for ourselves, and to perform the duty imposed upon us by the new Agreement.\n\nThe Quarterly Reports, which contain the only official information in our possession, do not provide us with sufficient material to form a judgment on all the questions which the execution of the work involves.\n\n### Finances\n\nThe questions enumerated in the letter from the doyen of the Diplomatic Body, which refer mainly to the administration of the funds, may find an answer in the next Quarterly Report, but there is another point in regard to the finances. There seems to be a doubt in regard to the financial obligations of the Chinese Government for the Whangpu work. The preamble of the new Arrangement states explicitly that the Chinese Government undertakes to pay all the costs of the works (\"en prenant à sa charge la totalité des dépenses\").\n\nThis is reaffirmed and repeated in Article 9, but Article 10 says that the Chinese Government will, in conformity with the stipulations of the Protocol of 1901, spend on these works annually for twenty years the sum of 460,000 Haikwan taels. The Chinese Government may, continues Article 10, if necessary, float a loan to meet exceptionally high expenses. For the payment of the capital and interest of this loan, as well as for the payment of expenses of any kind in connection with the execution of the work or the maintenance thereof, China must pay yearly a minimum of 460,000 taels. The question arises, if China has fulfilled all its obligations by the payment of 460,000 taels yearly for a period of twenty years. If that were the opinion of the Chinese Government, who is to provide for the always rather expensive maintenance of the works? Moreover, it seems quite certain that a few more millions will have to be invested in improvement works before the river will be in good condition, and that the total cost will be heavier than apparently anticipated when the Agreement was drawn up. I think that it would be advisable to ascertain what the opinion of the Conservancy Board is on the very important point.\n\n### Revenue\n\nJudging by the plans of the improvement, it seems that a good deal of land will have to be reclaimed, and some land cut away, and perhaps to be paid for. According to the new Agreement, the riparian owners have a preferential right to buy or to lease any reclaimed land which accrues to their property. The Agreement does not say who will be entitled to the proceeds of these sales or leases. I presume that the intention was that the Board will have the benefit thereof, or is it perhaps the opinion of the Chinese Government that they may claim any profits there may be on this account? It would seem to be more in keeping with the Agreement that this money should go to the Board over and above the 460,000 taels per year. As the profits may constitute a considerable amount, it would be well to inquire what the intention of the Board is.\n\n### Riparian Owners\n\nThe question of the riparian owners threatens to become a most difficult one, and is very likely to cause a good deal of friction. To some of them the reclaiming of land will be of great advantage, whereas to others it may entail considerable loss to give up their present landing stages or wharves and to conform to the observance of the normal lines. It is the intention of the Conservancy Board to force the riparian owners to observe the normal lines, and, if so, how will the Board carry this out?\n\nAccording to the Agreement, the price to be paid by the riparian owners for reclaimed land will be fixed by a Committee, which Committee will be differently composed according to the nationality of the riparian owners. This does not seem conducive to even and fair assessments. It would be interesting to elicit from the Board a statement as to how it intends to deal with this question.\n\n### The Chinese Bund\n\nA most difficult question exists with regard to the river in front of the Chinese city. The river is there at its narrowest, and it seems to be essential for the success of the improvement scheme that the flood tide should have ample room to run up the river, but this is prevented by the narrowness of the river at this point, and still further by a mud bank which extends along the Chinese bund. On this mud bank, which is dry at low tide, there are stored thousands of logs which act as silt catchers and impair the condition of the river. Furthermore, there is situated there a small floating city of so-called beggar boats, which harbour a great number of people who are too poor to hire lodgings on shore. According to the Engineer's opinion, it is indispensable that this lumber and the beggar-boats should be removed, and that the river should be brought to normal depth over the entire width of the river. Before long the Board will have to deal with this question, and as this will probably cause great expenditure in the form of compensation, it would be advisable to ask the Board to express an opinion on this point.\n\nPage 390\nPage 391", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412641, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 401, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## 2 \n\ntion, for whose protection the Powers no longer exercise the right conceded by the Protocol.\n\n4. With reference to the concentration scheme which has been agreed to by the War Office and the Foreign Office, Sir John Jordan informs me that the attitude of the Viceroy of Chihli towards the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company has lately become far from friendly, and the former has been informed that the confiscation of the Company's property could not be allowed.\n\nUnder the circumstances, His Majesty's Minister considers that the troops at Tongshan should not be reduced pending the amicable adjustment of the differences between the Company and the Viceroy, which he is endeavouring to effect.\n\n5. If a satisfactory arrangement is arrived at prior to the reduction of the British force in North China to two battalions, Tongshan can be evacuated; if, on the other hand, the detachment at Tongshan is to be maintained for a longer period, the additional expense thereby incurred will be trifling.\n\n6. I am sending a copy of this letter to His Majesty's Minister at Peking.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n**(Signed) W. H.-H. WATERS, Brigadier-General, Commanding the Troops in North China.**\n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's **CHINA RAILWAYS.**\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\n`[34195]`\n\n## No. 1.\n\nSir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.\n\n`39126` \n[October 14.]\n\n## SECTION 1.\n\nLOMON\n\n**(No. 109.) (Telegraphic.) P.**\n\nForeign Office, October 14, 1907.\n\nSOOCHÓW-NINGPO and Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze Railways.\n\nPlease let me know the facts relative to signature of the Agreements for the above two railways, as the Chinese Central Railways hear from Berlin that you are requiring the signature of the Soochow-Ningpo Agreement simultaneously with that of the Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze Railway, and fear a delay of the latter in consequence.\n\n`[2691 o-]` \n`333`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412745, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 505, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n\n440 \n502 \nNovember 17 DEC 07 \n## SECTION 1.\n\n[36641] \n\nSir, \n\n### No. 1. Chinese Engineering and Mining Company to Foreign Office.-(Received November 6.)\n\n22, Austin Friars, London, November 5, 1907. REFERRING to your letter of the 18th July last, on the subject of the occupation of land by the French at Chin Wang Tao, and inclosing a copy of a letter of the 4th July from M. Pichon, the French Foreign Minister, and a Memorandum on the subject. My Directors have been in communication with the Company's representative in China, and I am instructed to reply as follows:- \n\nM. Pichon's letter might give the impression that this Company has adopted an unconciliatory attitude in dealing with the question of the French occupation. I am therefore desired to point out that, so far from this being the case, the Company has throughout expressed its willingness to concede to the French Government exactly the same advantages which have been accepted by the German and Japanese Governments. The Company, in fact, expressed its willingness to meet the demands made by the French Minister for land for naval, military, and Government purposes, although these demands exceeded those of either the Japanese or the German Governments. Moreover, the Company's proposals were accepted as satisfactory by M. Dubail, the former Minister at Peking, who concluded an Agreement accordingly on the 5th October, 1904. It was only after a lapse of eighteen months that the Company received information that this Agreement was rejected by the French Foreign Office.\n\nM. Pichon's letter proposes as an equitable compromise the very conditions which from the first have been rejected as unacceptable to this Company.\n\nThe French Memorandum may be divided into four sections :--\n1. The justification of the French action and position.\n2. The alleged history of the port and the Company, and a discussion of its rights.\n3. A threat to take action with the Chinese Government hostile to the Company.\n4. A reiteration of proposals for a settlement which from the first have been rejected by this Company.\n\nThe French Government are at present in occupation--\n* (a.) Of certain lands near the railway station.\nThese lands were occupied by the French Government at the end of 1900 or the beginning of 1901, simultaneously with the temporary occupation of land at Chin Wang Tao effected by other Powers. This area of ground in the occupation of the French authorities is far greater than that occupied by the other Powers, and only a small portion of it is actually required for their naval and military depôts. The Company has always expressed its willingness to the retention of this extended area by the French Government for Government purposes.\n\nThe only issue with respect to these lands, therefore, is their assignment by the French Government to their nationals for private or trading purposes. This is dealt with later, where it is shown that the Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, Article 9, on which the French Government's claim is based, expressly recognizes \"le droit d'occuper certains points pour maintenir les communications libres entre la capitale et la mer,\" but only for that special purpose.\n\n* (b) Of certain lands on the bluff at Chin Wang Tao.\nThese lands were forcibly seized by the French Government in October 1901, at a time when they were indisputably in the possession of this Company, and some time subsequent to the signing of the Peace Protocol of the 7th September, 1901. It is surprising that the French Memorandum makes no reference to this, nor affords any justification of their action.\n\nCompletely independent and reliable evidence of this seizure and its date is to be found in the Report of Captain H. W. Cruddas, Officer Commanding Chin Wang Tao, addressed on the 20th October, 1901, to the Chief Staff Officer of the British China Field Force in Tien-tsin.\n\n[2732 f-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412746, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 506, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# 503\n\n2\n\nCorroborating this is the protest addressed by the then Manager of the Company, Mr. Dugan, to the French Admiral dated the 27th October, 1901, and his reply dated the 1st December, 1901, expressing himself unable to deal with the matter and referring the former to the French Minister in Peking.\n\nM. Dubail, the French Minister, withdrew all claim to these lands and caused the French boundary posts to be removed and the lands returned to the Company. After a period of eighteen months' undisturbed occupation by the Company of the same, the land was again forcibly seized by the French Government. The justification advanced in the French Memorandum is to be found on pp. 11 and 12, and reads as follows:\n\n\"En fait, la situation de la France à Ts'in-ouang-tao est nette et son droit sur les terrains qu'elle occupe fort bien établi; d'accord avec les autres Puissances, elle détient en vertu du droit de guerre et en exécution de l'Article 9 du Protocole de 1901 relatif à l'occupation des points nécessaires pour assurer les libres communications entre Pékin et la mer en toute saison, une partie des terrains de Ts'in-ouang-tao, au même titre que divers autres emplacements situés sur les lignes d'étapes entre Pékin et la mer, et nul ne peut légalement l'en déposséder.\"\n\nThe \"droit de guerre\" could give no right to the French Government to seize the private property of the subjects of a friendly Power six weeks after the Final Peace Protocol with the Chinese Government has been signed.\n\nArticle 9 of the Protocol confirms to the use of the Powers certain lands the occupation of which had been ceded by the previous Protocol of the 16th February, 1901, for the purpose of maintaining free communication between the capital and the sea. It affords no justification for the subsequent seizure of private property.\n\nExcept for the alleged \"droit de guerre,\" no justification is offered by the French Memorandum beyond occasional references to the Tien-tsin Treaty of 1858, and an argument that the possession by this Company of its land constitutes a breach of that Treaty.\n\n31\n\nMy Directors cannot understand how clause 14 of the Treaty of 1858 forbidding \"toute coalition organisée dans le but d'exercer un monopole sur le commerce\" have any bearing on the case, or how, if a right were accorded to the French Government to lease a small portion of land at Chin Wang Tao to private individuals for commercial or industrial purposes, it could remedy a breach of this clause. The ownership of the land by this Company gives no monopoly of commerce, nor does the Company claim any. What gives this Company a special position at Chin Wang Tao (apart from its legal title) is the fact that the port has been created by the Company, that no natural port whatsoever existed there, but an artificial harbour has been created as the result of the expenditure of large sums of money by this Company in the construction of a pier and breakwater, &c. But for this expenditure the land would be worthless, as it was when first acquired by the Company.\n\nNo commercial monopoly is sought or exercised by this Company at Chin Wang Tao. The Agreement made with M. Dubail accorded to French nationals and shippers the same facilities at moderate rates as to those of any other Power, the same Agreement having been entered into with the German and Japanese Governments. In proof of this we need only mention that half-a-dozen different shipping lines, including the French \"Chargeurs Réunis,\" are running to the port. The Company is, moreover, quite prepared to sell to French nationals as much land as they may require on exactly the same terms as are accorded to any others.\n\nAs regards the rights of this Company to its property at Chin Wang Tao under the Agreement of Purchase with the old Chinese Engineering and Mining Company my Directors do not consider that they are called upon to enter into any discussion, but I am to point out that Chang Yen Mao, in entering into the Agreement, acted not only as Director-General of the old Chinese Engineering and Mining Company, but also as Director-General of Mines of the Province of Chili, in which capacity he was second only to the Viceroy in rank and power.\n\nOn pp. 6 and 7, however, a definite pretext is assigned for taking the view that the Company's rights are open to question. It runs as follows:\n\n\"La date seule du 30 Juillet, 1900, fait d'ailleurs tomber le contrat sous le coup d'une décision du Corps Diplomatique de Pékin (procès-verbal de la quatrième séance, le 5 Novembre, 1900), d'après laquelle aucun achat de terrains aux Chinois depuis le commencement de siège ne saurait être valable sans l'assentiment des Ministres étrangers. Cette mesure, qui visait spécialement les spéculations dolosives dans l'enceinte du quartier des Légations de Pékin, répondait à la préoccupation générale d'empêcher les ventes fictives ou léonines. Ainsi le contrat provisoire du 30 Juillet, 1900, conclu sans titres suffisants, est des plus contestables en raison de sa date, qui le rend légalement sans valeur.\"\n\nIn reply, it is only necessary to point out that this decision of the Diplomatic Corps referred exclusively to land at Peking, as is well known to all concerned.\n\nThe fact remains that this British Company has twice been forcibly dispossessed, while in actual possession and occupation of certain lands, by the French Government without any warrant or justification, and that no satisfactory explanation is as yet advanced.\n\nThe French Government, in trying to prove that the position of this Company is not correct, is taking up a question which it is not in its province to adjudicate upon. This Company's contentions as to its rights are incontestable from the point of view of international law, and the action of the French Government can only be considered as an act of aggression against British-owned property.\n\nIt is not, however, only because of the very material loss which acceptance of the French proposals would entail that the Company finds itself unable to accede to the French demands; it is because this Company is pledged to the British, Japanese, and German Governments to equality of treatment in all respects for their respective nationals, and is therefore unable to come to an agreement with the French Government by which French citizens would be placed at an advantage over those of any other Power.\n\nThat is the reason why this Company cannot consent to the transfer of further lands to the French Government beyond those near the railway station of which it already has the use, nor to the use of those lands for private and commercial purposes.\n\nMy Directors therefore beg to request that His Majesty's Government should urge upon the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs the acceptance of a similar arrangement to that made with the Governments of Japan and Germany.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nThe Chinese Engineering and Mining Company (Limited),\n\n**(Signed) ALFRED W. BERRY, Secretary**", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412775, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 535, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## Inclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\n## Statement by Chinese Engineering and Mining Company.\n\nM. Pichon's letter might give the impression that this Company has adopted an unconciliatory attitude in dealing with the question of the French occupation. So far from this being the case, the Company has throughout expressed its willingness to concede to the French Government exactly the same advantages which have been accepted by the German and Japanese Governments. The Company, in fact, expressed its willingness to meet the demands made by the French Minister for land for naval, military, and Government purposes, although these demands exceeded those of either the Japanese or the German Governments. Moreover, the Company's proposals were accepted as satisfactory by M. Dubail, the former Minister at Peking, who concluded an Agreement accordingly on the 5th October, 1904. It was only after a lapse of eighteen months that the Company received information that this Agreement was rejected by the French Foreign Office.\n\nM. Pichon's letter proposes as an equitable compromise the very conditions which from the first have been rejected as unacceptable to this Company.\n\nThe French Memorandum may be divided into four sections:--\n\n1. The justification of the French action and position.\n2. The alleged history of the port and the Company, and a discussion of its rights.\n3. An announcement of possible action with the Chinese Government hostile to the Company.\n4. A reiteration of proposals for a settlement, which from the first have been rejected by this Company.\n\nThe French Government are at present in occupation--\n\n(a) Of certain lands near the railway station.\n\nThese lands were occupied by the French Government at the end of 1900 or the beginning of 1901, simultaneously with the temporary occupation of land at Chin Wang Tao, effected by the other Powers. This area of ground, in the occupation of the French authorities, is far greater than that occupied by the other Power, and only a small portion of it is actually required for their naval and military depôts. The Company has always expressed its willingness to its retention of this extended area by the French Government for Government purposes.\n\nThe only issue with respect to these lands, therefore, is their assignment by the French Government to their nationals for private or trading purposes. This is dealt with later, where it is shown that the Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, Article IX, on which the French Government's claim is based, expressly recognizes \"le droit d'occuper certains points pour maintenir les communications libres entre la capitale et la mer,\" but only for that special purpose.\n\n(b) Of certain lands on the Bluff, at Chin Wang Tao.\n\nThese lands were forcibly seized by the French Government in October 1901, at a time when they were indisputably in the possession of this Company, and some time subsequent to the signing of the Peace Protocol of the 7th September, 1901. It is surprising that the French Memorandum makes no reference to this nor affords any justification of their action.\n\nCompletely independent and reliable evidence of this seizure and its date is to be found in the Report of Captain H. W. Cruddas, Officer Commanding Chin Wang Tao, addressed on the 20th October, 1901, to the Chief Staff Officer of the British China field force in Tien-tsin.\n\nCorroborating this is the protest addressed by the then Manager of the Company, Mr. Dugan, to the French Admiral, dated the 27th October, 1901, and his reply dated the 1st December, 1901, expressing himself unable to deal with the matter, and referring the former to the French Minister in Peking.\n\nM. Dubail, the French Minister, withdrew all claim to these lands, and caused the French boundary-posts to be removed and the lands returned to the Company. After a period of eighteen months' undisturbed occupation by the Company of the same, the land was again forcibly seized by the French Government. The justification advanced in the French Memorandum is to be found on pp. 11 and 12, and reads as follows:-\n\n\"En fait, la situation de la France à Ts'in-ouang-tao est nette et son droit sur les terrains qu'elle occupe fort bien établi; d'accord avec les autres Puissances, elle détient, en vertu du droit de guerre et en exécution de l'Article IX du Protocole de 1901 relatif à l'occupation des points nécessaires pour assurer les libres communications entre Pekin et la mer en toute saison, une partie des terrains de Ts'in-ouang-tao, au même titre que divers autres emplacements situés sur les lignes d'étapes entre Pekin et la mer, et nul ne peut légalement l'en déposséder.”\n\nThe \"droit de guerre\" could give no right to the French Government to seize the private property of the subjects of a friendly Power six weeks after the final Peace Protocol with the Chinese Government has been signed.\n\nArticle IX of the Protocol confirms to the use of the Powers certain lands, the occupation of which had been ceded by the previous Protocol of the 16th February, 1901, for the purpose of maintaining free communication between the capital and the sea. It affords no justification for the subsequent seizure of private property.\n\nExcept for the alleged \"droit de guerre\" no justification is offered by the French Memorandum beyond occasional references to the Tien-tsin Treaty of 1858, and an argument that the possession by this Company of its land constitutes a breach of that Treaty.\n\nThe Directors of the Company cannot understand how Clause No. XIV of the Treaty of 1858 forbidding \"toute coalition organisée dans le but d'exercer un monopole sur le commerce\" can have any bearing on the case, or how, if a right were accorded to the French Government to lease a small portion of land at Chin Wang Tao to private individuals for commercial or industrial purposes, it could remedy a breach of this clause. The ownership of the land by this Company gives no monopoly of commerce, nor does the Company claim any. What gives this Company a special position at Chin Wang Tao (apart from its legal title) is the fact that the port has been created by the Company, that no natural port whatsoever existed there, but an artificial harbour has been created as the result of the expenditure of large sums of money by this Company in the construction of a pier and breakwater, &c. But for this expenditure the land would be worthless, as it was when first acquired by the Company.\n\nNo commercial monopoly is sought or exercised by this Company at Chin Wang Tao. The Agreement made with M. Dubail accorded to French nationals and shippers the same facilities at moderate rates as to those of any other Power, the same Agreement having been entered into with the German and Japanese Governments. In proof of this we need only mention that half-a-dozen different shipping lines, including the French \"Chargeurs Réunis,\" are now running to the port. The Company is, moreover, quite prepared to sell to French nationals as much land as they may require on exactly the same terms as are accorded to any others.\n\nAs regards the rights of this Company to its property at Chin Wang Tao under the Agreement of Purchase with the old Chinese Engineering and Mining Company, the Directors of the Company do not consider that they are called upon to enter into any discussion, but I am to point out that Chang Yen Mao, in entering into the Agreement, acted, not only as Director-General of the old Chinese Engineering and Mining Company, but also as Director-General of Mines of the Province of Chili, in which capacity he was second only to the Viceroy in rank and power.\n\nOn pp. 6 and 7, however, a definite pretext is assigned for taking the view that the Company's rights are open to question. It runs as follows:-\n\n\"La date seule du 30 Juillet, 1900, fait d'ailleurs tomber le contrat sous le coup d'une décision du Corps Diplomatique de Pékin (procès-verbal de la quatrième séance, le 5 Novembre, 1900), d'après laquelle aucun achat de terrains aux Chinois depuis le commencement du siège ne saurait être valable sans l'assentiment des Ministres étrangers. Cette mesure, qui visait spécialement les spéculations dolosives dans l'enceinte du quartier des Légations de Pékin, répondait à la préoccupation générale d'empêcher les ventes fictives ou léonines. Ainsi le contrat provisoire du 30 Juillet, 1900, conclu sans titres suffisants, est des plus contestables, en raison de sa date, qui le rend légalement sans valeur.\"\n\nIn reply, it is only necessary to point out that this decision of the Diplomatic Corps referred exclusively to land at Peking, as is well known to all concerned.\n\nThe fact remains that this British Company has twice been forcibly dispossessed, while in actual possession and occupation, of certain lands, by the French Government, and that no satisfactory explanation is as yet advanced.\n\nPage 531", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415715, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 410, "title": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "63. The Russians took advantage of Hei-lung Chiang being the first place pacified after the Boxer trouble to encroach on Manchuria. The Tartar General Tseng-chi sent Chou-mien, whom the Russians forced to conclude a new Treaty, practically giving Russia full powers in Kuan-tung. The Plenipotentiary Li had also agreed, but Chang and Liu jointly made a vigorous protest, urging the Court not to ratify. After a score of telegrams and Memorials the Russians set the 25th April (1901) as the latest date for signing, after which they would break off relations. They used every possible threat, but he persisted in vigorous protest, and succeeded in preventing ratification, thus saving the three eastern provinces.\n\n64. In 1909, when peace was about to be made after the western tour, and the Court was discussing their Majesties' return, foreigners started saying that, though all the guilty had been punished, there was still an important matter undealt with. If positions remained unaltered after the return to Peking, the Powers would certainly not stop asking till their demand was granted. Thereon he telegraphed secretly to the Government urging oral representation that advantage should be taken of the Court not having returned to vindicate the State by issuing the order as by their Majesties' own will. This proposal was thereafter settled while the Court was still at K'aifong.\n\n74. The 1901 Allied Forces' Peace Protocol, on the Powers' plea that the deepening of the Huangpu would benefit merchant-ships, and with the assent of the Plenipotentiaries, forced China to send officers to set about it in concert with them. Viceroy Liu put off doing so, and in the spring of 1903 Chang took charge. In the face of repeated Imperial urgings, he protested and vigorously argued and never sent anyone. He also engaged other Powers' Consuls to help and then took the lead in proposing that China should finance and execute the dredging without financial aid or interference by other nations—a policy that won.\n\n75. In the summer of 1902 he shared in negotiating the British Commercial Treaty. Of many rectifications and recoveries, the most important was getting them, whose strong demand was for the abolition of li-kin and native customs dues, to agree to the levy of consumption duty. Another still more important clause agreed to surrender extra-territoriality, a subject none had touched on during fifty years of trade.\n\n76. He points out how he had the Wai-wu Pu's idea of not discussing mining overruled as the only safeguard against illicit partnership in mining between Chinese and foreigners. A law was necessary to afford control and prevent the loss of rights, reform old and limit new mining enterprises. The Throne approved and bade him, with Liu, arrange regulations. Lin's death threw the task on his shoulders alone. From the laws and prohibitions of all nations, he selected what was good, his general idea being to safeguard rights, benefit the people's livelihood, and make taxation light. He compiled them in a volume of seventy-four regulations and seventy-two supplementary rules.\n\n80. In view of the awkward and dangerous position of the Shanghae Arsenal, he advocated its removal to Ping-hsiang, a remote site close to coal. Funds were provided; the annual reserve of the old arsenal of 700,000 and the copper mint's yearly profit of 500,000 would have enabled it to be done in five years, but the Board of Revenue's annexation of the funds stopped the scheme for the time. Still, in a crisis, it will be remembered.\n\n82. When he was in Peking in 1903, giving an account of his stewardship, the Russo-Japanese war was imminent, and the Government bade him go and dissuade Japan from the war. He refused and reported the remark of a western envoy that the war would be a good thing for China. The idea was dropped on his view being laid before the Throne. Again, in the spring of 1904, the Southern Trade Superintendent Wei tried to get the high provincial authorities to combine in moving the Northern Trade Superintendent to memorialize that Japan be dissuaded from war. On his way through Tien-tsin, he was asked about the idea and vigorously opposed it. The same winter, when, despite defeats, Russia would not evacuate Manchuria, the new Southern Trade Superintendent suggested mediating along with the Northern Trade Superintendent and Hupei, but his strong disapproval prevented action.\n\n83. It records how Arnhold Karberg and Co.'s proposal to farm the sale of opium throughout China, negotiated through Ching-wei Hsing, had taken form after Peking intriguing, but he refused to help, in spite of the offer of heavy bribes. Twice he telegraphed strong protests, and at last, the Grand Secretary Jung-lu understood the danger and rejected the scheme.\n\n84. It mentions Melchers and Co.'s attempt to follow the Japanese example of using the native city frontage at Nankow and the threat to place a hulk under man-of-war protection. The people were afraid lest their ferry-boats be endangered forever. After he went to Peking in the winter of 1903, he sent an officer to negotiate with the German Envoy Mumm and got the project dropped on the condition that the Osaka Shoshen Kaisha should also move to the Japanese Concession within a certain time. The Envoy had notified the Wai-wu Pu that on the 1st January next, he would have a serious matter to tell them, and they were panic-struck until the receipt of this correspondence filled them with joy.\n\nPage 5\n\n85. The Inspector-General Hart started a scheme to increase the land taxation and abolish all trade levies. The Government did not approve but could not stop it, so called for provincial views. He was the only one who strongly refuted it, and got it dropped.\n\n86. The American Jenks' design to control the great matter of China's silver currency could not be refuted by the Court Ministers, and the idea was assented to before Jenks came to Hupei, where, at an interview, Chang silenced him with awkward questions, and then memorialized strongly on his blunders and showed up the danger. The matter was happily successfully blocked.\n\n87. Among the many foreign cases dealt with, whenever there was a question of capital punishment, he tried to save the people's lives, and constantly, in identical mission cases where other provinces executed several, Hupei men went scatheless, and capital penalties agreed to by his predecessors were lightened. From appreciation of his justice, foreigners even do not object.\n\n88. When the Hankow-Canton Railway was sold by the Americans to the Belgian-China Development Company, he was the first to show up the scandal of the Empire. In steadfast isolation, he fought the battle of resumption for ourselves, despite the combined resistance of the two Powers, until the American State Secretary, from respect for his austerity, ended by giving the line back to us.\n\n120. He once told his retainers: \"During my twenty-five years as a Provincial Governor, the only comparatively easy time was the two years in Shansi. For the rest, not a day but I am among thorns and brambles. Speaking generally, what I have done has never been what the Government wanted me to do; what I spent was never money the province surely had; whom I employed never served me with joy and real heartiness.\"", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416071, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 236, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\n# CHINA RAILWAYS\n\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n\n[9688]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n233\n\n[March 21.\n\nC. O. 12634\n\nSECTION * 9 APR 06\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received March 21.)\n\n(No. 56.)\n\nPeking, February 3, 1908. Sir,\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at Mukden in which he reports the steps that are being taken for a joint survey by Japanese and Chinese engineers of the proposed Chang Chun-Kirin Railway.\n\nThis railway, it will be remembered, has been the subject of several Agreements between Japan and China.\n\nIn the Memorandum recording the Protocols of the Conference in connection with the Agreement of the 22nd December, 1905, it was agreed that this railway should be constructed by China with capital to be raised by herself, but that one-half of the total sum required should be borrowed from Japan.\n\nBy the Agreement of the 15th April last, copy of which was forwarded in my despatch No. 185 of the 16th April, it was stipulated that a Chinese engineer should be deputed to co-operate with a Japanese engineer in the survey of the line with a view to preparing an estimate of the cost and the conclusion of a loan agreement.\n\nIt is this latter understanding to which tardy effect is now being given, and which appears to be encountering the popular opposition to railway construction under foreign auspices, which has extended even to an outlying province like Kirin.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\nl\n\nInclosure in No. 1,\n\n(No. 1.) Sir,\n\nConsul-General Willis to Sir J. Jordan,\n\nMukden, January 15, 1908.\n\nMR. LO KUO JUI, the engineer appointed by the Board of Communications to survey the Chang Ch'un-Kirin Railway route in conjunction with a Japanese surveyor, arrived at Mukden with a staff of fifteen surveyors and clerks a few days ago.\n\nThe Japanese local newspaper has expressed repeatedly its satisfaction at this appointment.\n\nMr. Lo has not yet left Mukden—it would seem impossible that any survey work can be carried out under the present climatic conditions—but I am informed that Japanese surveyors have already marked out the line of route, and that a certain amount of material, chiefly sleepers obtained locally, have been collected.\n\nThe Japanese local paper of to-day's date publishes a telegram from Kirin, of which the following is a translation:——\n\n\"The Deliberative Board of Kirin, at the time of its inauguration, came to the conclusion that an Agreement with Japan for the joint construction of the Chang Ch'un line would be extremely prejudicial to local interests, and further that, whilst the joint construction scheme was being discussed in Peking, the then Governor-General, in conjunction with the local gentry, had represented this clearly to the Wai-wu Pu, who had promised that the construction of railways in Kirin Province should be undertaken by themselves. The Board now suggested that a Company should be formed for obtaining the funds for such enterprises.”\n\nThis telegram confirms various rumours that have reached me as to there being strong local feeling against the construction of this railway under the Agreement of the 15th April last.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nR. WILLIS.\n\n[2880 @-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416088, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 253, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[2560]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[January 23.]\n\nSECTION 2.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received January 23.)\n\n(No. 17.)\n\nPeking, January 23, 1908. (Telegraphic. P.)\n\nWITH reference to your telegram No. 13 of the 20th instant, I have the honour to inform you that the objections of the Japanese Minister to the proposed railway to Fa Ku Men are based entirely on paragraph 3 of the Protocol referred to in your telegram No. 4 of the 7th instant, which he says is a binding instrument signed by the Chinese, and does not exclude the region west of the Liao from its scope. He further informed me that the Japanese railway authorities in Manchuria are clearly of opinion that traffic would be diverted from South Manchurian Railway by the proposed line, with its prospect of extension to Tsitsihar. To the arguments adduced in the last paragraph of my telegram No. 9 of the 8th instant, and to my remark that all foreign participation in railway construction in Manchuria would be practically excluded by the interpretation which it was sought to put on the Protocol, the Japanese Minister replied that such was the case, but we too had a non-competition clause in our Canton-Kowloon Agreement and occupied a privileged position as regards railways at Hankow.\n\nI agreed, on his suggestion, and with the view of seeing if any arrangement is possible, to try to induce the Chinese, whom he charges with acting in bad faith, to submit their proposals to him.\n\nI am repeating this telegram to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tôkið.\n\n[2815-2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416424, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 589, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government\n\n2\n\nof, the Chinese authorities; that the only joint investigation demanded by the Viceroy was that provided for by the rules for joint investigation made under the Tien-tsin Treaty, and that to this they could not agree, inasmuch as those rules only apply to business connected with the Custom-house, and that there was not even a prima facie case against the ship of any offence against the Customs. Moreover, that the rules in question (Rule 5) preclude the appellant from claiming indemnity for the seizure, to which indemnity the Japanese Government consider the ship is justly entitled.\n\nThe Portuguese Government of Macao hold that the \"Tatsu Maru II\" was seized in Portuguese waters; that the island called in the chart Koho Island (locally known as Kwo Lu Wan), 24 miles from which the seizure took place, was Portuguese territory long before the signing of the Protocol and Treaty of 1887, which maintained the statu quo ante of Macao and its dependencies; that at that date Portugal had long had a fort and picket of soldiers on the island, and has now in addition a leper hospital there. I have been shown a despatch dated some three years back from the Viceroy Tsen asking for the extradition of a criminal said to be in concealment on the Island of Kwo Lu Wan.\n\nThe Macao Government therefore consider that the seizure of the \"Tatsu Maru II\" constitutes a violation of their territorial waters, and have protested accordingly. They further aver that the rifles and ammunition were legally imported under permit by a licensed arms dealer, and that, in accordance with ordinary practice, a Government launch, having the Assistant Harbour-master and a file of soldiers on board, had towed a lighter to the ship, but tides being unfavourable, had withdrawn for a time, when the seizure took place. On returning to the ship, access to it was denied.\n\nI have been to considerable trouble to verify the above statements as far as possible, and believe them to be in the main correctly given. I have not, however, been able to verify a statement of the Chinese authorities as to an excess of arms over the amount given in the ship's manifest, which was 1,500 rifles. From the fact that when I applied to the Viceroy for delivery of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire's coal, he replied that he had referred my demand to the Commissioner of Customs, it would appear that his (the Viceroy's) action has all along been guided by Commissioner King's advice, which does not seem to have been always judicious. As usual, the native papers are raising a great outcry, and a boycott of Japanese trade is freely discussed. It would not present any great difficulties here.\n\nI append a small sketch map of the scene of the seizure of the \"Tatsu Maru II.\"* \n\nI have, &c. (Signed) R. W. MANSFIELD.\n\n* Not reproduced.\n\nPage 3\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[13290]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nREC\n\n582\n\n[April 18.62€ MAY 08\n\nSECTION 4.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 18.) (No. 102.)\n\nPeking, March 2, 1908. Sir,\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose copy of a despatch received from His Majesty's Acting Consul-General at Ch'engtu reporting on the journey of Mr. Cecil Clementi, of the Hong Kong Civil Service, from Russian Turkestan vid Kashgar and Hami to the Province of Kansuh, and thence southward to Szechuan. Mr. Clementi is a traveller of experience, whose observations are worthy of attention.\n\nI should mention that the Belgian Syndicate referred to as being represented at Lan-chou by a M. Splingaert is no doubt a concern dealing with the contracts which I reported upon in my despatches Nos. 270 and 274 of the 7th and 19th June, 1907.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN,\n\n(No. 1. Confidential.)\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nActing Consul-General Fox to Sir J. Jordan.\n\nCh'engtu, February 3, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to report that Mr. Cecil Clementi, Assistant Colonial Secretary at Hong Kong, arrived here on the 18th January, on his return from furlough in Europe, having made a long and interesting journey through Central Asia.\n\nMr. Clementi travelled by train from Moscow to Andijan, in Russian Turkestan, thence he continued his journey on horseback over the Alai Mountains to Kashgar, in Chinese Turkestan. From Kashgar he travelled to Turfan and Hami, vid Aksu, Kuchar, and Korla, and so across the Gobi Desert to Ngansi-chou. He entered China proper at Su-chou, from where he rode through the Province of Kansu to Lan-chou, the capital. From Lan-chou, he came to Ch'in-chou, thence proceeding south and entering Szechuan by the Pai Shui Ho (or Chialing River) at Kuang Yuan Hsien.\n\nFrom Andijan to Kashgar, Mr. Clementi made thirteen stages; from Kashgar to Ch'engtu, 135 stages. The distance between the two latter places is, according to Chinese reckoning, 12,061 li, say 3,000 miles. Mr. Clementi, who travelled alone, engaging mafoos and mule drivers at various places en route, carried with him a set of surveying instruments which have enabled him to make a careful plane table survey of the road from Kashgar to Ch'engtu.\n\nIn Chinese territory, Mr. Clementi, who speaks \"Mandarin\" fluently, experienced no difficulties of any kind, being everywhere well received and hospitably entertained by the officials and people. In Russian Turkestan, on the other hand, the local authorities made a determined attempt to prevent him continuing his journey, although he carried a British Foreign Office passport which had been “viséd” by the Russian Consul-General in London. He was, in fact, turned back a few stages beyond Andijan, and obliged to wait some days at that place while the Foreign Office in St. Petersburgh and the British Ambassador were being communicated with. Eventually, the Governor of Andíjan received orders to allow Mr. Clementi to proceed. He tells me that he was surprised at the strong anti-British feeling displayed by most of the Russian officials with whom he came in contact, which he attributes to their conviction that the British Government assisted Japan in the late war. One official plainly told him that he would do his best to prevent any Englishman from entering China through Russian territory.\n\nMr. Clementi found a Russian Consul and a branch of the Russo-Chinese Bank at Kashgar; there are, he informs me, Russian Consuls stationed at Urumtsi, Kuldja, and Uliasutai. The British representative at Kashgar is no longer permitted to [2921 8-4]\n\nPage 4", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416507, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 672, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n665\n\nC.O.\n\n[May 11.]\n\nR\n\n20024\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nFR 6 JUN 08\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n(16091)\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 11.)\n\n(No. 77.) Sir,\n\nTokyo, April 9, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge your despatch No. 48 of the 27th February, transmitting correspondence on the subject of an application by Messrs. Pauling and Co. for a contract to build an extension of the Imperial Railways of Northern China from Hsinmintung to Fakomen, and informing me that, in consequence of objections raised by the Japanese Government on the ground that the construction of such a line would conflict with the agreement arrived at between the Chinese and Japanese Plenipotentiaries in 1905, as to the construction of lines prejudicial to the South Manchurian Railway, His Majesty's Government had informed the firm that they were unable to support them in this matter.\n\nYou added that Messrs. Pauling continued to adduce reasons for holding that the proposed extension would benefit, and not injure, the South Manchurian Railway system, and expressed a wish that I should place this view unofficially before the Japanese Government.\n\nPrevious to the arrival of your despatch I had already had a letter from Lord Ffrench, Messrs. Pauling's representative at Peking (copy of which I have the honour to inclose), to the effect that his firm had informed him by cable that His Majesty's Government had forwarded me a Memorandum containing some of the reasons put forward by the firm why the Japanese should withdraw their objection to the building of the railway in Manchuria, and that this Memorandum was to be shown by me unofficially to the Japanese Government.\n\nLord Ffrench forwarded me at the same time a Memorandum bearing on the subject, drawn up by himself. As this document does not contain any additional information to that conveyed in the correspondence which you have forwarded to me, I do not send a copy.\n\nYou will observe that Lord Ffrench in his letter makes references to the policy of the open door, and is also of opinion that it is \"peculiarly unwise for the Japanese to exhibit unnecessarily such hostility to the interests of British firms.\" In my reply to this letter, copy of which I inclose herewith, I have not alluded to these observations; but I venture to think that, although they may be natural, coming from a member of a firm which has been disappointed in a possibly lucrative contract, they are hardly fair on the Japanese Government, who, I am sure, have no desire to show unnecessary hostility to any firm, least of all a British firm. Neither do I think that such observations are calculated to serve any useful purpose.\n\nYou will see that in my answer to Lord Ffrench I have informed him of the result of two unofficial conversations I have had with Count Hayashi, in which his Excellency, after referring to Article 3 of the Protocol, pointed out that this particular Article (one of sixteen) had been specially drafted in view of the possible extension of the railways of Northern China from Hsinmintung northwards.\n\nWhen the Chinese authorities made the contract with Messrs. Pauling they knew, or should have known, of this Article. Count Hayashi added that were the Japanese Government to ignore some of the other Articles of the Protocol in the manner in which this one had been ignored by China, it might be very inconvenient for the Chinese. His Excellency regretted very much that the interests of English contractors and financiers should have suffered from the fact that the terms of a solemn compact between Japan and China had been put on one side, but that was not the fault of the Japanese Government.\n\nIn my letter to Lord Ffrench I reminded him that His Majesty's Government were of opinion, and had so informed his principals, that the question whether the proposed line would or would not injuriously affect the South Manchurian Railway was one for the decision of the Japanese Government, and that such a position would certainly be assumed by His Majesty's Government if the question arose of the construction of a line competing with a British Railway Concession in China.\n\nI concluded by saying that I would again see Count Hayashi and put before his Excellency a Memorandum containing Messrs. Pauling's arguments to the effect that the extension would benefit and not injure the South Manchurian Railway, and request his favourable consideration of these arguments.\n\nYesterday I saw Count Hayashi and placed before him the Memorandum above mentioned, copy of which I have the honour\n\n[2972 --1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416508, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 673, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "666\n\n2\n\nto inclose, and discussed with his Excellency the various points raised by Messrs. Pauling, Count Hayashi repeated what he had said on previous occasions; with regard to Messrs. Pauling's contention that the fact of the two lines being parallel, and therefore competitive, was discountenanced by the distance which separates them--35 miles at the nearest point--and by the presence of the Liao River-a deep and unfordable stream-his Excellency remarked that these arguments might hold in a populous country, but in the districts concerned there was not sufficient trade to maintain two lines of railway, certainly not at the present time. Japanese experts had gone carefully into the question and had come to the conclusion that a railway from Hsinmintung running northwards and parallel to the South Manchurian Railway would very seriously menace the commercial prospects of the latter railway, and for this reason the Japanese Plenipotentiaries had been instructed to insert Article 3 in the Protocol. His Excellency reminded me that in the various Railway Concessions which had been granted by China to British concessionnaires, most of which had been negotiated when I was British Representative at Peking, a similar Article had been inserted prohibiting the building of parallel lines of a competitive nature. Count Hayashi further said that he begged that I would treat this statement as confidential; that the Japanese Government were convinced that should a line be built from Hsinmintung to Fakumen and beyond, the Chinese Government and the Chinese authorities would so arrange that practically the entire trade of the district, outside the narrow strip under the administration of the South Manchurian Railway, would go to the Chinese line; about this there could be no possible doubt, and it was only natural it should be so, There might be instances where self-interest would exceed patriotism, but Chinese officials would know how to deal with such cases; indeed, the Japanese Government were in possession of certain information that the Chinese promoters of this line had stated that its main object was to damage the South Manchurian Railway. With regard to the first part of this statement, I think that it is more than probable that the Hsinmintung-Fakumen Railway, a Chinese line running through Chinese territory, would certainly tap practically all the trade on both sides of the Liao up to the borders of the South Manchurian Railway administration, and would thus undoubtedly damage very seriously the commercial prospects of the undertaking, an undertaking which, as Count Hayashi pointed out, was practically the only asset possessed by Japan as the result of a victorious war, conclusion, Count Hayashi repeated that it was a source of sincere regret to the Japanese Government that British interests had been injured in this matter, but had inquiries been made in the proper quarter before the contract and the loan had been entered into, full information would have been given, which would have saved much disappointment.\n\nIn\n\nJudging from the comments in the press, the entire country is unanimous in supporting the position taken up by the Government in this question. In view of the arguments put forward by Count Hayashi, and more particularly with regard to an observation he made in the course of our conversation, to the effect that representations, even though made in the unofficial and friendly manner in which I had been authorized to make them, would lend considerable moral support to the Chinese in their contentions, I venture to think that any further representations on my part would be unadvisable.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) CLAUDE M. MACDONALD,\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nLord Ffrench to Sir C. MacDonald.\n\nYour Excellency,\n\nShanghae, March 10, 1908. MESSRS. PAULING AND CO., whom I have the honour to represent, have informed me by cable that His Majesty's Government has forwarded to you a Memorandum containing some of the reasons put forward by our firm why the Japanese should withdraw their objections to the building of the railway in Manchuria known as the Hsinmintung-Fakumen Railway. I understand that this Memorandum was to be shown by you unofficially to the Japanese.\n\nMy firm has cabled to me to communicate with you, because I was the person who negotiated the contract with regard to the railway, entered into between ourselves and the Chinese, and so that you might have at your disposal such a Memorandum of our reasons as my local knowledge should enable me to give. I therefore have the honour to inclose a Memorandum bearing on the subject, and I trust your Excellency's good\n\n3\n\noffices will induce the Japanese to withdraw their objection, and thus avoid the friction which must necessarily ensue if the policy of the open door in Manchuria is not adhered to.\n\nApart from the many reasons set forth in the Memorandum attached, it seems peculiarly unwise for the Japanese to exhibit unnecessarily such hostility to the interests of British firms.\n\nThe financial arrangements for the railway in question were undertaken by the British and Chinese Corporation, a firm whose supporters include groups that have no small say in the large financial transactions of the East. The firm which I have the honour to represent is of world-wide reputation and standing. It seems to me, therefore, that, considering the very shadowy nature of the contention that the railway in question will compete with the South Manchurian Railway, the Japanese would do well to reconsider their objection and not give any grounds for an agitation in the press, political and financial, such as might take place if grounds are given for the belief that the open-door policy in Manchuria is a sham, and that Japan means to occupy the same position in that country as Russia did before the war.\n\nOn the other hand, the withdrawal of the objection at the friendly instance of her ally should do much to establish a belief in Japan's good faith, while in no way preventing her legitimate aspirations.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nDear Lord Ffrench,\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nSir C. MacDonald to Lord Ffrench.\n\nTokió, April 4, 1908. I HAVE delayed replying to your communication of the 10th March on the subject of the proposed Hsinmintung-Fakumen Railway, pending the receipt of the Memorandum which, in the above communication, you said His Majesty's Government were forwarding to me, to be shown unofficially to the Japanese Government.\n\nBy the Foreign Office bag which arrived here on the 31st ultimo I received a despatch from Sir Edward Grey, forwarding copies of all recent correspondence which has passed in connection with the proposed line, including the Memorandum you mention, and also one from the British and China Association, who were prepared to advance the money for the extension. I am requested to lay the arguments put forward by Messrs. Pauling unofficially before the Japanese Government, in the hope of inducing them to withdraw their opposition to the proposed extension.\n\nOn the 2nd instant, at the Foreign Minister's reception, I spoke to his Excellency unofficially, and again when I met him at dinner last night, on this question, putting forward most of the arguments mentioned in Messrs. Pauling's Memorandum and in the one you have yourself drawn up, which forms an inclosure in your letter under reply.\n\nI dwelt particularly on the points you raise in section 7 of your letter under the headings (a), (b), (c), &c., to (g) inclusive, in which you endeavour to show that the extension from Hsinmintung to Fakumen, so far from being a competitor of the South Manchurian Railway, must to a certain extent be a feeder of the same. In the course of our discussion Count Hayashi reminded me that the Chinese Government had made an Agreement with Japan, which was recorded in a Protocol signed by the Chinese and Japanese Plenipotentiaries, by which both these Powers were bound; that in Article 3 of this Protocol the Chinese Government engaged themselves in the interest of the South Manchurian Railway, prior to the recovery by them of the said railway, not to construct any main line in the neighbourhood of and parallel to that railway, or any branch line which might be prejudicial to the interest of the above-mentioned railway. He further stated that when the Protocol was signed the Japanese Government had particularly in view this very extension of the Imperial Railways of North China northward from Hsinmintung, which extension they thought would be prejudicial to the interests of the South Manchurian Railway. The Japanese Government, he added, are still strongly of opinion that the extension of this railway to Fakumen and beyond would be prejudicial to the interests of the South Manchurian Railway.\n\nExtract is\n\nIn this connection I would draw your attention to the following extract of a letter from Sir Edward Grey to Messrs. Pauling, dated the 12th February, 1908. as follows", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416647, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 812, "title": "CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n805\n\nJUL 08\n\n[April 25.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 25.)\n\n(No. 86. Confidential.)\n\n(Telegraphic.) P.\n\nFAKUMEN Railway.\n\nPeking, April 25, 1908.\n\nHis Majesty's Ambassador at Tokio has repeated to me his telegram No. 31 addressed to you.\n\nI believe that the Japanese Minister here is ready to recommend to his Government that they should give their sanction to the construction of a line by the Chinese from Hsin Min-tun to Fakumen. This would, however, be conditional on the line ending definitely at Fakumen, and on the building of a branch line to connect the South Manchurian Railway with that place. Negotiations are at present proceeding between him and Tong Shao-yi, who was one of the negotiators of the Protocol of 1905, but neither will take the initiative in putting forward any definite proposal.\n\nLord ffrench has postponed his visit to Tokio, as he fears that the Chinese might misconstrue his going there at present.\n\n[2934 bb-1]\n\n1", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416729, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 56, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "C.O.\n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[16420]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n25671\n\n54\n\nR. 16 JUL 08\n\n[May 12.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 12.)\n\n(No. 97.) (Telegraphic.) P.\n\nPeking, May 12, 1908.\n\nMACAO. I have asked His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton to supply me with all information at his disposal, as the facts are not sufficiently well known here to enable me to reply to your inquiries in your telegram No. 79 of the 8th instant.\n\nIt would seem, however, that the Portuguese are inclined to exaggerate the matter somewhat.\n\nThe Portuguese territory has never been defined, and all the attempts that have been made since the 1887 Protocol and Treaty to arrive at an understanding on that question have hitherto failed. In this case the Chinese maintain that the troops are on Chinese soil, and they deny either that Portuguese territory has been violated or that they have any intention of doing so. Meanwhile this question would seem to hinge on what evidence Portugal can produce as to the territory she actually occupied at the time the above Treaty was concluded.\n\nAs regards the contraband traffic, the Portuguese Minister has stated verbally to the Wai-wu Pu that orders prohibiting all trade in arms have been sent to Macao. He has been asked to put this statement into writing - a not unnatural request, in view of the previous experience the Chinese have had of Portuguese procedure at Macao.\n\n(Confidential.)\n\nAdmiral Moore is in a better position than myself to furnish you with an accurate report on the conditions prevailing in Macao. I may say, however, that the venality of the Colonial Secretary, Lello, is a matter of public knowledge, while the population consists largely of half-breeds, who live upon the proceeds of vice.\n\n[16430]\n\nNo. 2.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 12.)\n\n(No. 98.) (Telegraphic.) P.\n\nPeking, May 12, 1908.\n\nMACAO. Please see my telegram No. 97 of to-day's date. From the telegraphic report I have just received from His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton it would appear that nothing is known of the matter at that place. Even the Portuguese Consul-General was in ignorance.\n\nMr. Mansfield was able, however, to obtain some information from Macao, but it is hard to ascertain any facts, as the strictest secrecy is being maintained.\n\nAs regards the alleged revolution at Honan Tun, mentioned in your telegram No. 73 of the 2nd instant, it would seem that no such revolution exists. Mr. Mansfield suggests that Honan Tun may be the name of the place in Hainan where a small missionary riot occurred.\n\nVoncan Island was occupied by a force of Chinese troops a few days ago. Their number is not supposed to exceed 400. This island, the ownership of which has always been a bone of contention between Portugal and China, lies 4 miles south of Macao.\n\nMr. Mansfield further reports the resignation of the Governor of Macao. It is presumed that this is the consequence of differences of opinion between him and the Portuguese Government as to the action to be taken in the matter in question. He is leaving for Europe shortly, sailing from Hong Kong on the 15th of this month.\n\n[2960 m--1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416758, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 85, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\n82\n\n[June 29.]\n\nSECTION 4.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nYour Highness,\n\nPeking, February 27, 1908.\n\nON the 15th February the \"Official Gazette\" published an Imperial Rescript issued on the previous day to the Wai-wu Pu and the Army Board, in response to a Memorial of the former Department, whereby the degraded Brigade-General, Yang Hang-li, is reinstated in rank, and the condemnation \"never to be re-employed\" is withdrawn.\n\nThis officer was Brigade-General at Ta Tung-fu, in Shansi, in 1900, when, as a result of the Boxer disturbances, six British missionaries, two men and four women were murdered in that locality.\n\nOn account of his failure to protect these missionaries, the Brigade-General Yang was denounced by the foreign Representatives, and by an Imperial Decree of the 19th August, 1901, he was condemned to immediate degradation and precluded from all further employment.\n\nSince he has now been reinstated in rank, and appears by newspaper reports to be again employed officially, my Government will desire to learn the reasons which have led your Highness' Board to apply to the throne for a remission of the sentence imposed in 1900, under an Imperial Decree, which is mentioned under Article 2 (a) of the Protocol of 1901.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n(Translation.) Sir,\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nWai-wu Pu to Sir J. Jordan,\n\nPeking, May 9, 1908.\n\nWITH regard to the case of Yang Hung-li, who was restored to the rank of Brigadier-General, your Excellency stated in a recent interview that if the Chinese Government did not employ him, the British Government would, of course, take a reasonable view of the occurrence.\n\nAs your Excellency is aware, Yang Hung-li has been attached to the staff of General Chiang. The Board have now written to General Chiang, telling him to call upon Yang Hung-li to resign, and to serve in no other official capacity.\n\nWe avail, &c.\n\n(Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu.)\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[22272]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received June 29.)\n\n(No. 202.) Sir,\n\nPeking, May 7, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches Nos. 49 and 127 of the 28th January and the 6th March respecting the dispute between the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company and the local French authorities with regard to certain lands in French occupation in Ching Wang Tao.\n\nI have conferred on two occasions since the receipt of these despatches with Major Nathan on this question, and have found him to share the views of his Company that there is no possibility of arriving at a settlement here if the negotiations are to be limited by the Memorandum of the 4th July, 1907.\n\nActing on the suggestion of Mr. Leech, Major Nathan took means of ascertaining indirectly if the French Minister was prepared in any way to modify the attitude he has invariably maintained towards the Company in this matter, and the result convinced him that it would be useless to make further overtures to M. Bapst.\n\nTo insure that there could be no mistake about M. Bapst's views, I myself alluded to the question in the course of conversation with him a few days ago, and found him quite opposed to any amicable arrangement with the Company. He said that, if there was an upheaval in China, Ching Wan Tao and the land in question would doubtless again be occupied by the foreign Powers, while, on the other hand, if the country attained a settled state of tranquillity, France would be bound to return the land to the Chinese Government. This is the veiled threat against which I had protested on previous occasions.\n\nAs a subsequent despatch will show you, the question of regularizing the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company's position and of the purchase by the Chinese Government of the Company's property at Ching Wan Tao is now under consideration, and a general solution on these lines would dispose of the dispute between the Company and the French Government. I think, therefore, and Major Nathan agrees, that it is desirable to leave the smaller and comparatively unimportant matter in abeyance until we see whether there is any prospect of arriving at an arrangement of the general question. This is the more necessary as the French Minister would doubtless not hesitate, as he has done before, to appeal to the Chinese authorities and support their view that the Company's title to the Ching Wan Tao land rests on an insecure basis.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n[1819-4]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416959, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 285, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\n[B]\n\n# AFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\n## CONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[24128]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n282\n\nRt 13 AUG 08\n\n[July 13.]\n\n## SECTION 2.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 13.)\n\n(No. 230. Confidential.) Sir,\n\nPeking, May 26, 1908. SINCE the receipt of your telegram No. 73 of the 2nd instant, I have been in constant communication with my Portuguese colleague on the subject of Chinese proceedings in the vicinity of Macao, but, as my telegrams will have shown you, the facts were, until quite recently, very imperfectly known both here and at Canton.\n\nIn two notes, however, dated the 18th and 22nd instant, copies of which I have the honour to inclose, the Chinese have placed their contentions on record, and, broadly speaking, these documents evince an intention on the part of the provincial authorities at Canton and the Central Government here to reopen a question which has formed the subject of a long-standing dispute between China and Portugal, and have baffled all attempts which have hitherto been made to settle it.\n\nBy the Protocol of Lisbon of the 26th March, 1887, China confirmed the perpetual occupation and government of Macao and its dependencies; and in the second Article of the Treaty, concluded at Peking on the 1st December, 1887, it was stipulated that Commissioners should be appointed by both Governments to determine the boundaries of Macao; but, pending the delimitation, everything in respect to them was to remain as it then existed without addition, diminution, or alteration by either of the parties.\n\nThe telegram from the Viceroy at Canton, which the Wai-wu Pu quote in their note of the 18th instant, states frankly that his Excellency, as a measure of police reorganization, is taking steps to re-establish the military stations which existed in 1887; and it is claimed that the islands near the customs station at Lappa are places where China is justified in stationing troops in accordance with the practice which obtained in 1887.\n\nThe note from the Wai-wu Pu of the 22nd instant recites a further telegram from the Viceroy, in which his Excellency charges the Portuguese with having made repeated alterations, which always assumed the form of additions, in the boundaries of Macao as they existed at the time of the Treaty of 1887. It is added, that at the beginning of the present month the Portuguese seized three oyster boats in the river at Yin K'eng, a place which has long been an anchorage for Chinese gun-boats; that they are at present engaged in erecting barracks at a place called Chiu Ao (Colowan); and that after the \"Tatsu Maru\" incident they removed some floating buoys which were in the middle of the river between Macao and Wan-tzu, and that they have laid down additional buoys in the sea beyond a place called Chi-t'ou Shan.\n\nIn communicating the substance of this message to the Portuguese Minister, the Wai-wu Pu request him to move his Government to put an immediate stop to the construction of the barracks, to remove the buoys that have been laid down, and to refrain from arresting boats engaged in oyster fishing.\n\nOn the receipt of this communication the Portuguese Minister consulted me as to what course of action he should adopt, and I could give him no more helpful advice than that he should telegraph its contents to his Government and await their instructions. As many of the names of places given in the Canton Viceroy's telegrams could not be identified on any of the maps in this Legation, and the archives of the Portuguese Legation appear to be singularly defective in all that pertains to the question, I suggested, as the only means of arriving at a solution, the examination of the locality and of the documentary evidence that presumably exist at Macao and Canton by a mixed Commission composed of Delegates appointed by the two Powers.\n\nI assured Baron Senda at the same time that he could continue to rely upon our friendly co-operation so far as that could be effectively given without arousing popular agitation at Canton, where, as he knew, there was still a good deal of irritation over the \"Tatsu Maru\" incident.\n\n[1865]\n\n-21\n\nB", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 416960, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 286, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "2\n\nThe Portuguese statement of the case is set forth in the accompanying Memorandum, which has been prepared by M. Brederode, the Secretary of the Legation. So far as Lappa is concerned, the Portuguese claim is based largely upon an opinion expressed by Sir Robert Hart in 1887, but the Inspector-General of Customs was dealing with the question from a fiscal rather than a national point of view, and his views would scarcely be accepted as binding upon the Chinese Government, who, indeed, seem to have rejected them at the time.\n\nM. Brederode's arguments with regard to the extent of the \"dependencies\" of Macao would, I fear, carry still less conviction to the minds of the Chinese, and, in this connection, I would invite your attention to Sir John Walsham's despatch No. 76 of the 9th November, 1887, which contains a very interesting and instructive account of the negotiations which preceded the Portuguese Treaty of the 1st December of that year.\n\nIt was with the greatest reluctance, and only because there was no other means of obtaining the consent of Portugal to the opium legislation inaugurated in that year at Hong Kong, that the Chinese Government eventually agreed to the introduction of the word \"dependencies\" in the Lisbon Protocol, but when the Portuguese negotiator afterwards attempted in his Treaty to give concrete expression to the vagueness of the term by defining the limits of Macao in the sense indicated by M. Brederode, he was obliged to abandon the task as impracticable, and there is no reason to believe that either the central or local authorities would, in the present state of Chinese feeling, be more disposed to compromise territorial claims now than they were twenty years ago when the consciousness of nationality had not yet made itself felt.\n\nFrom informal conversations which I have had on the subject with his Excellency Tong Shoa-yi, who is himself a native of the locality and has an intimate knowledge of the conditions obtaining at Macao, I am not very sanguine that much can be done at present to effect a complete adjustment of the vital differences which separate Portugal and China in this question. A modus vivendi which will tide over matters until the irritation arising out of the \"Tatsu Maru\" case has calmed down, and a more favourable opportunity presents itself for arriving at a permanent settlement.\n\nActing upon the suggestion contained in the last paragraph of your telegram No. 91 of the 23rd instant, I sounded the Wai-wu Pu this afternoon as to whether mediation on our part would be acceptable to the Board.\n\nLiang Ta-jên, the only Minister present, accepted the proposal in very good part, and said that he personally would gladly welcome our friendly intervention, but that he would have to consult his colleagues before giving a definite reply.\n\nHe added that feeling ran very high on both sides at present, and that there was a disposition to view every move with suspicion. Delimitation afforded, he thought, the only prospect of a solution.\n\nI enclose a tracing of Macao and the neighbourhood, which may be of some slight assistance in elucidating the question at issue.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nJ. N. JORDAN\n\nPeking, 34th year, 4th month, 19th day (May 18, 1908).\n\nPage 3\n\nInclosure I in No. 1.\n\nWai-wu Pu to Baron Sendal.\n\n(Translation.) Sir,\n\nYOUR Excellency has made repeated verbal representations to the Board with reference to the stationing of over 100 soldiers by the Viceroy at Canton at Lao Wang Ho Shan (Wung Kum) near the customs station at Kung Pei (Lappa) and requested that, in accordance with the second Article of the Treaty, as the delimitation of the boundaries at this place had not yet been concluded the Viceroy should be directed to telegraph to withdraw the troops. The Board thereupon telegraphed to the Viceroy calling for a Report on the matter and are now in receipt of the following reply:-\n\n\"Lao Wang Ho Shan (Wung Kum), also called the Island of Hêng Ch'iu (Hêng Kin), is situated to the south-west of Shih Tzu Mên (Che Tze Men). East of Hêng Ch'in, across the strait, is Chiu Ao Shan (Kieou Ngo Chan). North of Hêng Ch'in, and separated from it by the sea, is Wa Kang Ling, and still further north beyond Wa Kang Ling are the two small islands known as Ma Liu Chou, consisting of two islands known respectively as the large and the small island, the former lying to the west and the latter to the east. It is on this small island that the customs station of Lappa is situated. Both these islands are within the jurisdiction of Hsiang Shan Hsien and under the regulations hitherto in force the Sub-Prefect of Chien Shan used to station a detachment of the troops under his command there for police purposes. As I am at present engaged in the reorganization of the Police Administration I gave special instructions to the Sub-Prefect of Chien Shan to ascertain the position of the old military post existing in 1887 and station additional troops there in accordance with the provision contained in the second Article of the Treaty that 'so long as the delimitation of the boundaries is not concluded everything with respect to them shall remain as at present without addition, diminution, or alteration by either of the Parties.'\"\n\nThe Board have the honour to observe that the second Article of the Treaty of 1887 between China and Portugal provides: \"So long as the delimitation of the boundaries is not concluded everything with respect to them shall remain as at present without addition, diminution, or alteration by either of the Parties.\" The islands near the customs station of Lappa are under the jurisdiction of Hsiang Shan Hsien and the stationing of troops there by the Sub-Prefect of Chien Shan was in accordance with the practice existing in 1887, at the time when the Treaty was concluded, and under that Treaty no alteration should be made until the delimitation of the boundaries has been concluded. The instructions issued by the Viceroy, in pursuance of his scheme for the reorganization of the police system, that troops should be stationed at the old military post were, therefore, in accordance with Treaty and the Board are unable to order the withdrawal of the troops.\n\nIn sending this note for your Excellency's information I avail, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nPrince CHING.\n\nPeking, 34th year, 4th month, 23rd day (May 22, 1908).\n\n(Translation.) Sir,\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nWai-wu Pu to Baron Sendal.\n\nIN their note of the 18th instant, replying to a communication from your Excellency, the Board had the honour to state that as the place near Kung-pei (Lappa) where China has stationed troops was already a military station at the time when the Treaty of 1887 between China and Portugal was concluded they could not order the withdrawal of the troops.\n\nI am now in receipt of the following telegram from the Viceroy at Canton :---- \"The Treaty of 1887 between China and Portugal provides that so long as the delimitation of the boundaries is not concluded, everything in respect of them shall continue as at present without addition, diminution, or alteration by either of the Parties. Since the conclusion of the Treaty, however, Portugal has repeatedly made alterations in the boundaries--always in the form of additions. Prior to Kuang-hsü 28 (1897-8) the boundary extended to Stui Keng-wei in Macao, and Wang Hsia, and other villages, seven in all, in San Pa Mên, paid grain tax in Hsiang Shan Hsien. After this date the Portuguese authorities in Macao compelled them to pay rent.\n\n\"Of recent years the Portuguese authorities have required fishing boats anchoring in the river at Wan Tzû to obtain permits under pain of detention and fines.\n\n\"The river at Yin Kêng has long been an anchorage for Chinese gunboats but recently Portuguese gunboats have forced their way there to make investigations. At the beginning of this month three oyster boats belonging to Tung Kuan Hsien arrived there; the Portuguese ordered them to pay fees for a permit, and on this demand being refused on the ground that it was contrary to the regulations hitherto in force, suddenly detained the boats and arrested the crews.\n\n\"The Portuguese are at present erecting buildings and constructing additional barracks at Chiu Ao (Colowan),\n\n\"Formerly floating marks (buoys) were placed in the middle of the river between Macao and Wan Tzu, but after the Tatsu Maru' affair the Portuguese removed these\n\nPage ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417068, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 394, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[24807]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n391\n\n[July 18.]\n\nSECTION 2.\n\nSir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 18.)\n\n(No. 132. Confidential.) Sir,\n\nTokió, June 8, 1908.\n\nBARON HAYASHI, Japanese Minister in Peking, returned from his post on the 23rd, and shortly afterwards the newspapers published reports of an interview which a representative of the \"Mainichi Dempo\" had with his Excellency, from which it would seem that the latter had expressed himself with regard to Japanese policy in China in a very outspoken manner.\n\nWith regard to the Hsinmintung-Fakumen Railway, Baron Hayashi's remarks are particularly frank. His Excellency is quoted as attaching little importance to the parallel line argument, for he is of opinion that if the railway is really destined to develop Manchuria's resources there is no reason to oppose its construction. Nor does he think that the operations of the South Manchurian Railway are sufficiently important to warrant it in claiming a monopoly. He is further of opinion that, as Manchuria is Chinese territory, it becomes a question whether, and for how long, not in Manchuria, but in all parts of the world, Agreements of an abnormal character which impair the sovereignty of the lord of the soil, ought to possess operative force. The above is the gist of the \"Mainichi's\" report so far as the Hsinmintung-Fakumen Railway is concerned, but Baron Hayashi is almost equally outspoken with regard to the other points on which his Government are at variance with that of China.\n\nOn the day the above was published, the 25th instant, I met Count Hayashi, and in the course of conversation asked whether his namesake (they are in no way related to each other) had been correctly reported. His Excellency replied that the report was correct, and he had that morning spoken to Baron Hayashi with regard to his indiscretion in allowing himself to be interviewed. Count Hayashi, however, did not seem to consider the indiscretion in any way serious, but on the contrary it seemed to afford him some amusement. The Baron, he said, was always renowned for his courage, both physical and moral, in fact, he was a regular Samurai.\" I suggested that such outspoken statements made by the Japanese Representative on the spot might embarrass his Government, which held almost diametrically opposite views. Count Hayashi admitted this, and blamed the indiscretion, but seemed rather pleased that his namesake had the courage of his convictions.\n\nI asked whether Baron Hayashi would return to Peking. His Excellency said \"No.\" He had done excellent work both in Corea and China, and it was intended to promote him as Ambassador to Rome!\n\nOn the following day Baron Hayashi, who is an old friend of mine (having been Secretary at the Japanese Legation at Peking when I was there as Minister), came to see me.\n\nHe admitted that in principle he was entirely at variance with his Government as regards the Hsinmintung-Fakumen Railway, and he regretted that he could not persuade them to see matters as he did. He considered, however, that his Government were technically right, and that both Paulings and the British and Chinese Corporation should have been informed of the existence of the prohibitory Article in the Protocol of 1905 by the Chinese Government before matters had gone so far, but in principle he thought all Agreements and Conventions which interfered with the sovereign rights of any Power were wrong, and he considered that China should be allowed to build this railway even though it did compete with the South Manchurian Railway; since his return he had endeavoured to persuade his Government to take a broad view of this question, but the opposition of the merchants, and, he added with a significant smile, the military party had been too much for him. There are no indications at present of the Japanese Government yielding on the point of this railway, though there is a very general desire to come to terms with China on all outstanding questions. The continuation of the railway from Fakumen to Tsitsihar is particularly distasteful to the Japanese Government. From what Baron Hayashi...\n\n[1841 -2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417069, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 395, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\n392\n\n[July 18.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n2\n\nsaid, I do not think he has given up all hope of persuading his Government to waive their Treaty rights and allow the railway as far as Fakumen to be built with branch lines to the South Manchurian Railway, and it is possible that the Japanese Government may yield. I venture to think that the strategical reasons against this railway weigh heavier with them than any damage it may do financially to the South Manchurian Railway.\n\nA copy of this despatch has been sent to His Majesty's Minister at Peking,\n\nI have, &c.\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[24838]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n(Signed) CLAUDE M. MACDONALD,\n\nSir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 18.)\n\n(No. 163.) Sir,\n\nTokió, June 19, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit herewith a statement, drawn up in the Japanese Foreign Office and unofficially communicated to me by Count Hayashi on the 9th June, dealing with the Resolution adopted by the Newchwang Chamber of Commerce on the question of the projected Hsinmintun-Fakumen Railway.\n\nIn communicating to me this statement his Excellency expressed the hope that I would forward a copy to Lord Ffrench, the agent of Messrs. Paulings at Peking, which I accordingly did.\n\nWithin three days of my receiving this document it was published in all the foreign newspapers of Japan, and has, I understand, been forwarded for publication to all the leading foreign journals of the Far East, with the object, no doubt, of counteracting the effect that may have been produced by the publication of the Resolution of the Newchwang Chamber.\n\nJudging from the tone of this document, it might be concluded that no further hope need be entertained of the Chinese Government being allowed to construct the railway in question, or, in fact, any railway at all within the limits of the three provinces.\n\nKnowing, however, as I do, the views held by Baron Hayashi, late Japanese Minister at Peking (see my despatch No. 132, Confidential, of the 3rd June), I am of the opinion that the matter is still under consideration, and, in spite of the justification of the Japanese position, as set forth in the inclosed statement, that, from reasons of general policy, it is possible that Japan may still modify her present attitude. Much, however, will depend on the treatment China accords to other outstanding questions. Judging from a conversation I recently had with Mr. Denison, Adviser to the Japanese Foreign Office, it is exceedingly unlikely that Japan will consent to a continuation of the line to Tsitsihar,\n\n(Copy to Peking.)\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) CLAUDE M. MACDONALD,\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nStatement by the Japanese Foreign Office respecting the projected Hsinmintun-Fakumen Railway.\n\nIN November last a Contract was signed between the Chinese Government and the British firm of Pauling and Co., providing for the construction of a railway line from Hsinmintun to Fakumen in extension of the existing Shanhaikwan-Hsinmintun line.\n\nThe Japanese Government, upon learning, in August 1907, that negotiations on the subject of the projected line were in progress, warned the Chinese Government that the construction of the line in question would be in violation of the self-denying engagement contained in the Protocol annexed to the Treaty of Peking of December 1905. That engagement, in translation, reads as follows:-\n\n\"The Chinese Government engage, for the purpose of protecting the interests of the South Manchurian Railway, not to construct, prior to the recovery by them of the said railway, any main line in the neighbourhood of, and parallel to, that railway, or any branch line which would be prejudicial to the interest of the above-mentioned railway.\"\n\nThat warning was repeated in October and again in November, but was unheeded. When, in January of this year, the Japanese Government first learned of the conclusion\n\n(1841 s) -1]\n\nB", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417070, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 396, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "2\n\nof the Contract, it only remained for them to lodge with the Government of China formal protest against the execution of the work,\n\nThe British Government, to which a copy of the self-denying stipulation above quoted had been communicated early in 1906, do not, it is understood, question the validity of Japan's objections, but the Newchwang Chamber of Commerce thinks otherwise, and on the 13th March last adopted the following Resolution :\n\nThe Newchwang General Chamber of Commerce, being convinced that the extension of the Imperial Railway of North China from Hsinmintun to Fakumen and beyond, is vitally important to the development and prosperity of Manchurian trade, strongly protests against the steps now being taken by the Government of Japan to enforce the abandonment of this extension, Japan having specifically undertaken in the Treaty of Portsmouth-\n\n\"Not to obstruct any general measures common to all countries which China may take for the development of commerce and industry in Manchuria.”\n\nThe Chairman of the Chamber forwarded a copy of the Resolution to the Newchwang Consular Body, and in his covering letter, dated the 16th March, 1908, he gave what he declared to be the grounds upon which the views expressed in the Resolution had been arrived at. He admitted that the construction of branch lines westward from the South Manchurian Railway system would assist and promote the development which was the raison d'être of the Resolution, but, he naively added, that such branch lines, by diverting the trade to Dairen, would necessarily do incalculable injury to the prospects and trade of Newchwang. Finally, in the commercial interests of \"Newchwang in particular\" and of \"Manchuria generally,\" he asked that a copy of his letter might be transmitted by the Consular Body to the Diplomatic Corps in Peking, and he stated that the Committee of the Chamber \"regard the question at issue as of such vital and far-reaching importance that it intends by every means available to give publicity to the views herein expressed, and to that end purposes communicating the substance of these representations to the various Chambers of Commerce and kindred Associations, and to the leading press of China, Europe, and America,\"\n\nThe Consular Body did not, for obvious reasons, transmit the letter in question to the Diplomatic Corps as requested, but the Committee of the Newchwang Chamber has evidently carried out its threat of appealing directly to the public against the action of Japan, since the Shanghae Chamber of Commerce has taken up the issue in the interest of Newchwang.\n\nIf the representation of the Committee of the Newchwang Chamber had contained only a fair and impartial statement of the case, it might well have been permitted to remain unanswered. But it is characterized by loose-thinking, extravagant assertions and illogical conclusions and, coming as it does from a body of intelligent and responsible merchants whose utterances are entitled to consideration, it is due to truth and fair dealing that its errors should be corrected and its fallacies exposed.\n\nThe first assertions in the letter under discussion that call for examination are-\n\n(a.) That the Liao River constitutes a natural traffic boundary between the projected Hsinmintun-Fakumen line and the existing South Manchurian system;\n\n(b.) That the trade of Fakumen and its hinterland has always found its outlet to the seaboard at Newchwang, Chinwantao, &c., through Hsinmintun, and thence by the Hsinmintun-Kaopantsze line;\n\n(c.) That such trade has never gone eastward towards the townships and districts operated by the South Manchurian system; and\n\n(d.) That consequently there are no grounds for Japan's contention that the proposed new road must be competitive with, and detrimental to, the Japanese line.\n\nIt is inaccurate to say that the Liao-ho, in its reaches from Hsinmintun to Fakumen, forms a natural traffic boundary, or that the trade of Fakumen and its neighbourhood has never sought an outlet by means of the South Manchurian Railway. In those regions the river is easily passable and, as a matter of fact, readily ascertainable, the existing line actually serves, and has always served in the matter of transportation, the country to the west equally with that to the east of the river.\n\nProduce in large quantities is conveyed from the Fakumen regions to Tieling in Chinese carts, and thence is carried southward by the existing railway system. Especially is this true of the winter season when the rivers are frozen over and the whole land becomes one broad, smooth highway.\n\n3\n\nThe site of the projected railway is in that portion of the valley of the Liao which is now served by the Japanese line, and it may be assumed, without fear of contradiction, that the proposed line, if constructed, would draw away from the existing system some portion of its traffic. Sir A. Hosie, the Acting British Commercial Attaché at Peking, in writing recently, on the subject of the commercial situation in Manchuria, said:-\n\n\"It is true that the Imperial railways of North China are competing successfully with the Japanese line from Newchwang to Mukden.\"\n\nIf this be true under present conditions, it cannot be doubted that with an extension of the Chinese line, there would be, at least, a corresponding extension of competition,\n\nRussia, at the time when she owned the South Manchurian Railway, clearly foresaw the danger to be apprehended from possible competition, and to safeguard her interests in that respect she inserted in the Convention with China of the 8th April, 1899, relative to the restoration of Manchuria, a stipulation providing that in case, in future, an extension of the Shanhaikwan-Yinkow-Hsinmintun line or the construction of branch lines in the southern part of Manchuria, was to be undertaken, the matter should be previously arranged by an understanding between the Russian and Chinese Governments.\n\nThis measure of reasonable precaution did not provoke any hostile criticism. The silence on the part of British subjects may, however, be explained by the fact that they were at the time practically excluded from railway exploitation in regions north of the Great Wall by the Anglo-Russian understanding of the 28th April, 1899.\n\nJapan, by Article 6 of the Treaty of Portsmouth and Article 1 of the Treaty of Peking of 1905, was subrogated to all the rights, privileges and properties of Russia in the South Manchurian Railway. But desiring to have her rights placed beyond question, she obtained from China the engagement to which the Newchwang Chamber of Commerce now so seriously objects.\n\nIf the engagement secured by Russia from Great Britain in 1899 and from China in 1902, were not unreasonable it is difficult to understand why Japan's engagement with China of 1905, should be condemned.\n\nEqually exaggerated and, therefore, equally demanding examination, are the statements contained in the letter, on the subject of the scope and value of the engagement (already quoted) contained in the Protocol annexed to the Peking Treaty of 1905. After citing the engagement in question the letter declares :-\n\n(a) That the country to be operated by the proposed line (Hsinmintun-Fakumen) cannot be considered to be in the neighbourhood of the South Manchurian Railway,\"\n\n(b) That as already demonstrated the proposed line neither will nor can be competitive with or in any way detrimental to the interests of the South Manchurian Railway.\n\n(c.) That in no country in the world of similar population and topography, could or would the vested trade interests or sphere of an existing railway system be held to include so extensive an area, as to preclude the construction of other lines, even though competitive (if in the commercial sense that were possible) outside of a 35-mile limit.\n\n(d.) That having in view Article 4 of the Treaty of Portsmouth Japan's action in exacting or receiving from China an undertaking such as is alleged, which is diametrically opposed in principle and practice to the pledge she had herself given to the world Powers, must be considered to have been ultra vires, and therefore the said undertaking by China to be null and void and of no effect.\n\nAnswering these several statements in the order in which they were made it may be said-\n\nFirstly. The omission from paragraph (a), above quoted, of the words \"and parallel to\" which were conjunctively used with the phrase \"in the neighbourhood of” in China's engagement of 1905, may be taken as an admission on the part of the Committee of the Newchwang Chamber, that the projected railway would parallel the existing line. The question whether it could be regarded as in the same neighbourhood, depends upon many considerations of more importance than mere distance.\n\nThus a railway, entering a valley, undivided by any impassable streams and already served...\n\n[1841 s-1]\n\nB 2\n\n393", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417170, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 496, "title": "CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "Minister will doubtless have reported to them the fact of your having mentioned the matter to him yourself.\n\nFrance has received into her army for a long period of military training thirty Chinese cadets to whom she grants special facilities, and if we required the quid pro quo suggested by the Admiralty a contrast might be drawn to our disadvantage. Admiral Sali, whom I met two months ago at Shanghae, expressed his high appreciation of the Admiralty's courtesy in training young Chinese officers, and the Central Government are aware of their obligations to us in the matter.\n\nThe Japanese Government, I may mention in conclusion, presented the Empress Dowager a few days ago with a steam-yacht, appropriately named \"Everlasting Peace,\" and they are evidently aiming at having a share in the reconstruction of the navy they destroyed in 1894.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\nC.0.\n\n33035 493\n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nPage 9\n\n06\n\n[August 24.]\n\nSECTION 5.\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[29338]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received August 24.)\n\n(No. 309. Confidential.) Sir,\n\nPeking, July 7, 1908. I am informed on good authority that when Mr. Rockhill, the American Minister here, recommended to the President the remission of a portion of the Boxer indemnity of 1900, he did so relying on the assurance of Tong Shoa-yi that the money would be expended upon the education of Chinese students in the United States.\n\nSome time afterwards Tong became Governor of Manchuria, and while there he entered into negotiations with Mr. Straight, the American Consul at Mukden, with the view of raising a loan in America on the strength of the sum to be returned by the Government at Washington. The proceeds were to be applied to the development of Manchuria, and Mr. Straight, who was apparently ignorant of Tong's understanding with Mr. Rockhill, claims that the project had the approval of Mr. Taft, who passed through Manchuria on his way to Russia in December last.\n\nThe Chinese Government are now reported to have some intention of sending Tsai Chen, Prince Ch'ing's dissolute son, and Tong Shoa-yi on a mission to Washington to convey their thanks to President Roosevelt, and it is believed that Tong will take advantage of the opportunity to urge his loan proposal.\n\nMr. Rockhill is strongly opposed to the money being diverted to loan-mongering purposes, and will do all he can to block the project.\n\nStrictly speaking, I believe China does not become entitled to the money until some eight years hence, when the United States shall have been recouped by the annual payments under the protocol for the actual outlay incurred in connection with the Boxer outbreak.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN,\n\n[1905 aa-5\n\n-51", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-352 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417417, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 129, "title": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nC.O.\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n(\n\n[34144]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[October 0052\n\nSECTION 5.\n\n2 NO. 08\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-Received October 3.)\n\n(No. 368. Confidential.)\n\nPeking, August 18, 1908. Sir,\n\nIN continuation of my despatch No. 360, Confidential. of the 6th instant, I have the honour to report that a Secretary from the Wai-wu Pu called at the Legation on the following day, and under instructions from the Grand Secretary Na Tung, asked Mr. Campbell to assure me that, in using the language which they had applied to Macao in their note of the 31st July, the Wai-wu Pu had no intention of seriously contesting the Portuguese sovereignty of the place. They, however, realized that the text of the note was open to grave objection, and they proposed to expunge the words \"with the exception of Macao, which is subject to the procedure applicable to the leased territory,\" and substitute for them the words \"with the exception of Macao, which is to be dealt with in accordance with Treaty.\"\n\nMr. Campbell, after consulting me, informed the Secretary that the proposed alteration, while not fulfilling the terms of the Treaty as regards the \"dependencies of Macao,\" removed the fundamental objection which the former wording involved and rendered it possible, in my opinion, for the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires to accept the note in its amended form, reserving to himself, of course, the right of protesting against the inadequate construction which it sought to place upon the Treaty of 1887.\n\nThe revised note was forwarded in due course to M. Brederode, who expressed his satisfaction at the result, which he telegraphed to his Government. In their telegraphic reply, copy of which I have the honour to inclose herewith, the Government at Lisbon notified to the Chinese Government the appointment of Delegates to undertake the work of delimitation, and insisted, as a condition precedent, upon the withdrawal of the Chinese troops from the places in dispute.\n\nA careful study of the negotiations between the Portuguese Plenipotentiary and the Chinese Government in the years 1902 and 1904, a summary of which will be found in the inclosed Memorandum, forces me to the conclusion that a settlement of this long-pending question is hardly to be expected at present. The circumstances, as they existed a few years ago, were far more favourable for a solution than they are at present.\n\nSenhor Castello Branco, the Portuguese negotiator of those days, was a personality of some importance, and represented a country which still enjoyed a considerable measure of respect in China. Recent events in Portugal have diminished her prestige in the Far East, and the character of her representation in Peking during the larger part of the interval which has since elapsed has been particularly unfortunate, and severely condemned by the Portuguese themselves.\n\nSenhor Branco, whose mission had as its original object the delimitation of Macao and its \"dependencies,\" came to China just after the Protocol of 1901 had been signed. Portugal had not yet given her adhesion to the Protocol, and, backed with the support of the British Government, the Portuguese negotiator was furnished with a strong lever in making Portugal's assent to the Tariff dependent upon an undertaking by China to carry out the provisions of the Treaty of 1887. He was also able to hold out to China the prospect of a largely increased duty upon prepared opium entering China from Macao, and the promise of Portuguese co-operation in repressing piracy on the West River if China would consent to such territorial readjustment as would enable Portugal to undertake the necessary works for the development of the harbour of Macao.\n\nThe situation has undergone a great change in the interval. Portuguese adhesion to the Protocol has long been an accomplished fact. The nature of Portuguese co-operation in repressing piracy was illustrated by the \"Tatsu Maru\" case, which resulted in the present trouble. As regards prepared opium, China knows very well that, having quite recently made an Arrangement with Hong Kong, she can trust to the forthcoming Opium Commission at Shanghae and the pressure of public opinion to bring Portugal into line with the British Colony.\n\nApart from all this, opinion in China itself is now extremely sensitive on territorial questions, and it may safely be assumed that the views of Canton will be those of\n\n[1982 c-5]\n\nB\n\n125\n\nPage 363\n\n...\n\n...\n\nPage 363", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417418, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 130, "title": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "126\n\nSir II. MacDonell, No. 57,\n\n14, 1901.\n\n2\n\nPeking, as the Central Government is largely composed of Cantonese who are intimately acquainted with the conditions obtaining in Macao.\n\nIt has been suggested that, just as Japan started her campaign for the abolition of exterritoriality by denouncing the Treaty with Portugal, so now China is making a similar experiment with the same Power, but so far the parallel seems scarcely justified.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN,\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nPortuguese Government to Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires.-(Communicated by M. Brederode, August 18, 1908.)\n\n(Télégraphique.)\n\nVEUILLEZ soutenir nos droits, vous appuyant pour cela sur le Traité et réclamant contre la violation du statu quo,\n\nDans ce sens veuillez vous diriger au Gouvernement Chinois, insistant pour la nomination immédiate de la Commission Mixte pour traiter la question des limites. Nous nommerons de suite nos Délégués, qui seront l'antérieur Gouverneur (encore en fonctions), le Directeur des Travaux Publics, et le Chef des Sinologues. Les pouvoirs de la Commission pourraient être les suivants: Etudier la question et négocier le projet de délimitation ad referendum des deux Gouvernements. Quant au local de la réunion de la Commission, veuillez me dire quel point semble plus convénient à la Légation, Macao, Canton, ou Shanghai. Je vous recommande d'insister pour que la Chine retire ses troupes, parce qu'il n'est point admissible l'occupation par une seule des Puissances des points en litige, même avec le prétexte de la répression de la contrebande, répression à laquelle notre coopération est assurée, et point admissible aussi dans le moment où une occupation est chargée de résoudre les doutes de la question. Dans tous ces points vous procéderez d'accord avec le Représentant d'Angleterre, lui demandant ses bons offices en vue d'obtenir une rapide et favorable réponse du Gouvernement Chinois et les noms de ses Commissaires délimitation, &c.\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nMemorandum.\n\nIN a Memorandum dated the 10th September, 1901, the Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs informed Sir H. MacDonell, His Majesty's Minister at Lisbon, that the Portuguese Government for many reasons considered the moment opportune for the settlement of outstanding difficulties between Portugal and China.\n\nIf the Chinese Government would agree to carry out Article 2 of the Treaty of the 1st December, 1887, respecting the delimitation of the boundaries of Macao and its dependencies—the provisions of which had, the Minister stated, been persistently disregarded hitherto—and would award compensation in a sum of 1,500,000l. for the losses incurred by the Portuguese Government and its subjects during the recent upheaval in China, Portugal for her part was prepared to extend her co-operation in the suppression of the opium traffic to the suppression of all contraband goods by the establishment of a Portuguese custom-house at Macao, to consent to the proposal to raise the maritime duties in China, and to maintain for a stipulated period the prohibition for the introduction of arms and ammunition through her possession of Macao.\n\nForeign Office telegram, No. 310, October 14, 1901.\n\nCanton, No. 47, December 12, 1901.\n\nThe Memorandum suggested that the islands of Lappa, Mut Wan San, Mala Chao, D. Joao, and Vongkam, as well as the isthmus which joins Macao to the Island of Heung Shan, should be included under Portuguese sovereignty.\n\nTo discuss these questions with Sir E. Satow, Senhor Jose de Azevedo Castello Branco, Governor of Lisbon, was directed to proceed to Peking as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to China.\n\nSenhor Branco arrived at Macao in December 1901, the special objects of his mission, as announced at an official reception, being to obtain the delimitation of the boundaries of the Colony and to acquire additional territory in the adjoining district of Heung Shan, and more particularly the long-coveted Island of Lappa, which, the Portuguese alleged, dominated their territory.\n\nSenhor Branco informed Sir E. Satow that he proposed to ask the Chinese Government for the cession of Lappa, Don Juan, and a third island, without which no improvement in the port of Macao could be effected. He offered in return to assist in the collection of the revenue from boiled opium, which was smuggled in large quantities to Canton, and to give up all claim to the hinterland of Macao.\n\nSir E. Satow desired to know what measure of support should be accorded by him to these projects, and he was informed on the 22nd January that His Majesty's Government strongly deprecated any attempt which they feared would be contagious to obtain fresh concessions of Chinese territory, but authorized support of the Portuguese demands provided they were presented in a form which showed the absolute necessity for control of the islands in order to suppress smuggling and to improve the port. A request for a Railway Concession might also be supported.\n\nMr. Scott had reported on the 14th January that the demand for the extension of the area of the Colony had been abandoned, and that the efforts of the envoy would be solely directed to securing Commercial and Mining Concessions, and more especially the right to construct a railway from Macao to Heung Shan city and Shek-ki.\n\nOn the 24th January Senhor Branco informed Sir E. Satow that he proposed to endeavour to obtain from China the execution of Article 2 of the Treaty of 1837, which provided for the delimitation of the boundaries of Macao \"and its dependencies\" by a Commission. The dependencies, he stated, had for centuries been Macarira (Don Juan), Taipa, Koho, and Wungkum; the island of Lappa had been included in them up to about 1860, but had then been abandoned. These demands were more moderate than those mentioned in the Memorandum inclosed in Sir H. MacDonell's despatch No. 57 of the 14th September, 1901, and Senhor Branco had, he said, no intention of claiming Heung Shan. Portugal had actually had possession of or exercised jurisdiction over the four islands claimed. Sir E. Satow had, however, seen a Portuguese map in which the southern half of Wungkum was coloured as belonging to China.\n\nInstead of a lease of Heung Shan, which Senhor Branco saw the impossibility of obtaining, he proposed to ask the right to construct a railway from Macao to Canton and Samshui. The most difficult point in the negotiations would be Lappa, on which the Imperial Maritime Customs had a station, but it was impossible to carry out port works without control over its eastern shore, which formed one side of the harbour of Macao.\n\nThe negotiations were delayed by the discussion over the Convention for the evacuation of Manchuria, but in a note of the 21st February, Senhor Branco represented to Prince Ching that, for the security and prosperity of the Colony, the possession of the surrounding islands, natural dependencies conceded by the Treaty of 1887, was indispensable. He proposed the appointment of Delegates to discuss the interests of the two countries and to decide the basis for a limitation Convention.\n\nPrince Ch'ing replied that the Chinese Government could not consent to any \"addition, diminution, or alteration\" of the boundaries, but were ready to appoint a Delegate to delimit the frontier.\n\nPrince Ching to Senhor Branco, March 12, 1902.\n\nSenhor Branco reminded his Highness that, by Article 12 of the Treaty of 1887, Portuguese subjects were still entitled to import goods at the rates fixed by the Tariff of 1858, as Portugal had not yet declared her adhesion to the Final Protocol of September 1901.\n\nSenhor Branco to Prince Ch'ing, March 17, 1902.\n\nPrince Ch'ing considered that the mere nomination of Delegates to delimit the frontier, without previous agreement as to a basis of delimitation, would not help towards a solution of the question. It was necessary first to define the respective rights of the two countries, as expressed in Article 2 of the Protocol of Lisbon, by a special Convention before nominating Delegates to delimit the actual frontier.\n\nSenhor Branco to Prince Ching, March 19, 1902.\n\nSenhor Branco had been given confidentially to understand that the Chinese Government would be willing to make some slight territorial concession in return for the adhesion of Portugal to the Final Protocol. He was consequently the more disappointed at the receipt of a reply to the effect that the \"dependencies\" were only the territory actually governed by Macao, and there was therefore no need of a delimitation Convention, but merely of actual demarcation, and he accordingly informed the Prince.\n\nPrince Ching to Senhor Branco, April 17, 1902.\n\n[1982 c-5]\n\nB 2\n\nSenhor", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417575, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 287, "title": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\n283\n\nC.O.\n\n42997\n\nChinese and Foreigners.\n\nIn their intelligence Reports for the last quarter, both His Majesty's Consuls at Chinafa and Chungking deal at some length with the question of Chinese antagonism to foreigners. In both districts members of various secret societies and students' associations have been indulging in tirades on such grievances as foreigners' extra-territorial rights, foreign loans, &c., and representations have had to be made to the local authorities on the subject of attacks on individual foreigners, and of meetings held by the gentry and students with the object of deciding on the best means for driving foreigners from the country. To such incidents undue significance may too readily be attached by alarmists, but it is probably true that any incautious act on the part of foreigners in times of distress—as, for instance, in the Chinanfu district during the present drought and famine—might easily cause serious trouble. In too many cases, unfortunately, the local officials would be terrorized by any show of popular disturbance. An instance of this occurred late in June in Chungking in connection with the arrest of a Frenchman charged with theft. The accused was dragged to the Magistrate's yamen, where the French Consul on arrival found the Magistrate in a pitiable state of fright, and anxious to give the accused a bambooing in front of the crowd as the only means of allaying popular excitement. The Magistrate had to agree to the French Consul's demand to have the prisoner handed over to him for proper trial, but such was the Chinese official's fright that the Consul was only permitted to remove the man at night.\n\nMiscellaneous.\n\nThe Emperor's health has been giving cause for anxiety, and numerous doctors have been summoned to the palace lately. Notices have now been sent to the Chinese press announcing his recovery, and though it is impossible to obtain reliable information on any such subjects connected with the Court, there would seem no reason to credit the report, emanating from Canton, that the fact of the Emperor's death is being concealed.\n\nChou Taotai, the Director of Mines and Commerce for Szechuan, has made an attempt to rival the success of Count Zeppelin in the way of dirigible airships. Everything was provided according to the most modern ideas, a fine silk case for the balloon, a set of wings worked by treadles, &c.; unfortunately, owing to the balloon not being gas-tight, the experiment failed, to the disappointment of everyone but the aeronaut, a lad from a foundling school, whom Chou Taotai, with great sagacity, had selected for the post of honour.\n\n[B]\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[38028]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[November 2.]\n\nSECTION 6.\n\n24 NOV OC\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received November 2.) (No. 416.) Sir,\n\nPeking, September 14, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose copies of correspondence between the Wai-wu Pu and myself respecting the Mission of his Excellency Tong Shao-yi, which formed the subject of my despatch No. 355 of the 4th August.\n\nAs stated in the Imperial Decree inclosed in Prince Ching's note, the Mission has for its chief object the study of foreign financial systems with the view of reorganizing the financial administration of China. The Chinese Government recognizes that this is the pressing reform of the moment, and that without it other reforms are practically impossible. China, already a debtor State to the extent of some 120,000,000l., will require in future years to make still larger demands upon the money markets of the world, and fully realizes that, although her credit remains abnormally good, she cannot expect to obtain the necessary funds for railways and other productive works until she has reduced her finances to order and published an annual Budget. The people of China are now firmly convinced that the construction of railways is necessary for the maintenance of their national existence, but they are determined that their construction shall not involve any sacrifice of the country's sovereign rights, and that the transaction shall, as far as possible, be placed upon a purely financial basis. The efforts that have been made to raise Chinese capital for such undertakings have, so far, been attended with meagre success, and nearly all the available revenue of the country is pledged for the service of foreign loans. Tong Ta-jen and other statesmen feel that the only remedy lies in overhauling the whole financial system, and evolving some order out of the chaos which exists at present. China is very poor in expert knowledge of this kind, and without foreign assistance it is hard to see how the task can ever be accomplished. As a first step, the Chinese naturally turn their thoughts to the enforcement of the 8th Article of the Mackay Treaty, but they see in that only a partial alleviation of their difficulties, and are fully aware that no mere adjustment of customs revenue will enable them to meet the national needs.\n\nTong Ta-jen himself has had some opportunity of studying financial problems in India, where he found the economic conditions very analogous to those of China. He is accompanied by a staff of some thirty persons, mostly young men drawn from all parts of the Empire, and it is noticeable that several members of the Mission, including two sons of Prince Ching, belong to noble Manchu families, who, until recently, practically spent their existence within the walls of Peking.\n\nThe Mission, which leaves this place within a fortnight, proceeds first to Tôkiô, where it will spend six weeks. While there, Mr. Tong proposes to discuss the Fakumen Railway project with Baron Komura, and as both of them were parties to the Protocol of the 22nd December, 1905, it is possible that they may reach some understanding.\n\nThe Mission will then cross to the United States, and remain in Washington until the installation of the new President, when it will proceed to London in April, staying there some six weeks. Paris, Berlin, and St. Petersburgh will be visited in succession, but Mr. Tong tells me that he is most anxious, if possible, to include Egypt in his tour and learn something of British administration there. He would also like to see something of the experiment Turkey is making in introducing a Constitution; and thinks that the lesson of Morocco, were it possible to go there, would not be lost upon his staff.\n\nMr. Tong has specially asked me to enlist the good offices of His Majesty's Government in enabling him to discharge the duties of his mission in England, which, as he frankly states, is the country that especially interests him, as being most likely to supply China with the financial assistance she will need for her future development.\n\nI am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tôkiô.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n[2029 7-6]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 417965, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "page_number": 677, "title": "CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "# AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n\n47047\n\nReceived 23 DEC 08, November 23-\n\n### SECTION 3\n\nNo. 1.\n\n**(No. 492.)**\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received November 23.)\n\nPeking, October 28, 1908.\n\nIN confirmation of my telegram No. 168 of to-day's date, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of the letter which the Russian Minister has addressed to the doyen of the Diplomatic Corps, inclosing translation of M. Korostovetz' note to Prince Ching, announcing the intention of the Russian Government to withdraw the detachments of their troops at present stationed at Peking and Tien-tsin.\n\nIt will be observed that, both in his note to the Wai-wu Pu and in his letter to the doyen, M. Korostovetz emphasizes his Government's reservation of the right to recall their troops should a change of circumstances render such a step necessary.\n\nI have, &c.\n(Signed) **J. N. JORDAN**\n\n#### Inclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nRussian Minister to Doyen of Diplomatic Body.\n\nM. le Doyen et cher Collègue,\n\nPékin, le 27 Octobre, 1908.\n\nJ'AI l'honneur de faire parvenir ci-près à votre Excellence la traduction de la communication adressée d'ordre de mon Gouvernement en date de ce jour au Quai-ou-Pou relativement au retrait des détachements Russes stationnés à Pékin et à Tien-tsin. Je crois devoir ajouter que le Gouvernement Impérial se réserve le droit, si les circonstances l'y obligeaient ultérieurement, de faire rappeler les détachements en question, et que, par conséquent, cette mesure, dictée par considérations d'ordre tant moral que pratique, ne saurait porter atteinte à la solidarité établie entre les Puissances Signataires du Protocole Final de 1901.\n\nVeuillez, &c.\n(Signé) **KOROSTOVETZ**\n\n#### Inclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nRussian Minister to Wai-wu Pu.\n\nAltesse et Excellences,\n\nLe 27 Octobre, 1908.\n\nLE Ministère des Affaires Étrangères vient de me communiquer par télégraphe que Sa Majesté Impériale a daigné ordonner l'évacuation complète du restant des détachements Russes à Pékin et à Tien-tsin.\n\nJe suis heureux de pouvoir porter à la connaissance du Gouvernement Chinois la décision de mon Auguste Maître, qui confirme d'une manière évidente les relations amicales qui ont existé de tout temps entre nos deux Empires.\n\nEn même temps je crois de mon devoir d'informer votre Altesse et vos Excellences que le Gouvernement Impérial se réserve le droit de protéger sa Légation à Pékin dans le cas où un changement de circonstances le rendrait indispensable.\n\n[2029 x-3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421530, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 319, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## February 1908\nAs regards Belgium, Russia and Japan, from whom tenders have also been invited by the Chinese, no serious opposition is to be feared since it is improbable that any of these countries, on account of their financial position, could float a Chinese loan of such magnitude on better terms than Great Britain, even allowing for the prospective gains they might hope to reap by the preferential supply of material which, it is held, would attach to the successful negotiation of the loan.\n\nThere remains Germany. That country has recently denounced the Anglo-German Protocol of the 1st/2nd September 1898, which limited her sphere of interest to the north of the Yangtze, and is apparently determined to gain a footing both in the Yangtze Valley and in the southern provinces of China. There is, moreover, a marked change in the condition of the German money market compared with that last year. Germany felt herself compelled, for financial reasons, to decline participation in the Anglo-French issue of the Peking-Hankow Redemption Loan of £5,000,000. Money is now abundant. A series of internal loans have recently been floated with success.\n\nWhen Germany is now in a position to make an effective bid for the industrial advantages in China, by which she sets such...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421616, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 405, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n403\n\nC. O.\n\n5944\n\n[February 1.]\n\nRECE SECTION TEC 18 FEE 09\n\n[4165]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n**Memorandum respecting Interviews between Mr. C. S. Addis, representing the British Group, and Representatives of the French and German Groups, at Paris and Berlin, on January 25, 27, and 28, 1909, respectively.**\n\n-(Communicated by Mr. C. S. Addis, January 30, 1909.)\n\nTHE Anglo-Chinese Agreement of 1905 provides that, in the event of foreign capital or foreign material being required for the Hankow-Canton Railway, a preference shall be given on equal terms to \n- **(a.)** British capital.\n- **(b.)** British material.\n\nIt is to be noticed that **(b)** is a function of **(a)**. The preference for British material can only be obtained through a British loan on terms not worse than those offered by another Power. Conversely, if any other Power offers better loan terms than Great Britain, the British preference for material falls to the ground. The material preference would then, presumably, accrue to that Power which, by offering better financial terms, had succeeded in wresting the loan from Great Britain.\n\nFrom this form of competition France is excluded by their Agreement with the British and Chinese Corporation of February 1908. As regards Belgium, Russia, and Japan, from whom tenders have also been invited by the Chinese, no serious opposition is to be feared, since it is improbable that any of these countries, on account of their financial position, could float a Chinese loan of such magnitude on better terms than Great Britain, even allowing for the prospective gains they might hope to reap by the preferential supply of material which, it is held, would attach to the successful negotiation of the loan.\n\nThere remains Germany. That country has recently denounced the Anglo-German Protocol of the 1st (2nd) September 1898, which limited her sphere of interest to the north of the Yang-tsze, and is apparently determined to gain a footing both in the Yang-tsze Valley and in the southern provinces of China. There is, moreover, a marked change in the condition of the German money market compared with that last year, when Germany felt herself compelled, for financial reasons, to decline participation in the Anglo-French issue of the Peking-Hankow A series of internal loans Redemption loan of 5,000,000. Money is now abundant. Loans have recently been floated with success. Germany is now in a position to make an effective bid for the industrial advantages in China, by which she sets such store. It is not feared that Great Britain will fail ultimately to secure the Hankow-Canton Loan; what is to be feared is that Germany, in her anxiety to secure the coveted preference for her industries, may, and probably will, offer China such favourable financial terms as would render the subsequent acquisition of the loan by Great Britain not worth the having.\n\nIt is under these circumstances that the British group concerned, the British and Chinese Corporation, with the concurrence of the British Foreign and Colonial Offices, resolved, so far as they were concerned, to admit German participation as regards finance, while reserving to themselves, as against both the French and German groups, the entire British rights to the appointment of engineers and the supply of material secured by the Anglo-Chinese Agreement of 1905.\n\nTo give effect to this resolution it was necessary to devise a new method of procedure. First of all it was necessary for the British to obtain the consent of the French group to the admission of a German partner in the loan. Assuming that no objection would be raised by the French, there still remained for solution the method to be adopted for separating the financial and the constructional elements of the proposed tripartite Agreement. The French acknowledgment of the British preference as regards construction of the Hankow-Canton Railway had been obtained in return for the British acknowledgment of the French preference with regard to the Peking-Hankow... \n\n[2155 a-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421663, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 452, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# [This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.] 450\n\n2\n\nI observed that the Kulikha-Tengyueh Railway would be a Chinese line built by British engineers, and that the cost of construction might be met by a British loan. Judging by his Excellency's energetic action, opium, the principal staple of Yunnan exports, appeared to be doomed. The present system of mule transport was too expensive to promote trade between Burmah and Yunnan. Unless, therefore, articles of commerce, such as silk, hides, and minerals, could find an easy outlet into Burmah, I feared there was little hope for the prosperity of Yunnan. I was well aware that he cared little or nothing for popular denunciation when once he had set his hand to a task. However, I was able to assert from personal knowledge that the inhabitants of Western Yünnan, so far from opposing railway connection with Burmah, actually favoured it. As far as the financial question was concerned, an arrangement could, I thought, be made for a British loan on suitable security.\n\nThe Governor-General pressed me for an expression of my opinion as to his views concerning the French railway, but I did not give it. He reminded me that my predecessor, Mr. Wilkinson, had been in frequent correspondence with him for a British railway from Burmah to Yunnan-fu. He had consistently and uncompromisingly refused his assent. The temper of the Chinese people was not what it had been a few years ago, and on that account, it had been out of the question to agree to any such railway.\n\nI did not discuss the pros and cons of a British railway from Burmah to Yunnan-fu. I remarked, however, that, in the event of some practical solution of the question of railway connection between Burmah and Yünnan being found in a line from Bhamo to Tengyueh, extensions to Yungchang, Hsiakuan, and Yunnan-fu could be made at a later date, when the prospects of the short line to Tengyueh should have been more or less definitely determined.\n\nThe Governor-General questioned me somewhat closely as to the length of the line, the gauge, the estimated cost, the probable earnings, and the nationality of the engineering staff. He seemed to be favourably impressed by the moderate estimate of £500,000 to £600,000 for a 3 feet line from Kulikha to Tengyueh. He appeared to be strongly opposed to the employment of any but British engineers and denounced the dissensions between the various French, Italian, Austrian, and Swiss engineers employed on the French railway.\n\nI said that I thought there would be no occasion to use other than British engineers. There was no dearth of Englishmen skilled in railway construction, and, I added, railways all over the world had been and were being built by Englishmen.\n\nThe Governor-General, who had at first looked coldly on the project of railway communication between Burmah and Yunnan, appeared subsequently to take some interest in the conversation. He spoke openly and bitterly of the French railway muddle, as he termed it. He asked me point-blank why we had co-operated with the French in raising the recent loan for the redemption of the Peking-Hankow Railway. He characterized the French railway scheme in Yunnan as the mischievous hobby of M. Doumer. He hinted that we had arranged with France for a free hand in Thibet in exchange for non-interference with French designs in Yunnan. His little fit of spleen over, his Excellency joined me in laughing at the absurdity of his last remark. Finally, he expressed his intention of consulting the Provincial Railway Board and said that he would think the matter over on learning their views.\n\nThe Governor-General explained that he had talked freely to me because our interview was private and in no sense official. I accepted the explanation and stated that I had no authority from you to put forward or discuss any railway proposals. I was merely seeking to know his views on a matter which could bring nothing but good to Burmah and Yunnan alike.\n\nI have the honour to state, in conclusion, that I was very guarded in replying to the somewhat pressing demands for my views on the French railway. I venture to believe that my remarks in this connection would not have given offence to the French Consul, if he had been present.\n\nI have, &c. \n(Signed) \n**E. C. WILTON**\n\n## **CHINA RAILWAYS**\n\n## **CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[4457]\n\nC. O. \n6761 \n[February 2.]\n\n**RECEIVED** \nRec: 25 09 \n**SECTION 2.**\n\n### No. 1.\n\n**Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation to Foreign Office.--(Received February 2.)**\n\nDear Sir Francis,\n\n31, Lombard Street, London, February 1, 1909,\n\nI enclose, as promised, a copy of the Memorandum submitted to their Foreign Office by the French group, with regard to the Hankow-Canton Railway Loan negotiations.\n\nI am, of course, not responsible for the Memorandum, but I am not disposed to quarrel with it as a fair statement of the points at issue as seen through French spectacles, although I think they have not quite understood my point with regard to the separation of the financial and the industrial elements of the Loan Agreement. That does not, however, involve any question of principle.\n\nI do not think I mentioned on Saturday what is, perhaps, of some importance, namely, that the German group were apparently prepared to carry their denunciation of the 1898 Protocol to its logical conclusion and to admit that the abolition of the \"sphere of interest\" in China applied equally to German as well as English spheres.\n\nWith regard to the question of the Anglo-German-French `entente générale` in China, my own opinion is that France and Germany having declared their willingness to accept this in principle, the negotiations cannot very well be left to remain as they are, and, speaking for myself, I should have no objection to an Anglo-German-French Agreement, say, on the basis of our present Agreement with the Germans, as regards finance. It is when you come to the industrial branch that the difficulties seem to be almost insurmountable. Supposing a Chinese loan be divided equally between Paris, Berlin, and London; on what principle is it proposed to divide the industrial advantages accruing from the appointment of engineers and the supply of material? Is it to be by dividing the railway construction into sections, or by geographical division of China into spheres of construction, or by leaving construction open to competition on the understanding that the country securing the contract should share results with its partners in finance?\n\nI confess, for myself, that I find no answer to these difficulties, but I have privately informed a member of each of the two groups, French and German, that if they, on their side, had any solution to offer, it would receive fair consideration by the British group.\n\nYours truly, \n(Signed) \n**C. S. ADDIS**\n\n### Inclosure in No. 1.\n\n**Memorandum communicated to the French Foreign Office respecting the Hankow-Canton Railway Loan.**\n\nACTUELLEMENT, en vertu d'un Accord signé à Londres le 18 octobre, 1906, par M. St. Simon et Mr. Addis, un groupe français, représenté par la Banque de l'Indo-Chine, et composé de la Banque de l'Indo-Chine, du Comptoir National d'Escompte de París, de la Société Générale, de la Régie Générale des Chemins de Fer, de la Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas, et de MM. H. J. and S. Bardac, est associé à la British and Chinese Corporation pour poursuivre l'obtention de la Concession du Chemin de Fer d'Hankéou-Canton.\n\nTant en vertu de cet \"Agreement\" qu'en vertu d'un “Memorandum\" signé à Paris le 24 février, 1908, il a été entendu que dans le cas où cette Concession serait obtenue, ou dans le cas où un emprunt relatif à ce chemin de fer serait conclu, tous les avantages financiers qui en découleraient seraient partagés par moitié entre le groupe anglais et le groupe français.\n\nQuant aux avantages indirects, pouvant résulter de l'opération, tels que places dans le personnel de la ligne, commandes de matériel, &c., il a été stipulé par le...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421790, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 579, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## 2\n\nas Prince Regent were regarded as offering a fortunate solution of the difficulty and the new era opened with every appearance of harmonious co-operation between Yuan and the Prince Regent and between Chinese and Manchus generally.\n\nIt soon, however, became noticeable, as I mentioned in private letters, that Yuan was effacing himself, and that all was not right. This impression was not confirmed by Yuan's own statements. Mr. Ijuin, the Japanese Minister, had a private interview with him on the 22nd December, and found him highly pleased with the Prince Regent and the unexpected capacity which His Highness was displaying in the conduct of affairs. On the 28th December he was almost exclusively the spokesman at a meeting in connection with the Manchurian negotiations between Japan and China, and had evidently no idea of his impending fate.\n\nThe circumstances under which he received his dismissal from the Prince Regent a few days later are described in the inclosed letter from Sir W. Hillier, who had the story from Yuan's son.\n\nYuan started by the first train on the morning of the 3rd instant for Tien-tsin, where he evidently intended to seek refuge in the British Concession, but having apparently been reassured as to his personal safety, he returned here the same afternoon, and left by special train on the 5th instant for his home in Honan.\n\nThe American and German Ministers called upon me on the afternoon the Decree was issued to talk over the situation, and we agreed that the incident ought not to be allowed to pass unnoticed by the foreign Representatives. We felt that Yuan's presence in Peking was a guarantee for stability, and that the Regent's action, if unchallenged, might lead to serious trouble.\n\nAn informal meeting, attended by the Representatives of America, Germany, Japan, Russia, Austria, Italy, France and myself, was held at the United States' Legation the following day, when it was decided to request authority from our Governments to make a representation either direct to the Prince Regent or to His Highness through the Wai-wu P'u, on the basis incorporated in my telegram No. 5 of the 3rd instant, a copy of which is inclosed for convenience of reference. The formula eventually adopted was naturally a compromise to meet the divergencies of views held by those present.\n\nThe Japanese Minister, with whom I had some previous communication, showed considerable reluctance to join in any representation, and gave as his reason that Yuan had, according to information furnished him by Tieh Liang, been impeached by censors for his behaviour towards the late Emperor. Subsequently Mr. Ijuin was prepared to join his colleagues on the understanding that Yuan's name should not be mentioned in order to avoid doing him harm and to prevent the representation assuming a personal complexion.\n\nThe construction placed upon the Japanese attitude by most of my colleagues is that Yuan's disappearance from public life means the removal of Tong Shao-yi and possibly the Viceroy, Hsu Shih-ch'ang from Mukden, and that the substitution of weaker men will suit Japanese policy in Manchuria.\n\nThe Russian Minister also showed some hesitation in falling into line with his colleagues, and wished to leave the decision entirely to his Government.\n\nA further meeting of the Diplomatic Body is to be held to-morrow, when it is expected that the views of the different Governments will be received.\n\nLiang Tun-yen has been appointed to act as Yuan's successor in the Wai-wu Pu. He is an intelligent Chinese educated in America, who has had much experience as Secretary to Chang Chih-tung, but he has contracted the opium habit to such a degree as almost to incapacitate him for sustained and serious work, and his influence in the country is of no account.\n\nHis senior colleague, the Grand Secretary Na, is a supple plausible Manchu, who has played many parts and always managed to come out successfully. His promises are as profuse as his performance is scant, and although a sworn brother of Yuan's, his regret at the latter's downfall is doubtless mitigated by the fact that he succeeds him as a member of the Grand Council.\n\nPrince Ching, to whom all communications are addressed, and who should, if the Protocol were observed, be Foreign Minister in reality, no longer takes any active part in the affairs of the Wai-wu Pu, which is now inferior in its personnel to the Tsung-li Yamên, which it replaced, and on which it was intended to be an improvement.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) \n**J. N. JORDAN**\n\n## 3\n\n### Inclosure 1 in No. 1\n\n**Imperial Decree received by the Grand Council on January 2, 1909.**\n\n(Translation.)\n\nTHE Grand Councillor and President of the Board of Foreign Affairs, Yuan Shih-k'ai, was chosen by his late Majesty to fill many high posts, and upon our accession to the throne we conferred further signal marks of favour upon him, in the belief that he possessed abilities which would enable him to render good service. He has now, however, been seized with a disease in the feet, which makes it difficult for him to move about, and thus renders him unfit for the performance of his duties. We therefore decree, as a mark of compassion, that he shall forthwith vacate his posts and retire to his native place for the purpose of treating his complaint.\n\n(Signed by the Grand Councillors) \nPrince CHING (on leave). \nSHIH HSU. \nCHANG CHIH-TUNG. \nLU CH'UAN-LIN.\n\n(Seal of the Prince-Regent.)\n\n### Inclosure 2 in No. 1\n\n**Sir W. Hillier to Sir J. Jordan.**\n\nJanuary 3, 1909.\n\n(Confidential.)\n\nMy dear Jordan,\n\nYUAN YUAN-TAI, Yuan Kung Pao's son, has just been to see me, and has given me some particulars, for my confidential information, which may possibly interest you.\n\nHe told me that, although his father anticipated that his position would sooner or later become untenable, the dismissal of yesterday, for it was a dismissal, came upon him as a complete surprise. Yuan Kung Pao was at the Palace yesterday morning and saw the Prince Regent, who was particularly affable to him, and smiled pleasantly on Yuan when he left and went to his office. The Regent then sent for Chang Chih-tung and Shih Chung-tang, and produced the copy of the Decree that appeared in yesterday's \"Gazette.\" It took both Chang and Shih also by surprise, for it was the first intimation they had that any design was on foot to get rid of Yuan. They remonstrated with the Regent, but to no purpose, as he said that Yuan had to go. They then begged him at least to delay matters and to consult Prince Ch'ing, but the Regent replied that anything Prince Ching might say would not alter his purpose. On the previous day the Regent had an angry interview with Prince Ching, and spoke very sharply to him about the way in which the Wai-wu Pu was conducted, complaining that the Wai-wu Pu Ministers were not half stiff enough with the foreign Representatives, and gave way to them far too much. The result was that Prince Ching went away very much upset, and did not attend at Court yesterday. In fact, Yuan-t'ai says that the old Prince was so upset that he is really ill, and that this abrupt dismissal of Yuan has worried him more than all the Boxer trouble did, and that there is a strong belief that there is more trouble coming in the way of wholesale dismissals. Chang Chih-tung, there seems to be no doubt, had not only nothing to do with Yuan's dismissal, but is even alarmed about the security of his own position. Yuan-t'ai asserts that there is a very strong anti-foreign and anti-Chinese faction in the Palace at the present moment, backed up by the Regent and headed by Tieh Liang.\n\nIt is customary, but not apparently obligatory, for Chinese officials, when given their \"congé,\" as Yuan has been given his, to present themselves at Court and return thanks. Yuan had intended to go to Court this morning, but his son and others are convinced that there are more humiliations in store for Yuan, and they are alarmed for his personal safety, so he was persuaded to go to Tien-tsin by the early train this morning, his wife and family following by the following train. Yuan-t'ai left me to catch the 5:30 train for Tien-tsin to join his father, who is staying at the Astor House Hotel in Tien-tsin. He has no intention of going to his native place, but is standing by to go to Shanghae at a moment's notice, and from there to Hong Kong, if he has reason to believe that vindictive measures are to be taken against him.\n\nPage 574", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422114, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 143, "title": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# C.O.\n\n**This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government** 17950 \n\n141 Rece \n\n[B] \n\n## AFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\n(12775) \n\n### No. 1.\n\nREGP 24 APR 09 \n\n[April 5.] \n\n#### SECTION 1.\n\n**(No. 123.)** Sir, \n\nSir E. Goschen to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 5.) \n\nBerlin, April 2, 1909. \n\nI HAVE the honour to report that a Chinese Special Mission arrived in Berlin on the 31st March, under the Minister, Tong Shao-yi, and the Director of Chinese Railways, Mun-yen-Chung. \n\nIn connection with the arrival of the Mission an article has appeared in the \"Berliner Tageblatt\" of to-day, entitled \"The Great Powers and China,\" of which I have the honour to inclose a translation by Mr. Sampson. \n\nAn editorial note explains that this article furnishes the key to the customs negotiations pending between China and the Great Powers, which will probably form the subject of discussion between the Chinese Special Envoy and the Berlin officials.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) **W. E. GOSCHEN**, \n\n### Inclosure in No. 2.\n\nArticle extracted from the \"Berliner Tageblatt\" of April 2, by Adolph von Flöckher, entitled, \"The Great Powers and China.\" \n\n**(Translation.)** \n\nENGLAND was the first Power to take advantage of the right granted by the Peking Protocol of 1901 to demand a revision of the old Treaties; and this was due to the pressure of her merchants in the Far East, who demanded that the Chinese market, which had been greatly endangered by Japanese competition, should be secured by new Agreements. The British Government did not charge their Diplomatic or Consular Representatives with these negotiations, but put them in the hands of a merchant, who also concluded the Treaty with the Chinese Government. \n\nSir James Lyle Mackay, who for many years had been a merchant in India and a member of the Indian Council, was sent to Shanghae in 1902 to negotiate for a Treaty. He arrived in great state with the rank of Envoy Extraordinary, and was soon able to conclude negotiations for a Treaty, which was signed on the 5th September, 1902. It may be observed by the way that the Treaty is for the present not valid, and will not come into force until all the Signatory Powers of the peace of Peking have adhered to it, and that in Germany great misgivings are felt concerning it, as it does not sufficiently protect our interests. \n\nThe increase of the import duties from 5 to 12 per cent. and of the export duties from 5 to 7 per cent. ad valorem appears justified; but, on the other hand, the promise of the Chinese Government to abolish the interior duties, known as li-kin, does not appear to be sufficiently guaranteed to make it certain that they will actually be abolished. The railways have indeed made a great breach in the system of levying li-kin, as the goods are by this means forwarded in through trains, thus avoiding the pernicious system, whereas under the ordinary means of transport the goods are taxed as many as eighty times before arriving at their destination. \n\nGermany, in virtue of Article 24 of the Commercial Treaty of 1861, is able to avoid the payment of li-kin on all goods imported into a Chinese town by rail; and merchandize, after paying the import duty, is only subject to a further transit tax of 2 1/4 per cent., so that, for instance, goods sent to Hankow via Shanghae pay a total duty of 7 per cent. ad valorem. \n\nIt would therefore appear at first sight that Germany has no very great interest in the abolition of li-kin. But it must be considered that the railways are of comparatively small extent, and that also above all the Chinese exports suffer from ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422181, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 210, "title": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# TO \n## 2\n\nthere may have been, the German Group were under the belief that they had informed Mr. Addis by telegram that they were only prepared to withdraw their offer to the Chinese if an arrangement was arrived at between the three groups, and that the German Group considered themselves to have a free hand to negotiate with the Chinese until such agreement between the groups was arrived at. To the question put by Mr. Addis, Mr. Urbig stated that his group could not be brought into the position of having it said by the Chinese about them that the Germans could not fulfil their engagements. He said that the contract with the Chinese had been made by the German Group in good faith; that the terms known as Tientsin Pookow had worked smoothly so far as the experience of the German Group was concerned, but there could be no question of telling the Chinese that the German Group had entered into a contract which they were no longer prepared to carry. He suggested that the Hankow business should be excluded altogether, and a mutual arrangement made for the future as to other concerns, but he definitely stated that the German Group could not, in the event of their not being able to secure better terms, bind themselves to withdraw from their contract with the Chinese.\n\n## cont.\n\nIn the general discussion which ensued Mr. Rehders and Mr. Erich confirmed this last statement by Mr. Urbig. Objection was taken by the German Group to the alleged statement by Mr. Bland, on behalf of the British Group, to the Chinese that the German Group were incapable of carrying out their contract. Mr. Keswick, on behalf of the British Group, stated that Mr. Bland had categorically denied having made any such statement as alleged, and repudiated any knowledge or responsibility for any cable sent through Reuter's Agency.\n\nMr. Carl Meyer proposed, on behalf of the British Group, that the German Group should alone sign the final Agreement with the Chinese for the Hankow-Canton Railway, and then allow the two other groups to participate, in return for which Concession the German Group should agree to withdraw from their contract with the Chinese in the event of the terms described as \"Canton-Kowloon\" terms not being obtained. The German Group did not accept this proposal. As a last resource it was proposed by the German Group that they should cable to-day to their Agent in Peking, Mr. Cordes, and ascertain whether the Chinese would consent to the addition of the following words to their Loan Agreement, viz., \"and counter-signed by the Chief Engineer,\" so as to insure that all requisitions on the loan funds should, in addition to being signed by the Managing Director of the railway or his duly authorized representative, be countersigned by the Engineer and so controlled or vetoed by the lender's nominee.\n\n\"Canton-Kowloon\" terms, as was agreed, mean in the above discussion terms which give the lenders the right of control or veto over expenditure before the withdrawal of the money takes place.\n\nThe meeting then adjourned until 3 P.M.\n\n(Signed) S. SIMON.\n\n## 3\n\nMinutes of Meeting, April 3, 1909.\n\nParties present as before except Mr. Rolders.\n\nThe German Group reported that no telegram had been received by them from Mr. Cordes.\n\nMr. Simon and Mr. Addis then stated that they considered that the French and British Groups were no longer bound to maintain the status quo. Mr. Urbig agreed that this was so.\n\nMr. Addis then explained some of his observations of yesterday relating to the negotiations between the groups, and maintained that the French and British Groups had been placed in an unfair position, and suggested that the German Group, if they could not withdraw from their offer themselves, could perhaps induce the Chinese to withdraw from their acceptance of it. He stated that it might be of some assistance to them in this direction if, as was intended, the French and British Groups were to submit a formal protest to the Chinese through the British Minister at Peking against the Chinese concluding the Hankow-Canton Railway Loan business without submitting the same to the British Group in accordance with the Convention of 1905, and that he desired the German Group to know what the intention of the British Group was.\n\nMr. Urbig, in reply, again stated his view as to the negotiations between the Groups, and repeated that the German Group relied upon telegrams exchanged, as having given the British Group notice of the intentions of the German Group. He stated that, in his opinion, it would be as impossible for the German Group to get the Chinese to withdraw from the Contract as for the German Group themselves to withdraw. He further stated that the German Group would have no complaint if by reason of the protest at Peking the Chinese were to determine the contract themselves.\n\nMr. Addis then, on behalf of the French and British Groups, read the following protest to the meeting :-\n\n\"The British and French Groups beg to place on record their deep regret at the decision arrived at by the German Group, in consequence of which they are unable to continue these negotiations any longer, but having laid down the principle that some reasonable measure of control over the expenditure of the loan funds is absolutely necessary as a safeguard to the European bondholders-they have no alternative but to part company with their German friends. They wish also to state that they now hold themselves at liberty to take whatever steps they may deem necessary in their own interests, relieved of any obligation under the Protocol.\"\n\nThe above Minutes having been read and confirmed, the proceedings then terminated.\n\n(Signed) S. SIMON.\n\nAt 3 P.M. The Minutes of the meeting held this morning were read over and approved.\n\nThe German Group reported that they had cabled to Mr. Cordes.\n\nMr. Simon and Mr. Addis stated that if Mr. Cordes' reply was unsatisfactory the French and British Groups would again ask the German Group whether they would now withdraw from their Agreement with the Chinese.\n\nMr. Urbig stated that in such event the German Group would decline to withdraw.\n\nThe meeting adjourned until to-morrow at 11 A.M. to await Mr. Cordes' reply.\n\n(Signed) S. SIMON.\n\nPage 208\nPage 210\nPage 211", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422217, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 246, "title": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# Inclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\n## Consul Goffe to Sir J. Jordan.\n\nMy dear Sir John,\n\nWuhu, February 13, 1909. CHOU HSUEH MING came to see me yesterday afternoon, and had a long talk. He arrived on the 6th, and I sent in my card, and said I proposed to call on him; he replied that he was very busy, and would come and see me as soon as he had leisure. I have been to see Chou Fu several times lately, and he generally comes and sees me when he comes into town by way of return visit; but the poor old man is feeble and has had a very bad cough all the winter, and has not been able to get out.\n\nI suppose he thought that if his son came that would do instead of his coming.\n\nChou was very pleasant and communicative, and spoke freely of all his troubles with the gentry. He said they all recognized now that there was nothing to be done with Chinese banks, and they were quite prepared to borrow direct from foreigners. The only difficulty in the way now was the appointment by the lenders of a foreign Engineer. He was himself quite convinced that they could not get foreign money without this condition, but he had not yet succeeded in inducing the gentry to consent to it. It was, however, only a question of time, as they must have the money.\n\nI gave him Bland's conditions, which I had written out in Chinese for him, and he said they were quite reasonable.\n\nHe said they wanted to borrow 3,000,000 taels to complete the present line to Ning Kuo Fu. Once that was done he thought they would be able to get money from Chinese shareholders, but at present they had no confidence in the Company. He said they wanted to borrow this amount, to be repaid in fifteen years. The security he could offer would be a tax on rice and on tea, and an increase on the price of salt of 2 cash per catty. The last point was under consideration of the Viceroy, and he expected it to be approved. The merchants were willing to pay the rice tax if the Company really meant business. He is now engaged in settling these various questions, so as to be in a position to offer security for a foreign loan. He promised to let me know how they got on, so that I could ask Bland to meet them. I am going to Nanking to-morrow, and I am to see him when I come back.\n\nHe said that the Auditor's Report, which I sent you yesterday, was entirely a one man's affair and quite useless. I thought so at the time, but I was afraid you might see it in the paper and wonder why I had not sent it to you.\n\nI asked him about the line from Wuhu to Nanking, and he said that the Viceroy had determined to borrow money to build it under Collinson's supervision.\n\nWith regard to mines, he said the Peking people were pressing him to take them over, but he objected that he had no time. As to Tungkuanshan, he said that a good half of the gentry were now in favour of joint Anglo-Chinese working. The opposition came from Anch'ing, and the Viceroy had now summoned a representative of the gentry there to come to Nanking to talk the matter over with him. He asked me to treat this information as private, unless the Viceroy told it me himself. He thought it would help if I did not press for the release of the ore here, as the gentry were annoyed at the Company working without having first bought the land. I said that was all very well, but they had consistently refused to send a deputy to arrange for the purchase of the land and we had no option. In any case, I said, the land mined was only hill land and did not hurt anybody.\n\nIt would do good, he said, if it were made clear what would be the actual position and rights of the Chinese shareholders. I said that I presumed that they would have the usual rights under British Company law, but, of course, the management would have to remain in British hands.\n\nCould the Chinese come in now? Maguire said that the Japanese had up till some time this month to ratify the Agreement, and that if they did not come in by a certain date the offer was off.\n\nI think things look a little more hopeful now both as regards railways and the mine. I am writing to Bland to tell him what Chou said about a loan.\n\nHe also said that the line from Ning Kuo Fu to T'un Chi, a distance of 360 li, passed through a very mountainous country and would be expensive to build.\n\nYours, &c.\n\n**(Signed) HERBERT GOFFE.**\n\n## CHINA RAILWAYS.\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\n`[13011]`\n\n**(No. 143.)**\n\n`15433`\n\n`[April 6.]`\n\n`2600 SEGP 7 MAY OC`\n\n`SECTION 4.`\n\n## No. 1.\n\n### Sir F. Bertie to Sir Edward Grey,-(Received April 6.)\n\nSir,\n\nParis, April 3, 1909. As I had the honour to report in my telegram No. 54 of to-day's date, the negotiations between the British, French, and German groups with regard to the Hankow-Canton Railway loan were broken off this morning, in view of the continued refusal of the German Delegates to withdraw the German offer to the Chinese Government.\n\nHerr Urbig caused Mr. Addis to be informed last night that the result of such a withdrawal would be the resignation of Mr. Cordes, and that he (Herr Urbig) would be held personally responsible for the consequent loss of German reputation in China. Herr Urbig laid stress on the fact that, in case the British, French, and German groups parted company over this comparatively small loan, the Germans would in all probability obtain the financing of the entire Hankow-Canton as well as the Hankow-Szechuan lines, amounting to a sum of about 22,000,000l.\n\nAlthough the French Delegates maintained a perfectly loyal attitude towards their British colleagues throughout, Mr. Addis evidently considers that they were much impressed by the force of Herr Urbig's contention, which had been conveyed to them also, and would have given way had they been able to induce Mr. Addis to adopt a similar course.\n\nBefore the meeting broke up this morning the German Delegates declared that they would offer no objection to British preference claimed on the score of the 1905 Convention, the effect of which would be merely to leave the British group with the option of the Tien-tsin-Pukow terms for this loan.\n\nMr. Addis at the close of the meeting announced that a formal protest would be made by the British Representative at Peking against any violation of the 1905 Convention.\n\nI have the honour to transmit to you herewith a copy of a statement which has, with the approval of the various Delegates, been issued to the press on the subject.\n\n**(Signed)**\n\nI have, &c.\n\n**FRANCIS BERTIE.**\n\n## Inclosure in No. 1.\n\n### Memorandum.\n\nThe meetings recently held in London and Paris between the Representatives of British, French, and German financial groups with the object of arranging for co-operation in respect to railway loans in China including that for the Hankow-Canton Railway have proved abortive.\n\nIn accordance with a Protocol signed by the three groups prior to these meetings the British and French groups withdrew their offers to the Chinese for the Hankow-Canton Railway loan.\n\nThe German group, however, did not do so, but concluded an Agreement with the Chinese for the loan on terms which did not include those which had been declared by the Protocol to be the minimum terms of control for securing the proper application of the proceeds of Chinese railway loans.\n\n`[2241 f4]`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422228, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 257, "title": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## Inclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\n**Notice.**\n\n(Translation from the Russian text.)\n\nR. WILLIS.\n\n**NOTICE** is hereby given to the Chinese population residing within the railway territory that business establishments, the owners of which will not pay before the 8th (21st) February, 1909, the assessments for the improvements of the villages, according to the tax list which has been issued by the Manager of the railway, will be closed by measures of the police.\n\nOn or before the above-mentioned date, the owners of all trade establishments are obliged to renew, through the agents of the Land Department, the Notes of Promise and the Trade Certificates.\n\nThe money may be paid directly to the management of the railway or to the agents of the Land Department which are along the line.\n\nTo the population is given the right after the assessments will be paid to present complaints of all errors and misunderstandings that might arise, to the Manager of the railway.\n\n## (No. 9. Confidential.)\n\nSir,\n\n### Inclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nActing Consul-General Willis to Sir J. Jordan.\n\nMukden, February 24, 1909.\n\nIN continuation of my despatch No. 8 of the 20th instant, I have the honour to report that the Chinese Eastern Railway authorities have apparently decided not to enforce for the present at Harbin the conditions of their notification of the 13th instant.\n\nI learn, however, that in the other railway Settlements, of which there are between sixty and seventy, the authorities are pressing for the payment of the new taxes from Chinese, and that in several instances establishments have been closed by the railway police.\n\nIn the course of a conversation yesterday with the Viceroy, his Excellency stated that whilst the Chinese Government had all along contended that they possessed sole rights of administration in the railway zones, he thought that they would now be willing to accept a compromise at Harbin under which the Railway Company retained all property bona fide required for railway purposes, but that the territory should be administered by a municipality organized on international lines. His Excellency said that at any rate he personally would regard such a solution as satisfactory.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nnotice in Russian and Chinese, that was posted through the town on the 13th instant, in which storekeepers within the railway territory are notified that in cases where the taxes that have been assessed by the Manager of the Eastern Chinese Railway Company are not paid before the 8th (21st) February, 1909, the stores will be closed by the authority of the police, and that all owners of trade establishments must before that date renew their pledges of subordination to the Railway Company's administration and business licenses.\n\nI am informed that none of the Chinese merchants belonging to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce have paid the taxes, and that it is their intention to hold out so long as they do not receive instructions from the Taotai of Harbin to pay. So far as I am able to learn, only one foreigner, other than Russian subjects, has paid any portion of the required taxes, although there are probably more. The exception that has come to my notice is a German subject, who has paid 1,000 roubles towards the levy against his brewery, and he has now declined to make further payment. I am privately informed that the German merchants here have received instructions from their Consul at Mukden not to pay any taxes without his permission.\n\nA few days ago a Russian proprietor of one of the beer breweries in Harbin reported the theft of some tobacco from his quarters. A Corean subject gave information to the Russian police that a German subject by the name of Pitt had committed the theft, and that the stolen goods were in his rooms; forthwith a Russian officer and two soldier police proceeded to Pitt's room, turned things upside down without finding the tobacco, and wrote a Protocol in the rooms, which they compelled Pitt to sign. I am informed that this matter has been reported to the German Consul at Mukden.\n\nAbout a week previous to this affair a Russian soldier police called at the residence and office of a Mr. Romero, Spanish subject, who has recently opened a law office here, and requested him to turn over his passport in order that the Russian police station might inspect and register it. Mr. Romero dismissed the policeman with the statement that the passport would not be shown. Shortly afterwards a police agent (officer) walked into his office, with cap, sword, spurs, &c., and in an arrogant manner demanded Mr. Romero's passport, as the policeman had done. Mr. Romero told him to first step back into the hall and take off his cap, which he did. Mr. Romero then told him plainly that his passport would not be given up, and that if police attempted to break into his house or office without a warrant from his Consul, he would shoot them. The officer sat down to make a Protocol for Mr. Romero to sign, but at an urgent request from Mr. Romero he left without doing so. This matter was reported at once by Mr. Romero to the Russian Consulate-General, and he was assured by Prince Mechershy, the Vice-Consul in practical charge, that the police officer had made a very bad mistake, and that it would not occur again.\n\nRecently Mr. I. F. Valesco was appointed Spanish Consul here, and on the 30th January last opened his office.\n\nI am confidentially informed that the Russian Minister at Peking recently sent a note to the Spanish Minister in which he requested that the latter address an official communication to General Horvat, the manager of the Railway Company here, regarding Mr. Valesco's appointment. The Spanish Minister did not answer the note, but called and informed the Russian Minister that it would be impossible for him to comply with his request. The Russian Minister immediately explained that his note was hurriedly written, and should have requested that he (the Russian Minister) be notified of the appointment. This the Spanish Minister also found excuses for not doing.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) FRED. D. FISHER.\n\n(Signed) R. WILLIS.\n\nSir,\n\n### Inclosure 4 in No. 1.\n\nMr. Fisher to Mr. Rockhill.\n\nAmerican Consulate, Harbin, February 16, 1909.\n\nWITH reference to my despatches dated the 30th January and the 3rd February, I have the honour to inclose herewith a copy, with translation, of a\n\n### Inclosure 5 in No. 1.\n\n**Notice.**\n\n(Translation of the Russian Text.)\n\n**NOTICE** is hereby given to the Chinese population residing within the railway territory, that business establishments, the owners of which will not pay before the 8th (21st) of February, 1909, the assessments for the improvements of the villages, ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422303, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 332, "title": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## Instructions to Counsel to Advise in re the Hankow-Canton Railway\n\nHEREWITH are sent :-\n\n* Prints of the two draft Agreements recently settled by counsel.\n* Prints of the Minutes of meetings held between the various groups held in London on the 12th and 13th March, 1909.\n* Prints of the Minutes of further meetings held between the various groups at Paris on the 2nd and 3rd April, 1909.\n* Copy cablegram received by the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation in London from their agent, Mr. Hillier, in Peking, dated the 16th April, 1909.\n* Print of the Addis Memorandum.\n* Print of the Tien-tsin-Pukow Railway Loan Agreement.\n\nAs will be seen from the Minutes sent herewith, the meetings between the various groups proved abortive. This was due to the fact that the German group, prior to the meetings and in defiance of the terms of the Memorandum and Protocol by Mr. C. S. Addis, dated the 26th February, 1909, concluded with the Chinese a Preliminary Agreement for the loan in question, upon terms which were referred to at the various meetings as Tien-tsin-Pukow terms. The terms in question appear from the Tien-tsin-Pukow Railway Loan Agreement sent herewith.\n\nThe objection to these terms is that they allow the Chinese a free hand in the spending of the loan funds, and that the only protection which the bondholders receive is that after the money is spent the accounts are audited by an auditor who is appointed and paid by the lenders. See the last paragraph of `Article 14` of the Tien-tsin-Pukow Railway Loan Agreement.\n\nAt the conference in Paris, the British and French groups stated clearly their determination not, for the future, to join in loans to the Chinese which did not provide for a check or control or veto over the power of the Chinese to obtain the loan funds. The German group in Paris protested that they could not withdraw from the Preliminary Agreement if the Chinese insisted upon holding them to it without modification, but as will be seen from the Minutes of the meetings, they did telegraph to their agent in China with a view to adding the words \"and countersigned by the Chief Engineer,\" to the last sentence in paragraph 1 of `Article 14` of the Tien-tsin-Pukow Railway Agreement. If the Chinese had accepted this modification the British and French groups were prepared to have come to terms and to have settled all outstanding points on the draft Agreement sent herewith, but unfortunately the German group were unable to obtain any reply from their agent, and the conference broke off.\n\nNegotiations have been going on since, and it is, we believe, the fact that the final Loan Agreement has not yet been signed by the Chinese.\n\n## Letter\n\ndes divergences d'opinion se sont produites lors des conférences tenues à Londres et à Paris.\n\nJe vous suis très reconnaissant des explications détaillées contenues dans votre lettre, et qui confirment, en les développant, les arguments que vos représentants, MM. Urlig et Erich, ont déjà fait valoir dans les conversations que j'ai eu le plaisir d'avoir avec eux.\n\nJ'ai le vif regret, cependant, de ne pouvoir me rallier à votre manière de voir, et je crois de mon devoir, en raison même des anciennes et amicales relations qui existent entre nous, de préciser, à mon tour, notre point de vue.\n\nCroyez bien, d'ailleurs, que les observations qui vont suivre n'ont nullement pour objet de rappeler inutilement les griefs des groupes anglo-français contre l'action du groupe allemand, mais plutôt de chercher, par une explication franche, à préparer le terrain, en vue d'une entente ultérieure que je ne désespère pas de voir intervenir.\n\nL'argument principal sur lequel le groupe allemand s'appuie repose sur le fait que l'adhésion donnée le 1 mars au Mémorandum Addis - et approuvée le 3 mars par le Consortium - ne liait pas votre groupe, tant que l'accord de principe n'était pas complété par l'entente définitive sur tous les points que la conférence des trois groupes devait discuter.\n\nSur ce point essentiel notre manière de voir diffère de la vôtre.\n\nL'adhésion du groupe allemand donnée le 1er mars engageait-elle sa responsabilité au moins morale ? Je ne puis pas un seul instant le mettre en doute. Cette adhésion signifiait la signature de préliminaires de paix, après une guerre reconnue nuisible par tous les intéressés.\n\nOr, pouvait-il entrer dans l'esprit des contractants qu'après la signature de ces préliminaires et avant la conclusion définitive du traité de paix, les hostilités continuassent ?\n\nEn ce qui concerne le groupe anglo-français la cessation de toute action en dehors de l'entente générale a été absolue. Vous en avez été informés, et la prière instante vous a été adressée de suivre la même voie.\n\nIl est certain - et personne ne le met en doute - que le groupe allemand en attendant le résultat de la conférence a cru, de bonne foi, pouvoir maintenir les propositions faites au Gouvernement chinois, bien que l'`Article 6` du Mémorandum Addis comportât expressément le retrait de ces propositions.\n\nMais si l'attitude du groupe allemand peut, au point de vue juridique, ne pas être contraire à la lettre des engagements, sa politique contradictoire devait fatalement placer ce groupe dans une situation fausse soit vis-à-vis du Gouvernement chinois, soit vis-à-vis des autres groupes.\n\nSon offre du 3 mars - d'apporter, le cas échéant, l'affaire obtenue par lui seul aux trois groupes réunis - n'atténue nullement les difficultés de cette situation, puisque vous étiez prévenus d'avance que les autres groupes n'accepteraient pas la formule de Tientsin-Pookow que l'entente générale avait précisément pour objet d'écarter.\n\nC'est cette politique contradictoire du groupe allemand, continuant la concurrence sur des bases reconnues inacceptables dans les préliminaires d'entente, qui, à notre avis, justifie les critiques que les autres groupes lui ont adressées.\n\nVous faites valoir que l'abandon de vos propositions aux Chinois vous eût placés dans cette situation inadmissible que, la conférence repoussant vos demandes, vous eussiez sacrifié sans compensation le fruit de vos efforts.\n\nCette crainte, permettez-moi de la dire, me paraît exagérée. En effet, vous étiez assurés d'avance de l'entente sur les points essentiels : l'entrée du groupe allemand dans la Chinese Central, le système de la désignation alternative de l'Ingénieur en chef, et le partage par tiers des commandes et autres avantages.\n\nPour ce qui est de l'internationalisation des emprunts, vous saviez certainement que la solution ne dépendait pas de la conférence, mais des autorités compétentes.\n\nQuant à la désignation d'un Ingénieur allemand pour tout le chemin de fer du Sze-Chouen, je pense bien que vous n'aviez pas sérieusement l'intention d'écarter de cette affaire l'influence française, ce qui aurait rendu toute entente impossible. Vos représentants n'ont d'ailleurs pas insisté sur ce point lors de la conférence.\n\nLe risque de vous asseoir entre deux chaises, comme vous le dites, n'existait donc pas. Cependant, pour employer la même image, le groupe allemand, en vue d'éviter ce danger, paraît avoir voulu occuper les deux chaises à la fois.\n\nPermettez-moi donc de vous demander quelle eût été notre situation respective si, comme il avait été proposé, la conférence se fût réunie avant l'acceptation de vos propositions par le Gouvernement chinois ?\n\nJe ne doute pas que l'accord définitif n'eût été facilement établi, et si, faute d'instructions contraires de votre part à votre représentant en Chine, vos propositions, toujours valables, avaient été acceptées simultanément par le Gouvernement chinois, vous vous seriez trouvés dans la nécessité de manquer à des engagements définitifs, et non seulement préliminaires - vos engagements envers le Gouvernement ne pouvant se concilier avec ceux contractés envers vos associés.\n\nJe connais trop bien la correction de vos procédés pour croire que vous vous seriez exposés volontairement à une difficulté de cette nature. Je crois ne pas me tromper en supposant que l'acceptation de vos propositions par les Chinois a été une surprise pour vous. Mais c'est précisément sur ce point, et non pas sur la légitimité de votre action, que les autres groupes sont en droit de se plaindre de la politique suivie par vous et qui a rendu cette surprise possible.\n\nVoilà, chers Messieurs, dans quels sentiments nous envisageons cette question. Ai-je besoin d'ajouter que je suis personnellement très affligé d'un différend qu'il n'a pas dépendu de nous d'éviter ?\n\nCe différend, j'en ai la ferme conviction, pourra avec de la bonne volonté réciproque être aplani dans la suite pour le mieux de nos intérêts communs, et je puis vous assurer que je serai très heureux de pouvoir contribuer à rétablir l'entente.\n\nVeuillez, &c.\n\n(Signé) E. ULLMANN.\n\nInclosure 4 in No. 1. \nPage 4\nPage 5", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422523, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 552, "title": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# No. 21.\n\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne—(Received October 26.)\n\n**(No. 243.) (Telegraphic.) P.**\n\nPeking, October 26, 1903.\n\n**INDEMNITIES**. With the exception of the Russian Government, which has sent no instructions as yet, all the Powers have concurred in the proposal mentioned in your Lordship's telegram No. 163.\n\nI have been informed, in confidence, by M. Dubail, that the French Government has sanctioned the remission of the interest on the difference (see my telegram No. 230, fourth paragraph), but such a concession has, up to the present, been strenuously combatted by the German Government.\n\nDoes your Lordship sanction my taking sides with my French colleague?\n\n## No. 24.\n\nSir E. Monson to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received October 28.)\n\n**(No. 561.)**\n\nParis, October 27, 1903.\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch No. 520 of the 21st October, and to inclose copy of a note which, in accordance with your Lordship's instructions, I have addressed to M. Delcassé with regard to the respective jurisdictions of the Mixed Courts of the International and French Settlements at Shanghae.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) \n**EDMUND MONSON**.\n\n### No. 22.\n\nThe Marquess of Lansdowne to Sir E. Satow.\n\n**(No. 174.) (Telegraphic.) P.**\n\nForeign Office, October 26, 1903.\n\n**TIEN-TSIN-CHINKIANG Railway**. British and Chinese Corporation express surprise at the alleged desire of the German group to separate their interests from those of the British group, as reported in your telegram No. 239 of the 20th October.\n\nThe Corporation have promised us an early statement of their views which we are now awaiting.\n\nThey have had no communication from the German group since the Conference held in Berlin in March last when it was arranged to continue the partnership.\n\n**(Confidential.)**\n\n### No. 23.\n\nForeign Office to Treasury.\n\nForeign Office, October 27, 1903.\n\nWITH reference to your letter of the 3rd instant, I am directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to transmit to you copy of a telegram which has been received from His Majesty's Minister at Peking, in which Sir E. Satow requests permission to act with his French colleague who has been authorized, in the event of the proposal put forward by the Belgian Minister with regard to the Chinese indemnity being accepted by the Powers, to forego the interest on the difference between gold and silver payments.\n\nIt will be remembered that the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury sanctioned the remission of interest on annual differences between the sums paid by the Chinese Government and those properly due by them under the Protocol in connection with the proposal that the payment of the British instalments of the indemnity should be accepted on a silver basis up to 1910.\n\nLord Lansdowne proposes, if the Lords Commissioners concur, to approve Sir E. Satow's acting with the French Minister in the matter, and he would be glad if he could be favoured with their Lordship's views on the subject at the earliest possible date.\n\nI am, &c. \n(Signed) \n**F. A. CAMPBELL**.\n\n**M. le Ministre,**\n\n### Inclosure in No. 24.\n\nSir E. Monson to M. Delcassé.\n\nParis, October 26, 1903.\n\nI AM in receipt of a despatch from His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs calling my attention to the fact that the Provisional Rules which were drawn up in the summer of 1902 by the British, French, and German Consular officers at Shanghae for defining the respective jurisdictions of the Mixed Courts of the International and French Settlements at that port, have remained in force up to the present time, but that they have never been considered satisfactory, and that they were accepted, as their title implies, only as a modus vivendi until a definite arrangement could be arrived at.\n\nAs matters now stand, the British Minister at Peking reports that the French Consul-General at Shanghae has declared himself unable to send an Assessor to the Mixed Court in the International Settlement, and denies the right of other nationalities to send Assessors to the Mixed Court in the French Settlement, in which only the French Assessor sits with the Chinese Magistrate.\n\nSince the Provisional Rules with regard to the jurisdiction of the two Courts were agreed to, a Committee consisting of the British, German, and United States' Ministers at Peking, have been intrusted by the Diplomatic Body in that capital with the task of preparing a draft of amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Mixed Court in the International Settlement, and the final draft prepared by this Committee was presented to the Diplomatic Representatives for their approval, and accepted by all except the French Minister, who stated that he had asked his Government for instructions in the matter.\n\nIn June last Mr. Townley, His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires, reported that M. Dubail was still without instructions.\n\nM. Dubail expressed to Mr. Townley the opinion that the present arrangement would work very well if properly applied. Experience has, however, shown that difficulties have frequently arisen, and in the opinion of His Majesty's Acting Consul-General at Shanghae, friction between the authorities of the two Settlements is certain to occur as long as the present conditions continue.\n\nI am accordingly instructed to state to your Excellency that, although it would no doubt be advisable that all details with regard to procedure should be settled locally, His Majesty's Government trust that the French Government will see their way to send instructions to the effect that the two Courts in the Settlements should be placed on an equal footing, that when a Frenchman is concerned in a case in the International Settlement a French Assessor should be present, and that, similarly, when a foreigner of any other nationality is interested in a case in the French Settlement, an Assessor of that nationality should be present, all cases being tried in the Court of the Settlement in which the defendant resides.\n\nI am at the same time to point out that the Provisional Regulations now being acted upon at Shanghae were, as already stated, only adopted as a temporary measure pending a definite Settlement.\n\nI have, &c. \n(Signed) \n**EDMUND MONSON**.\n\nPage 550 \n[1688]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422530, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 559, "title": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# 557 \n\n## 30 \n\nIf a local official in the transaction of international matters exceed the limit of his powers, then his actions shall not be upheld.” \n\nInasmuch as Treaties are mutually agreed to by two Governments, the officers of the two Powers should observe their provisions, and cannot on their own authority alter or cancel them. \n\nAt the present time, according to the Treaties as well as the Shanghae Mixed Court Rules, these criminals should all be handed over to the Chinese authorities for trial and punishment by them, and therefore, of course, they should be immediately handed over according to Treaty regulation. Moreover, the intent of these criminals was to throw the whole Empire into disorder, and China in punishing these offenders not only punishes criminals guilty of seditious practices, but also gives peace to the country and protection to trade. \n\nI make this communication to you, as senior Consul-General, with the request that you may in concert with your colleagues consider this matter, and that you will with all despatch hand over the criminals in accordance with the Treaty, and to the promotion of friendly relations. \n\nI hope you will take prompt action in all these matters. \n\n## No. 36. \n\nI am, &c. \n\nSir C. MacDonald to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received November 9.) \n\n## (No. 115.) \n\n(Telegraphic.) P. \n\nTokió, November 9, 1903. \n\nIn February 1898, His Majesty's Government proclaimed its position as regards the Valley of the Yang-tsze, and the Japanese Government used almost identical terms in a despatch, dated the 21st April, dealing with Fuhkion. \n\nBut the Foreign Minister says that the idea had never occurred to him to bring up, in the present negotiations, the question of advantages in that province, as Mr. Hay imagines according to your Lordship's telegram No. 115. \n\n## 31 \n\nThere is no question that events reported as having happened at Moukden regarding the reoccupation of that town are not looked upon with friendly eyes by officials here, but so long as the United States' Government secures and retains trade in Manchuria it will not be drawn into the political complications of the present situation. \n\nImmediately after his visit to the State Department, Sir Liang cabled to Peking the answer of Secretary Hay to China's appeal for assistance in checking Russia in Manchuria. The Peking authorities are aware by this time that until the ratification of the American-Chinese Treaty, which was signed on the 8th October, pledging to the world the opening of Moukden and Antung, it will be impossible for this Government, in view of its traditional policy of steering clear of foreign alliances, to protest against Russia's continued occupation of Manchuria, \n\nIt has been pointed out to China that, although the sympathy of the United States is with her, the time for American interference has not yet come. It is expected that the Commercial Treaty, which should arrive at Washington this week, will be ratified at the extra session of Congress, when the United States will be in a position to insist on a strict regard for her Treaty rights throughout China. The Peking Government has been told that infringement by Russia of American Treaty rights in Manchuria will furnish to the Washington Government the opportunity for at least a reiteration of its desire for the preservation of the integrity of China. \n\nJapan, it was learned to-night, has instituted a vigorous investigation regarding the extent and character of Russia's reoccupation of Moukden. Mr. Takahira, the Japanese Minister, when asked to-night whether Russia and Japan contemplated an understanding by which the one would obtain a free hand in Manchuria and the other important concessions in Corea, replied by calling attention to a recent official announcement from Tokio that the negotiations at the Japanese capital between Russia and Japanese officials were, so far as Japan is concerned, strictly in accord with the Anglo-Japanese alliance. Mr. Takahira has not been advised of any appeal from Russia to Japan, and he said to-night that his conference with Secretary Hay to-day concerned another matter. \n\nWashington, November 3, 1903. \n\n## No. 38. \n\n## (No. 304.) My Lord, \n\n## No.37. \n\nMr. Raikes to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received November 13.) \n\nWashington, November 3, 1903. \nWith reference to my despatch `No. 287`, marked **very Confidential**, of the 8th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit an extract from the \"New York Tribune,\" of to-day's date, respecting an interview between the Secretary of State and the Chinese Minister at this capital. \n\nIf the extract gives a correct account of what took place, Mr. Hay would seem to have repeated to Sir Chentung Liang what he said to me last month, viz., that as soon as the American Commercial Treaty was ratified the United States' Government would have a better *locus standi* for remonstrating with Russia if American interests were interfered with by that Power. \n\nI have, &c. \n(Signed) \n**ARTHUR S. RAIKES**. \n\n## Inclosure in No. 37. \n\nExtract from the \"New York Tribune\" of November 3, 1903. \n\nSIR CHENTUNG LIANG CHENG, the Chinese Minister here, acting under instructions from his Government, has been particularly active recently in the effort to interest the United States' Government in China's behalf in her Manchurian troubles. He was at the State Department to-day in pursuit of that object, the direct purpose being to see if any way can be found by which the United States' Government may be able to serve China in this emergency. \n\nIt appears, however, that Secretary Hay has not been able to hit upon any plan of action that would promise to serve China in this manner. There is no question that events reported as having happened at Moukden regarding the reoccupation of that town are not looked upon with friendly eyes by officials here, but so long as the United States' Government secures and retains trade in Manchuria it will not be drawn into the political complications of the present situation. \n\nSir, \n**British and Chinese Corporation** to Foreign Office.--(Received November 13.) \n\n3, Lombard Street, E.C., November 11, 1903. \nWe beg leave to refer to your letter of the 21st ultimo, in which the Marquess of Lansdowne was so good as to inquire whether we have any observations to make respecting the representation made by the German Minister in Peking to Sir E. Satow that the German group desire to separate their interests in the Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze Railway from those of the British financiers. \n\nWe replied provisionally on the 23rd ultimo (copy annexed), and since then we have been in communication with our Berlin friends. The reply we have received is of a somewhat ambiguous and qualified nature. They state that there is no question of a separation of German interests from those of the English group, and that this suggestion of a dissolution of the partnership must be due to some misunderstanding, the seat and reason of which they are not in a position to judge of, although they attribute it to a wrong interpretation of telegrams which they will do their best to clear up. \n\nThey go on in their letter to express a wish, however, for separate contracts for the German and British sections of the line, but, nevertheless, preserving the unity of interests, which seems to us to be a contradiction. \n\nSome time ago when the Germans wished for separate contracts and to break the partnership, we expressed our willingness to meet their wish subject to the condition that they declared their adherence to the Protocol of September 1898 and to the Chinese Government undertaking to give us a contract for the British section of the line on terms equally as good as they might have granted to the Germans. \n\nThe Chinese Imperial authorities have positively refused: \n| Refusal | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1. | To grant separate agreements. |\n| 2. | To fix the amount of the loan or to consider the question of the change of southern terminus pending the completion of the survey. |\n| 3. | To give the Government guarantee to the loan. |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422543, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 572, "title": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## No. 56\nI have not yet heard the number of Catholics who have been killed in this outbreak, but I shall have further particulars in a day or so from Mr. McLeod, when I will report further.\n\nI have, &c.\n(Signed) R. H. MORTIMORE.\n\n## No. 57\nEn foi de quoi, et dans le but de rapporter à nos Gouvernements respectifs ce qui précède, nous avons signé le présent Protocole.\n\nFait en quatre exemplaires à Tien-tsin, le 30 Septembre, 1903.\n\nL. C. HOPKINS, His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General and Commissioner.\n\n(Signé) R. N. LAPTEW, Consul de Russie et Commissaire.\n\n## No. 59\nSir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne-(Received December 7.)\n\nPeking, October 22, 1903.\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copy of a Protocol signed on the 30th ultimo by His Majesty's Consul-General at Tien-tsin and the Russian Consul at that port, formally reporting the conclusion of their proceedings in the Railway Lands Commission as the Joint Commissioners appointed by Great Britain and Russia to inquire into the questions in dispute.\n\nActing upon the authority given me in your Lordship's despatch No. 270 of the 5th ultimo, I have in a note identic with one signed by my Russian colleague, of which copy is inclosed, forwarded a copy of the above-named Protocol to the Chinese Government, with an invitation that they should accept the same.\n\nMr. Hopkins has only been able to furnish me with one copy of the plan referred to in the Protocol, which it appears to me desirable to retain in the archives of this Legation. Another copy, together with one of the four originals of the Protocol, have been retained at His Majesty's Consulate-General at Tien-tsin, where they can be consulted at any time by the Administrators of the Chinese Northern Railways or by the Representative of the British and Chinese Corporation.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) ERNEST SATOW.\n\n### Inclosure 2 in No. 59\nSir E. Satow to Prince Ching.\n\nPékin, le 16 Octobre, 1903.\n\nAŭ courant de l'année 1901, au moment de procéder à la délimitation de la Concession Russe à Tien-tsin, des doutes se sont élevés au sujet de quelques parcelles de terrains situées entre les limites provisoires de cette Concession.\n\nCes terrains, dont la propriété était réclamée par l'Administration des Chemins de Fer Impériaux Chinois du Nord, consistent en-\n1. Le village de Chi-chia-lou.\n2. La rue conduisant des bords du Peiho à la gare.\n3. Le chemin longeant le fleuve entre la rue précitée et le pont de bateaux.\n\nLe Gouvernement de Sa Majesté Britannique et le Gouvernement de Sa Majesté Impériale l'Empéreur de Russie, également désireux de déterminer la question de propriété, se mirent d'accord pour soumettre le litige à l'arbitrage de deux Commissaires nommés par les représentants des deux Gouvernements, lesquels Commissaires, dans le cas où ils se trouveraient pas d'accord, devraient choisir un tiers Arbitre.\n\nM. Hopkins, Consul-Général d'Angleterre, et M. Laptew, Consul de Russie à Tien-tsin, furent choisis Commissaires.\n\nCes messieurs ayant tenu plusieurs séances, examiné les témoins et les documents à l'appui des réclamations des deux côtés, et ayant soumis à M. Detring, sujet Allemand, actuellement Commissaire des Douanes Maritimes Impériales Chinoises à Tien-tsin, élu par eux tiers Arbitre à ce sujet, les questions en litige sur lesquelles ils n'ont pas pu se mettre d'accord, ont rendu les décisions ci-annexées.\n\nLe Soussigné, Ministre de Grande-Bretagne, a maintenant l'honneur d'inviter le Prince Ch'ing de vouloir bien accéder à l'accord ainsi obtenu. Il se plaît à croire que cet accord rend une justice impartiale aux intérêts du Gouvernement Chinois et que ce dernier s'empressera de lui communiquer son acceptation du jugement de l'arbitrage.\n\nLe Soussigné saisit, &c.\nERNEST SATOW.\n(Signé)\n\n### Inclosure 1 in No. 59\n**Protocol respecting the Tien-tsin Railway Land Question**\n\nNOUS, Soussignés, M. L. C. Hopkins, Consul-Général de Sa Majesté Britannique, et M. N. V. Laptew, Consul de Sa Majesté l'Empereur de Russie, étant nommés Commissaires de nos Gouvernements respectifs en vue de déterminer le droit de propriété sur certains terrains à Tien-tsin, réclamés d'un côté comme faisant partie de La Concession Russe et de l'autre comme faisant partie de la propriété des Chemins de Fer Impériaux Chinois du Nord, et nous étant entendus sur toutes les questions en litige, sommes convenus de ce qui suit :-\n\n| Clause | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1. | Mettre en exécution la Convention entre les parties, stipulée sous le titre \"Proposed Conditions of Agreement\" dans le procès-verbal de la première séance, tenue par la Commission le 25 Juillet, 1902, dont les points principaux sont les suivants :- |\n| (a.) | La Concession Russe possédera la partie du quai, 75 pieds Anglais de largeur, située le long des terrains en litige ainsi qu'en face du \"goods yard.\" |\n| (b.) | L'Administration des Chemins de Fer Chinois sera exemptée, dans le sens prévu par la Convention, de tous impôts ou droits établis sur la Concession Russe. |\n| 2. | L'Administration des Chemins de Fer Chinois prendra possession de tous les terrains autrefois en litige, indemnisant leurs propriétaires d'origine conformément à la décision de l'Arbitre. |\n| 3. | Les lignes de démarcation séparant les propriétés de la Concession Russe de celles des Chemins de Fer Chinois, étant rectifiées, seront portées sur le plan, signé en quatre exemplaires par les deux Commissaires respectifs. |\n| 4. | Le présent arrangement sera mis en exécution à partir du moment fixé par une entente spéciale à ce sujet entre les autorités de la Concession Russe et celles de l'Administration des Chemins de Fer Chinois. |\n\n## No. 60\nThe Marquess of Lansdowne to Mr. Buchanan.\n\n(No. 274.) Sir,\n\nForeign Office, December 9, 1903.\n\nON the 2nd July Mr. Townley reported to me in a despatch, copy of which is inclosed,* the circumstances which led to a rupture of the negotiations for an Agreement which was about to be concluded between His Majesty's Commissioner at Wei-hai Wei and the Governor-General of Shangtung, in connection with gold-mining rights at a place known as Tiger Hill, situated on the boundaries of the territory leased to Great Britain under the Wei-hai Wei Convention.\n\nIt appears that the German Minister at Peking intervened on behalf of a German Company, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Bergbau und Industrie im Auslande, who had obtained a Concession on the 24th August, 1899, granting them exclusive mining rights over an area of 250 round Chefoo, which would include the whole of the leased territory of Wei-hai Wei.\n\nIn reply to Mr. Townley's inquiries, Baron von Mumm stated that a clause of the German Agreement excluded from the sphere of operations any places already...\n\n*See Part XLV. No. 134.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422548, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 577, "title": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## 66\n\nYour Excellency's notice the circumstance which led to a rupture of the negotiations for an Agreement which was about to be concluded between His Majesty's Commissioner at Wei-hai Wei and the Governor-General of Shangtung in connection with gold mining rights at a place known as Tiger Hill, situated on the boundaries of the territory leased to Great Britain under the Wei-hai Wei Convention.\n\nYour Excellency is doubtless aware that the conclusion of this Agreement was blocked by the action of the German Legation at Peking, who intervened on behalf of a German Company, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Bergbau und Industrie im Auslande, who had obtained a Concession on the 24th August, 1899, granting them exclusive mining rights over an area of 250 li round Chefoo, which would include the whole of the leased territory of Wei-hai Wei.\n\nIn discussing this question with His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires, Baron von Mumm stated that a clause of the German Agreement excluded from the sphere of operations any places already conceded for the working of mines, &c., to merchants of other nations, and he considered that this applied to the leased territory, but not to the zone of influence bordering on it. The Imperial Minister repeated this contention in a subsequent conversation with His Majesty's Minister, urging that the action of the German Legation was justified by the judicial interpretation of the British lease of Wei-hai Wei.\n\nHis Majesty's Government are of opinion that no distinction between the leased territory and the sphere of influence contiguous to it, such as that claimed by Baron von Mumm, is to be inferred from the terms of the Wei-hai Wei Convention, and I have therefore been instructed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to represent to your Excellency that the presence of foreign miners is incompatible with the spirit of that Convention, and would clearly interfere with the right secured to Great Britain of erecting fortifications and taking such measures for defence as may be deemed necessary within the zone in question.\n\nI am further instructed to express the earnest desire of His Majesty's Government that the Imperial Minister at Peking may be instructed to withdraw his opposition to the proposed Agreement for the regulation of mining operations in Tiger Hill.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed) **GEORGE W. BUCHANAN**\n\n## No. 74.\n\n67\n\n575\n\nBut you should strongly oppose French proposal, should it take form, in view of our recent agreement with Chinese Government.\n\nFull information was sent you by last mail with regard to Colonel Manifold's mission.\n\n## No. 76.\n\n**Memorandum communicated by Count de Lulaing, December 22, 1903.**\n\nAt the end of September last the Belgian Government empowered the Belgian Minister in China to suggest to his colleagues in Peking the following transactional proposal with a view to hasten the payment of the Chinese indemnity:-\n\nChina to sign, without further delay, the \"bons nationaux\" payable in gold, which had been sent to the Taotai of Shanghae in December 1902. On the other hand, the Powers to consent to China continuing the six monthly payments of the indemnity in silver, and to grant the necessary delay, until the entire debt should be paid.\n\nThis proposal maintained the principle of the gold payment of the indemnity, as prescribed by the Peking Protocol, but allowed China to pay off her debt, by instalments, in silver. By increasing, in this way, the number of annuities, the sum would amount to the total of the debt calculated on a gold basis.\n\nNearly all the States interested in the Chinese indemnity question have received this proposal favourably, but the Russian Government have not stated their views, with the result that the arrangement has been deferred, as several foreign Ministers in Peking had been instructed to support the proposal only in case of unanimity among the interested parties.\n\nSo as to hasten the signature of the \"bons nationaux d'indemnité,” it would be highly desirable that the interested Powers should exert, if possible, their influence at St. Petersburgh with a view to obtaining the adhesion of the Imperial Government to the proposal.\n\nWould the British Government feel disposed to send instructions of this nature to His Majesty's Minister in Russia?\n\nThe result to be obtained is an important one, for there is no doubt that China would agree to the proposal were it formulated by the unanimous interested States.\n\nLondon, December 22, 1903.\n\n## Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received December 22.)\n\n(No. 273.) (Telegraphic.) P.\n\nPeking, December 22, 1903.\n\nPROJECTED French railway. Your Lordship's telegram No. 196 of the 4th instant.\n\nI was informed some time ago by French Minister that the French were thinking of such a line. In reply to inquiries the Foreign Board deny that he has mentioned it to them, but I think, nevertheless, that he has probably done so.\n\nThe whole course of the suggested line has not yet been examined, but the Intelligence Department at Tien-tsin inform me that Captain Hunter examined the Tsing-kiang portion of it, and reported it impracticable for railway construction.\n\nSubject to your Lordship's approval, I will send the Commercial Attaché with a Royal Engineer officer and two Indian surveyors, whom I hope to obtain through the General at Tien-tsin, to investigate.\n\n## No. 77.\n\n## The Marquess of Lansdowne to Sir E. Satow.\n\n(No. 212.) (Telegraphic.) P.\n\nForeign Office, December 25, 1903.\n\nINDEMNITY bonds and conversion of indemnity payments. Your telegram No. 271 of the 19th instant. The suggestion made by Belgian Government that we should join in representations at St. Petersburgh is being considered.\n\nYou should act at once on instructions conveyed in my despatch No. 281 of the 21st September unless you see strong objections. It is possible that action of Commission with regard to conversion of next instalment may be affected by a formal representation to the Diplomatic Body.\n\n## The Marquess of Lansdowne to Sir E. Satow.\n\n(No. 209.) (Telegraphic.) P.\n\nSUGGESTED French railway from Ichang.\n\nForeign Office, December 22, 1903.\n\nIt would be as well, before taking action suggested in last paragraph of your telegram No. 273 of the 22nd instant, to consult Colonel Manifold, who, with two other officers, has started for China to conduct further surveys for a line to Szechuan on behalf of British and Chinese Corporation and Peking Syndicate.\n\n## No. 78.\n\n## The Marquess of Lansdowne to Sir E. Satow.\n\n(No. 215.) (Telegraphic.) P.\n\nForeign Office, December 26, 1903.\n\nON the 7th instant, German transport left Port Said bound for Hangchow Bay, with 212 troops on board.\n\nPlease refer to `page 280` of North China Intelligence Diary for period ending the 27th October.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422558, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 587, "title": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## 2\n\nNo official of any standing accompanied the remains of his dead Sovereign beyond the city walls, and the unhappy Kuang-Hsu went to his last resting-place carried by bearers who smoked, chatted, and laughed - an object of as great indifference to his subjects in death as he had been in life.\n\nWhile the last rites were being performed to his memory at the Western Tombs, a series of entertainments commenced in Peking in honour of the special missions.\n\nThe next day, the 2nd May, a lunch was given by the Wai-wu Pu at the Botanical Gardens, and on the 3rd May the Prince Regent entertained Prince Fushimi and the other special Envoys at a banquet in the palace. This was far the most interesting of all the functions that took place, and was historically important as being the first occasion on which the ruler of China ever sat down at table with foreigners. The protocol of September 1901 had provided for such a contingency, but had never been enforced in practice.\n\nI was seated nearly opposite to the Prince Regent, and had an opportunity of holding some conversation with His Highness, and of observing his demeanour, which was very gracious and amiable towards his guests. The general impression which one formed of him was that, with all his amiable qualities and evident desire to please, he scarcely possessed the strength of character and firmness of purpose so necessary in the ruler of a country like China. His uncle, the first Prince Kung, who concluded our early treaties and practically ruled the country for a quarter of a century later, was a man whose dignity of bearing and attitude of command made a much more favourable impression upon those who knew him than his nephew, the present Regent, does, but it would be manifestly prudent to reserve any expression of opinion regarding the latter until he has had time to reveal his character by his acts.\n\nAt the close of the lunch, the Prince Regent gave each of his guests his photograph, and asked for one of theirs in return.\n\nOn the 4th May, a lunch was given at the new Wai-wu Pu to Prince Fushimi, the special Envoys and their staffs, some 120 persons in all, and on the following day a garden party was given at the Japanese legation.\n\nOn the 6th May, Prince Fushimi did my wife and myself the honour of attending a garden party at this legation, to which the other special Envoys, the foreign community, and the leading Chinese officials were invited. This was the only invitation, apart from his palace engagements, which His Highness accepted in Peking, and he was good enough to express the pleasure it had given him to visit the legation of an allied Power and to hear again the Highland music, which was played on this occasion by the band of the 2nd Battalion Cameron Highlanders.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n## 585\n\n**J. N. JORDAN**", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422661, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 64, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## CONFIDENTIAL\n### Telegram from Peking to Mr. Addis\n(Communicated by Mr. Addis, June 26, 1909.)\n\n(Corrected copy.)\n\nPeking, June 25, 1909. REFERRING to your wire of 23rd, in order to eliminate political significance Chang Chih Tung is very anxious that any American participation should be effected by separate protocol between banks concerned. This can be communicated by Anglo-French-German banks to Chang Chih Tung, who will refer to same when memorialising with regard to initialled final agreement. Imperial Edict can be communicated to United States Minister Plenipotentiary, Peking. With a view to avoid complications on this side, we strongly recommend endeavour to secure adherence to foregoing procedure.\n\n52 \nC.O. \n24967 \nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n26 JUL 08 \n## CHINA RAILWAYS\n### No. 1\n#### SECTION 3\n[24126] \n[June 26. \n\nPage 52 \n[2317 CC-3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 422916, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 319, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n\nNo. 1.\n\n### (No. 257.) Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received August 9.)\n\nPeking, July 15, 1909.\n\nSOME eight months have passed since the simultaneous deaths of the Emperor and Empress-Dowager placed the Government of China in the hands of the Prince Regent, and although mourning ceremonies have filled a great part of the time, the events which have occurred, although not sufficient to justify any final judgment, have at least furnished indications of the character of the ruler and of the régime which may be expected to last for the next fifteen years.\n\nThe Prince Regent entered upon his high office with much in his favour. The Emperor, his brother, had been a ruler merely in name, while the Empress-Dowager, with all her strong qualities, had seen nothing of the outer world, had little real sympathy with the innovations and changes which closer contact with the West had forced upon China, and had in her later years laboured under the disadvantage of being the usurper rather than the recognised holder of sovereign power.\n\nThe Regent, a man of about twenty-eight, had mixed freely amongst his fellow men; had seen something of the world outside China; and had experienced in person bitter results of reactionary methods. His assumption of power coincided with what might perhaps be regarded as the high watermark of Chinese progress. A year or so before, the Hunan party had been removed from the councils of the empire and their place had been taken by Yuan Shih Kai and his Cantonese foreign-educated protégés, whose services were at last being utilised by the Central Government after some twenty years of studied neglect. Yuan, it is now known, came here by his own desire, in the hope of carrying on at the centre the programme of reforms which he had inaugurated at Tien-tsin. Any hopes which he cherished in this direction must have largely disappeared before his dismissal put an end to them. Yuan's removal from public life, we were assured at the time, would have no effect upon the course of reforms, but the assurance has been falsified by subsequent events. It has marked, so far as can be seen at present, the first retrograde step in the steady deterioration of the administration under the Regency. Tong and others who were associated with Yuan have lost all semblance of influence, and those that remain admit that they hold office without power.\n\nThe result has been a decided weakening of the central authority, amounting almost to a paralysis of government in all matters where the provinces are concerned. This is especially noticeable in the Wai-wu Pu, whose inefficiency during the Regency has been so marked as to suggest that it is part of a deliberate policy. Na Tung, who had just returned to the board after a lengthy absence through illness, has been transferred to Tien-tsin with what appears to be almost a cynical disregard for foreign relations, and Prince Ch'ing continues to make his age and frail health a pretext for neglecting the duties assigned to him by the Protocol. The remaining Ministers often admit the justice of the requests which are made by the foreign representatives, but say that they are powerless to give effect to them, and privately suggest that, in order to strengthen their hands in dealing with refractory provinces, means should be found to bring pressure upon Prince Ch'ing or the Regent. This is a state of things which has never before existed, or at least been openly acknowledged, in my experience in China, and if allowed to continue it must inevitably lead to serious trouble.\n\nThe tendency to uphold Manchu ascendency in the vicinity of the capital, to which I referred in a previous despatch, has been accentuated by two recent appointments—that of Hsi Liang to the Manchurian viceroyalty, and the transfer of Tuan Fang to the viceroyship at Tien-tsin. The latter post has generally in the past been held by the most prominent Chinese official in the Empire, Tseng Kuo-fan, \n\nPage 317\nGP 31 AUG 09\n[2391-3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423007, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 410, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# C.O 30327\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n## CHINA RAILWAYS\n\nCG? | SEP 09 \n408\n\n### SECTION 1\n\n#### No. 1\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.**---(Received June 25.)\n\n**(No. 111.)** \n**(Telegraphic.)** P.\n\n**RAILWAY negotiations**\n\nI have received your telegram No. 115 of yesterday's date.\n\nPeking, June 25, 1909.\n\nThe three banks here, in a telegram to London, which will be shown you, recommend that American participation be arranged for by separate protocol between banks concerned. This procedure commends itself as preserving the loan agreement intact while making the Americans' position perfectly definite and regular,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423241, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 644, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "**(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government)**\n\n## AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[35407]\n\n### No. 1\n\n#### [September 16]\n\n## SECTION 3\n\nQuestion asked in the House of Commons, September 16, 1909.\n\nMr. Ginnell,-To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what British force was specified by the protocol, signed by the Powers after the Boxer outbreak in 1900, to remain in North China for the preservation of order, and for how long; what is the entire strength of the British forces maintained there now; whether they are maintained there at China's expense; how many of those troops are white men, and how many are men of colour; and whether he is aware that the maintenance of troops of an inferior race in this country is resented by the Chinese.\n\n### Answer\n\nThe Final Peace Protocol of 1901 provided that each Power had the right to maintain a permanent guard in its legation quarter and to occupy certain points between Peking and the sea. Under this agreement a total of about 8,000 troops was maintained in North China for several years, about 2,000 of whom were British. These troops are maintained at the expense of the country to which they belong, and not of China.\n\nNo time-limit was specified in the protocol of 1901, but the question of their reduction has been, and still is, under consideration. The latest information I have shows that there are 64 British officers and 1,025 European British troops, 17 Indian officers and 805 Indian troops in North China. I have no reason to suppose that the presence of the latter is in any way resented by the Chinese, nor are they of inferior race, and I repudiate entirely the description of them given in the question.\n\n[2418--3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423305, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 708, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# C. O.\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\n[33066]\n\n## No. 1.\n\n### (No. 282.) Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 2.)\n\nPeking, August 5, 1909.\n\nTHE two telegrams, copies of which are enclosed herewith,* were handed to me on the 26th July by M. Brederode, the Portuguese chargé d'affaires, who, in view of the unfavourable impression they conveyed respecting the Macao negotiations, had been instructed by his Government to ascertain what prospect there was, in my opinion, of the Chinese Government accepting arbitration as a solution of the question. M. Brederode explained that the telegram was not quite explicit as to whether the intention was to suggest arbitration now or only eventually when negotiations had failed.\n\nI said that as the Commission appeared to have held only two sittings, it seemed to me altogether premature to consider such a suggestion at present. No question of even ordinary importance was ever settled in China without prolonged discussion, and a solution of the Macao problem, which had baffled the ingenuity of diplomacy since the treaty of 1887 and had formed the subject of a historical controversy extending over three centuries, was not to be expected in two or three sittings of a commission.\n\nOn the following day, the 27th July, I received your telegram No. 124 informing me, on the authority of the Portuguese Minister, that the Chinese commissioner was adopting an absolutely unyielding attitude and would not even consent to consider the question of delimitation. You instructed me to state to the Chinese Government that while they would have our entire sympathy and assistance in securing the enforcement of any measures necessary for the suppression of smuggling, we had especial interest, in view of our treaty engagements to Portugal, in seeing that the delimitation question was amicably adjusted.\n\nI saw Liang Ta-jen on the 29th July and spoke to him with some earnestness in the sense of your instructions. I reminded him of the language I had held to Prince Ching at my interview of the 11th May last, respecting the proceedings of irresponsible societies at Canton and the harm they were doing to international relations. As I had said then and had repeatedly stated since this commission was agreed upon, the Chinese Government had materially prejudiced the chance of arriving at a friendly solution by their neglect in suppressing the agitation which had been carried on against delimitation by a knot of agitators at Canton.\n\nLiang Ta-jen deprecated our intervention as altogether premature at the present stage of the negotiations. There had, so far as he knew, been only two meetings of the commissioners. At one of these the Portuguese commissioner had made a long statement and handed in a memorandum which had not yet been fully translated. Amongst other irrelevant and unreasonable requests, the Portuguese commissioner had asked that the new port of Heungchow should not be developed in a way that would do harm to Macao.\n\nA summary of the Portuguese statement had been telegraphed on the 25th July to the Wai-wu Pu by the Chinese commissioner who had at the same time forwarded an outline of the reply he proposed to make. Both of these documents were under the consideration of the Wai-wu Pu, who hoped to send their commissioner instructions in a few days.\n\nI expressed a hope that the instructions would enable the commissioner to modify the attitude he had assumed by entering upon a discussion of the question on the basis of the Lisbon protocol and the treaty of 1887.\n\nM. Brederode has since furnished me with copies of two memoranda handed by the Portuguese commissioner to his Chinese colleague, in which the Portuguese claim and the evidence in support of it are stated at length. These documents are of great interest, and for their better understanding I beg to enclose a rough sketch of the district to which they relate.\n\nThe telegrams which M. Brederode continues to receive show that the Chinese...\n\n* Not printed.\n\n[2418 6-2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423389, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 792, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# Arrangement for the Joint Working of the Kirin-Changchun Railway\n\narrangement for the joint working of the Kirin-Changchun Railway were not sufficient to ensure the loss of Kirin every demand of the Japanese has now been conceded and it is impossible to foresee what the consequences will be. As regards their demand for the opening of five places to trade, some of these places as, for instance, Liu Tao Kou and Kuang Chi Yu, although important positions are still situated within the disputed territory and the demand that they should be opened to trade might perhaps be acceded to, but Pai Ts'ao Kou, which is rich in minerals, is a most important place, and is almost 100 li north of Yen-chi and there are few Coreans there.\n\nTou Tao Kou and Chi Pi Kou are important places on the route to Fongtien and are about 90 li from Yen-chi. All these places have nothing whatever to do with the boundary, and serious disadvantages will follow if they have really been opened to trade. As regards the question of judicial courts in Yen-chi, we have never hitherto, in the course of our difficulties with the Japanese, admitted in any way their right to judicial authority, and it is impossible to understand why we have now agreed to the establishment of Mixed Courts. In agreeing to the appointment of consuls we merely admit consular jurisdiction, but by consenting to the establishment of Mixed Courts we openly recognise Yen-chi to be leased territory, and this is entirely different from the opening of places of trade. Tien Pao-shan, which is famous for its silver mines, is about 50 li north of Yen-chi and has nothing to do with the boundary question. Since I have arrived in Fengtien I have done my best to preserve these mines for China, and to oppose the efforts of the Japanese, and in the case of other natural resources such as mines and forests I have during the past two years succeeded in the face of enormous difficulties in resisting the Japanese claims, pending the settlement of the boundary question. Now, however, the question of the boundary has been decided, the rights which I have striven to protect are at once surrendered. It is enough to cause one to despair.\n\nEven if it be argued that the above concessions have some concern with Yen-chi, the construction of a line to Ying-k'ou, which can be extended west of the Liao River, and our undertaking that no parallel line shall be built west of the Liao mean that we have definitely precluded ourselves from any further development of Manchuria. When we allowed Russia to build the Chinese Eastern Railway, we lost the opportunity of doing anything for Manchuria as a whole, and although, after the reorganisation of the three provinces, we endeavoured to extend railway communications, it was beyond our power to help the regions to the north-east. For this reason the construction of the Taonan-Fakumen and Chinchow-Tsitsihar Railways was planned, with a view to protecting the Mongolian frontiers and uniting the three provinces of Manchuria, but now these rights have been abandoned, and not merely have our rights in Manchuria been thrown away, but it is to be feared that it will even be impossible for us to undertake any railway construction in Inner or Outer Mongolia.\n\nThe consideration of all these points cannot but excite the deepest regret, and I would point out, with regard to these negotiations, that it is not a case of a conquered country suing for peace and unable to offer any resistance to the victor's demands. The first intention of the Japanese was merely to take advantage of the unsettled position of the Corean boundary question, in order to obtain some special advantages upon our frontiers, but, in face of the conclusive evidence in our favour, and in spite of all their specious arguments, they could only succeed in making some confusion by claiming that the Pu-erh-ba-t'ung and Hai-lan Rivers were parts of the Tiumen, the piece of land in dispute only measuring some 100 li from north to south, and it would really be as well to surrender this land to them altogether if our rights over all the country north of Yen-chi could thereby be preserved unimpaired.\n\nThese boundary negotiations have now been proceeding for nearly two years, and have cost the State almost 1,000,000 taels, and the only result is that, in return for a nominal recovery of our territory we have opened all the important places north of Yen-chi, have lost all our rights there so that it will be impossible for us to keep anything for ourselves in the southern part of Kirin, and have agreed to borrow money from them for the construction of the Kirin-Huining Railway, whereby the power of the South Manchurian Railway will be extended throughout the two provinces of Fengtien and Kirin. The Japanese have not only supreme authority in Corea, their power is now extended as far as the capital of Kirin. We have also precluded ourselves from constructing any parallel line west of the Liao and have thereby put a stop to the gradual development of communications in Manchuria. In fact, on account of a dispute about the boundaries of one piece of land, we have lost all our rights in Manchuria, and it would have been incomparably better to surrender the land to them at once without any attempt at negotiation.\n\nFurthermore, the Russian military forces in the Far East have been enormously increased in recent years, munitions of war have been constantly sent out by the Siberian Railway, and they are eagerly watching for an opportunity of avenging their defeat. When they see how Japan has been able, merely through a dispute about boundaries, to secure these great concessions their resentment will naturally be extreme. Other countries too, seeing how easy it is to get the better of us, will put forward claims to equal privileges, and when I consider what difficult international questions and what terrible wars are impending I cannot but feel the utmost apprehension. I feel, however, that although the Wai-wu Pu have complete authority in international questions it is still the duty of the provincial authorities to defend their country, and as your Excellency's telegram to Na-tung proved of no avail I addressed a long telegram to the Wai-wu Pu, but the fact that I have received no reply is sufficient evidence that the Board's view is unfavourable. If I delay any longer the agreement will be signed, and then not only will our remonstrances be unavailing, but even the Imperial Power will be unable to help us. After long consideration the only course that appears open to me is to entreat your Excellency to memorialise the Throne by telegraph, setting forth all the aspects of the situation and asking that the Wai-wu Pu be instructed to lose no time in arranging some other solution which will recover some small portion of our rights.\n\nEven if the current rumours are false, my responsibility remains the same, and in the present critical position of affairs I am quite prepared to run the risk of censure, but I am confident that your Excellency, whose patriotism is known to all, will not regard my representations as mere blind ravings. Furthermore, in view of the pressing importance of the matter, this telegram has been prepared in consultation with the Commissioners and Taotais, including Shih Taotai, from Harbin, who is at present here. They were unanimous in holding that the situation admitted of no delay, and unite with me in requesting your Excellency to submit a memorial by telegraph in order to save our country.\n\n## Inclosure 2 in No. 1\n\n### Newspaper Extract\n\n#### THE MANCHURIAN CONVENTION: EXPLANATION OF THE MURDEN \"SECRET\" AGREEMENT\n\n**Official Communiqué**\n\nSince the consummation of the recent negotiations and the publication (by the \"Peking and Tien-tsin Times\") of the two agreements between China and Japan, relating to Chientao and some of the Manchurian questions, it seems as if some quarters have been exercised by some misapprehension and misgivings. There seems to be involved misunderstandings on two points in regard to the import of article 4 of the Manchurian agreement. The first is that the clause reading \"in conformity with the general principles agreed to by the governor-general of the three eastern provinces and the governor of the province of Mukden with the Japanese consul-general in the 40th year of Meiji (1907), &c.\" is looked upon as referring to a secret agreement of some sort which had been entered into between the authorities of the two countries on some prior occasion. The second is that the above article gives to Japan exclusive rights of exploiting the mining properties along the Antung-Mukden Railway and the main line of the South Manchurian Railway, which is incompatible with the principle of the \"open door and equal opportunities\"; while some seem to see in it a violation of the treaty rights of other Powers. If only for the sake of laying correct information before the public a reasonable statement seems to be called for at this moment.\n\nIn the first place the negotiations between the Chinese authorities and the Japanese consul-general at Mukden in 1907 were merely a necessary and natural sequel to the Peking protocol of December 1905. As Japan succeeded, by the treaty", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423390, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 793, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## CONFIDENTIAL\n\n[30157]\nNo. 1.\n\n**RECE¡Rect 3 NOV 09**\n791\n\n[August 10.]\n\n### SECTION 4.\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received August 10.)**\n\n(No. 135.) (Telegraphic.) P.\n\n**CHINCHOW-TAONAN-FU Railway.**\n\nPeking, August 10, 1909.\n\nI have received your telegram No. 131 of yesterday's date, and have discussed the position with Pauling's representative.\n\nLord ffrench is aware that His Majesty's Government are prepared to support him whenever he should desire it, but does not think that the time is yet ripe for requesting our active assistance, as he is of opinion that until the negotiations with the Chinese are in a fairer prospect of settlement it will be useless to approach the Japanese legation on the subject.\n\nIt cannot be said that the discussions with the Chinese have advanced the matter to any great extent, but there seems no reason so far to doubt the genuine intention of the Chinese to construct the railway or the fulfilment of their promise to give Paulings the contract for the same.\n\nC. 0. 36185\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n**CHINA RAILWAYS.**\n\nPage 6 \n\nof Portsmouth, to the Russian railways in South Manchuria and all the rights pertaining thereto, it became a matter of simple necessity to her that she should arrange with China some definite regulations concerning the working of the mines along the railways, which constituted the principal item of the rights included in the above succession. China shared the same view. And it was agreed in the Peking Conference that the workable regulations shall be arranged in due course.\n\nIn consequence of this agreement, the aforesaid negotiations were opened in 1907. But owing to one or two minor points of detail failing to find complete and final agreement, and, in addition, important changes in the personnel of the Chinese authorities concerned in the meantime, the main agreement remained short of being made definite. Hence, in article 4 above referred to, it has been provided to have the regulations drawn in conformity with the principles which had already undergone full discussion and found general agreement on the whole in the course of the negotiations. It was nothing more than to save both parties from the unnecessary trouble of retracing the same grounds, so exhaustively covered in previous negotiations, which would bring profit to neither party. To a careful and impartial reader of the article in question, it will be but a matter of self-evident clearness that no possible hint as to the existence of any secret agreement on the subject could be derived from it.\n\nIn the second place, along the South Manchurian Railway, there is no mine of special value except those of Fu-hun and Yetai, over which Japan acquired rights as a result of the Treaty of Portsmouth; nor is there much prospect of valuable assets in mines along the Antung-Mukden Railway, except the Pen-hsi-hu coal mine. In the course of settling various matters of common concern to China and Japan in Manchuria, it is only natural that both parties, in conformity to the spirit of the Peking Protocol, should find it necessary to dispose of the question, if only in so far as to lay down the basis as to the drawing up of the regulations for exploiting the mines along the railways.\n\nAs to the Pen-hsi-hu Mine, it was worked solely by the Japanese at the outset, but later, by mutual consent of the two countries, it was made a joint undertaking, and the necessary regulations are now being arranged at Mukden. The negotiations are being conducted in quite an open manner, without the least element of secrecy. That the negotiations in 1907 were also conducted in the like manner, is also a self-evident fact that no person, possessing in any degree information as to the circumstances at the time, will find any room to doubt.\n\nTo re-capitulate: Article 4 in the recent Manchurian Agreement is nothing more or less than a provision for procedure of arranging the regulations for practical working of the mining properties, which is simply an outcome of, and sequel to, the Peking Protocol, and it has given no fresh concession of rights to Japan under whatever cover, nor does it refer to any previous secret concession agreement. Neither can it possibly be construed as tantamount to the nullification of the principle of the \"open door and equal opportunities.\" As to an insinuation that it violates the treaty rights of other Powers, the exaggeration is too plain to need any refutation.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423412, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "page_number": 16, "title": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "content_text": "## C. O.\n\n4\n\ncompromise, in my opinion, is one by which the taxes raised on the trade of the port would be devoted entirely to the work at Duck Island and the bar, the Provincial Government defraying the cost of the upper river improvements. Such an arrangement would meet to a considerable extent the objections of the Japanese, for it is impossible to deny that the protection of the bank at Duck Island and the deepening of the bar are works for which the trade of the port may very fairly be called upon to pay.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nF. E. WILKINSON.\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government\n\n## AFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\n[38456]\n\n(No. 357.)\n\nSir,\n\n## No. 1.\n\nReceived 19 Oct 1909. \n[October 18.]\n\n### SECTION 2.\n\n15\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 18.)\n\nPeking, September 29, 1909.\n\nTHE question of the provision of funds for the conservancy of the Whangpoo, which formed the subject of my despatch No. 266 of the 22nd July last, was again brought up for discussion at a meeting of the diplomatic body held on the 15th instant. A report from the chief engineer to the Conservancy Board, detailing the exact financial position of that body and their requirements, had already been circulated among my colleagues by the dean, and also been communicated to me by His Majesty's consul-general at Shanghae* in a despatch, copy of which I have the honour to enclose. It remained, therefore, to decide whether the Chinese Government should be asked to provide the sums required, and, if so, in what manner the demand should be pressed upon the attention of the Wai-wu Pu. I am glad to be able to report that upon the first part of the question there was practically a unanimous decision in favour of approaching the Chinese Government, and that, although the German Minister at first expressed some doubt as to whether so large a sum was really required, he raised no active objections, although he is known to view M. de Rijke and his plans with disfavour. With regard to the manner in which the demand for funds should be presented, it was felt that the Chinese Government had morally incurred the obligation to defray the cost of all necessary improvements, and that consequently the demand should be couched in language implying that such an obligation existed. It will be remembered that a definite scheme for the creation of a Conservancy Board and the provision of funds for improvements was sanctioned in article 11B of the protocol of September 1901, and that the details of this arrangement, contained in annexe 17 to the protocol, provided that the foreign interests involved should be represented upon the board to be created, and should contribute one-half of the cost of the works. In spite of repeated representations, the Chinese Government could never be brought to carry out their share of the arrangement, which they considered derogatory to China's dignity and sovereign rights, and it was upon their own request to have sole control of the enterprise that the agreement of 1905 was concluded, which vested all authority in a board composed of the Taotai and commissioner of customs at Shanghae, and transferred to the Chinese authorities the duty of providing the whole of the yearly subsidy of 460,000 Haikwan taels.\n\nA committee was appointed, consisting of the Austrian (dean of the diplomatic body), German, and Japanese Ministers, and myself, to draw up a memorandum for presentation to the Wai-wu Pu at a personal interview, when verbal representations would also be made. Accordingly on the 21st instant the dean, accompanied by Mr. Ijuin, Count Luxburg, and myself, proceeded to the Wai-wu Pu, and communicated to the Ministers present (Na-t'ung, Liang Tun-yen, and Lien-fang) the memorandum, copy of which is enclosed herewith for your information. It is perhaps worthy of note that the German Minister did not attend, but sent the first secretary of the legation in his place. It may be that Count Rex was really indisposed on that day, but I am inclined to think that his absence was due to a desire not to identify himself too strongly with the prosecution of a scheme which has his assent, but not his whole-hearted approval.\n\nHis Excellency Liang showed considerable reluctance to adopt the views of M. de Kuczynski, who urged upon him the necessity for immediate measures. He admitted that the needs of the situation were pressing, but said that the sum required was very large, and that the Chinese Government would require time to consider so important a matter. He also expressed a want of confidence in the manner in which the work was being carried out, with special reference to the unfortunate case of malpractices in connection with the dredging operations (see my despatch No. 30 of the 18th January last).\n\n* Not printed.\n\n[2462 & -2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423607, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "page_number": 211, "title": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "content_text": "## CHINA RAILWAYS\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n`[41850]`\n\n| 39215 \n\n[November 15.]\n\nR2 DEC 09\n\n### SECTION 2.\n\n#### No. 1.\n\n**Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 15.)**\n\n**(No. 385.) Sir,**\n\nPeking, October 23, 1909.\n\nI had hoped that the appointment of a successor to Mr. Kinder as engineer-in-chief of the northern railways would be arranged by Mr. Hillier in a manner to satisfy the provisions of the loan agreement of 1898 and the protocol of 1902, but the attitude recently taken up by the director-general, Liang Shih-yi, has brought the negotiations to a deadlock, and necessitates a report of the circumstances to yourself.\n\nBefore and after the receipt of your telegram No. 97 of the 22nd May last, two or three attempts were made in interviews with the new president, Hsu Shih-ch'ang, to bring the Board of Communications to see the necessity of doing justice to the claims of Mr. Cox, but it soon became plain to me that the Chinese would rather engage a new engineer-in-chief from England than appoint him to succeed Mr. Kinder, and after a consultation with Mr. Cox and the British and Chinese Corporation's representative, it was decided to act upon the suggestion mentioned in the last paragraph of my telegram No. 83 of the 3rd May. Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co. had previously informed me that as opposition to Mr. Bellingham was, according to their information, unlikely to succeed, they preferred to support his nomination at once rather than risk antagonising both Mr. Bellingham and the Chinese to no purpose.\n\nI then arranged verbally with Hsu that Mr. Cox should receive a substantial addition to his pay, £250 a-year, raising it to £1,450, and was assured that he would be the senior engineer in charge of the permanent way and railway works, and perform practically the same duties as those discharged of late years by Mr. Kinder, who had taken little interest in the traffic department. However, as soon as the corporation signified their acceptance of Mr. Bellingham, a proposal was set on foot by the board to separate the post of engineer-in-chief under the 1898 agreement from that of general manager under the 1902 protocol, and to appoint the present traffic manager, Mr. Foley, as general manager on an equality with Mr. Bellingham. The objections to this arrangement are stated in the enclosed letter of the 17th July from Mr. Hillier to Liang Shih-yi, and apart from them, it is pretty well agreed that Mr. Foley, who is partly responsible for the Chinese opposition to Mr. Cox, is scarcely a suitable person for the higher position. The board's proposal was no sooner dropped than another difficulty was created in connection with Mr. Bellingham's agreement of service. In August, Mr. Bellingham sent Mr. Hillier for approval a draft of the agreement which he proposed to sign, and this was returned to him with the necessary alterations and additions, yet on the 19th August, he signed with Liang Shih-yi a document which is very different, and in some respects objectionable. I enclose, for your information, copies of both these papers. Mr. Bellingham having informed Mr. Hillier that he had signed subject to ratification by the British Minister, I have declined to recognise the agreement, the terms of which appear to me to be drawn up with the object of curtailing, as far as possible, the powers and duties given to the engineer-in-chief under the loan agreement and the protocol. That this is so is evident from a controversy which sprang up almost immediately between Liang and Mr. Bellingham, in which the former argued that the agreement of the 19th August did not place Mr. Bellingham at the head of all the working departments. Mr. Hillier consequently addressed a letter to Liang on the subject on the 7th September, a copy of which is enclosed, stating our objections, and to this, an unsatisfactory and discourteous reply, also enclosed, was returned on the 9th October after much pressure.\n\nThe position now is that Mr. Bellingham has an agreement which Mr. Hillier and I object to, and because we object to it, he does not take up the appointment, the duties of which are in the meantime performed by Mr. Cox.\n\n[2486 p-2] \nB \n\ncovered by the shares subscribed and this year's land assessment shares. The company's total annual funds include over 200,000 taels from rice funds and 300,000 taels odd from various salt funds, while the land assessment shares are estimated only at 700,000 taels. Thus, with good seasons, we have 1,300,000 taels a-year. Deducting the service of the British resumption loan and the Belgian gold bonds, this leaves 700,000 taels or so for all purposes.\n\nAlthough the total cost of Hunan section be 20 millions, yet, however fast it is built, this will be spread over several years, and the yearly cost will not be over 3 millions, towards which we have 700,000 taels in sight. Even if the balance of 2 millions odd is raised by loan, there is no need to borrow 20 millions from other nations, and so cause all sorts of difficulties. In any case, under such a contract as the Tien-tsin-P'u-K'ou lines, the bonds are issued at three dates, and not all at once, so why breed actual trouble for an unreal amount? Every one in Hunan perceives his personal danger in alien loans, and is constantly busy over raising the necessary share capital, and once the first section is in actual working next spring, there is certain to be a brisk demand for shares.\n\nWe pray your board to maintain supervision over the company, so as to safeguard our respective powers and confirm the confidence of the shareholders, while preserving the due control of the board and the local and high provincial authorities. All Hunan is of one mind, never to be shaken, and the writers cannot evade any part of their responsibility to lay the matter before you.\n\nWe hope you will communicate our urgent desires to the Grand Council, the Wai-wu Pu, and the Board of Finance, and will favour us with a reply.\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423610, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "page_number": 214, "title": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "content_text": "## [This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n6\n\nthe loan agreement to secure, and, in order that the interests of the bondholder in this respect may be duly protected, it will be necessary that this clause shall not preclude Mr. Bellingham from reporting to the corporation upon any matters on which they are entitled to information. I have therefore to suggest that the words in clause 6, \"and he is forbidden to give any information to outsiders or disclose anything regarding railway business to other people,\" should be replaced by the following, \"subject always to the duties and responsibilities of the engineer-in-chief and general manager to the bondholders as implied by the terms of the loan agreement of the 10th October, 1898, and of the protocol of the 29th April, 1902, and the said Mr. Bellingham shall not divulge private information regarding the affairs of the railway to any party or parties outside the railway administration.\"\n\nThe corporation naturally considers it an essential consideration of their assent to Mr. Bellingham's appointment that his relations and responsibilities towards them should be clearly expressed in his agreement in order to avoid future misunderstandings, and I have therefore to ask that your Excellency may be so good as to give these proposed amendments your careful consideration.\n\nI am handing a copy of this letter to Mr. Bellingham in order that he may be informed of the objections of the corporation to his agreement.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Translation.)\n\n## Inclosure 5 in No. 1.\n\nLiang Shih-yi to Mr. Hillier.\n\nE. G. HILLIER.\n\nOctober 9, 1909,\n\nIN reply to your letter stating the objections of the British and Chinese Corporation to the agreement signed between the director-general and Mr. Bellingham, in the 6th article of the loan agreement for the Shanhaikuan Railway, signed between the late director-general and the British and Chinese Corporation on the 25th day of the 6th month of the 24th year of Kuang Hsü, it is provided that, \"in the event of its being necessary to appoint a new engineer-in-chief, the appointment shall be made in consultation with the British and Chinese Corporation.\" On the 14th of the 5th month you wrote to the director-general stating your concurrence with the appointment of Mr. Bellingham. The loan agreement in question does not state that the approval of the British and Chinese Corporation is necessary in the case of agreements for the hiring of workmen. The director-general's opinion is that, were it not called for by the loan agreement of the 25th of the 6th month of the 24th year of Kuang Hsü, and by the regulations of the 22nd of the 3rd month of the 28th year of Kuang Hsü for the handing back of the line, the Peking-Mukden Railway would probably not require this engineer-in-chief and general manager, and the fact of his having now been appointed is in itself a recognition of the loan agreement and of the regulations for the handing back of the line. Why, then, should it be necessary to state this specifically in the agreement of a hired workman?\n\nWith regard to the second paragraph of your letter, referring to the distribution of the powers of railway officers, this is a matter which comes under the control of the director-general alone, and therefore need not be closely gone into.\n\nWith regard to the third paragraph of your letter, you appear to be under a misapprehension, since the agreement of the engineer-in-chief of the Shanghae-Nanking Railway was formerly worded in the same manner.\n\nLIANG SHIH-YI,\n\n[B]\n\n39215\n\n## CHINA RAILWAYS.\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\nRa 2 UEC 09\n\n[November 16.]\n\n## SECTION 1.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[41686]\n\nSir Edward Grey to Mr. Whitelaw Reid,\n\nYour Excellency,\n\nForeign Office, November 16, 1909. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 12th instant, stating that the settlement of the Hukuan loan proposed by Mr. Straight is acceptable to the German Government, provided that the American engineer for the Hsiang-yang-Kuangshui section will not interfere with the judgment of the German chief engineer in respect of the purchase of materials, and expressing the hope that as a settlement on these lines is understood to be in harmony with the proposals of His Majesty's Government, as stated in the Foreign Office memorandum of the 20th ultimo, the latter will at once cause instructions to be issued to the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation to sign the agreement.\n\nYour Excellency is correct in assuming that such an arrangement would be agreeable to His Majesty's Government, viz., that an American engineer should be appointed for the Hsiang-yang-Kuangshui section of 200 kilom., to co-operate with and to be subject to the general direction of the German chief engineer, and that by private arrangement the Szechuan line is to be divided as follows:-\n\n| Section | Kilometres | Chief Engineer |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| First | 500 | French |\n| Second | 600 | American |\n| Third | 500 | British |\n\nI have, however, the honour to observe that the above information does not appear to be in accordance with the views of the Imperial German Government as contained in a memorandum communicated to this department on the 5th instant. I trust, however, that the statement furnished by your Excellency is of more recent date, as the arrangement mentioned by you is one to which His Majesty's Government would have no difficulty in adhering. The whole question as between the four groups would then be considered as settled, after which the representatives of the four Powers concerned at Peking would be in a position to approach the Chinese Government with a view to securing the promise of the Szechuan extension.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nE. GREY.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423760, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "page_number": 364, "title": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "content_text": "**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[44419]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n363\n\n[December 6.]\n\n## SECTION 2.\n\n421\n\niReal 4 JAN 10\n\n(No. 418.) Sir,\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received December 6.)\n\nPeking, November 15, 1909.\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 304 of the 7th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copies of correspondence between the dean of the diplomatic body and the Wai-wu Pu, on the subject of the conservancy of the Whangpoo.\n\nThe reply of the Wai-wu Pu to the memorandum enclosed in my despatch No. 357 of the 29th September last, was in so far favourable that it contained a distinct statement that China would not allow the new channel to silt up, and that instructions had been telegraphed to Shanghae to carry out the dredging without any delay.\n\nThe subsequent notes, however, showed that the usual dilatory methods were being employed, while their tone indicated a disinclination on the part of the Chinese Government to admit that the foreign Powers had any concern in the matter, so long as the strict letter of the agreement of 1905 was carried out.\n\nAt a meeting of the diplomatic body held on the 1st instant, the whole question was again exhaustively discussed. The dean made a very long statement, the gist of which was that it would be difficult to bring the Chinese Government to a sense of its responsibilities by invoking the stipulations of the protocol of 1901, since the contention that China had been released for all time from these stipulations by the agreement of 1905 was one which it was not easy to refute. I spoke strongly in favour of the view that China had agreed to bear the cost of keeping the Whangpoo in a properly navigable condition, and that, as soon as she neglected that duty, a return could, and should, be made to the protocol of 1901, if only for the purpose of compelling her to agree to some fresh working arrangement. I pointed out again that the question was one of the highest importance to Shanghae, and stated that it was quite impossible for me, as representing a country which had very great interests at stake, to acquiesce in any delay which might imperil the navigability of the waterway upon which the foreign commerce of the port depended.\n\nFollowing upon the decision taken at this meeting the dean went to the Wai-wu Pu on the 5th instant to insist upon the resumption of dredging. With regard to the dredging operations, his Excellency Liang Tun-yen promised M. de Kuczynski to telegraph to Shanghae in the sense desired; but he gave it clearly to be understood that the Chinese Government considered themselves absolved from the conditions laid down in the protocol of 1901 so long as they fulfilled the letter of the agreement of 1905, and held that the protocol of 1901 was no longer of any application. He recognised, however, the necessity of continuing the conservancy work, and said that the Chinese Government intended to do so, but in their own manner and at their own time.\n\nI have, in my minute on the dean's circular recording this interview, copy of which is enclosed herewith for convenience of reference, again expressed my dissent from such a claim, and have maintained that China is bound either to provide the funds for the completion of the improvement of the course of the Whangpoo, as indicated in the protocol of 1901, or to revert to the principle laid down in that instrument, in accordance with which one half of the necessary funds is to be provided by her and the other half by the foreign interests concerned, whose share in the control of the expenditure of the money naturally revives.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n[2548 ƒ-2]\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423761, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "page_number": 365, "title": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "content_text": "# 364\n\n## Inclosure 1 in No. 1\n\n### Wai-wu Pu to Dean of Diplomatic Body\n\nTHE Board has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of a memorandum from the doyen of the diplomatic corps on the subject of the Whangpoo conservancy in the following terms ---\n\n\"According to the chief engineer's report discussing ways and means for raising the required amount of money and arranging as to the proportion to be spent annually, it appears that it will take five years to complete the work and that the total cost will amount to 9,360,820 dollars, the dredging at one particular spot not being included in this amount. It is therefore requested that the diplomatic corps be informed how it is proposed to provide the necessary sum.\"\n\nThe Board would submit that the final protocol of 1901, with reference to the Whangpoo conservancy, estimated that the expenses incurred for the works and the general management of the undertaking would reach the annual sum of 460,000 Haikwan taels for twenty years. This sum was to be supplied in equal portions by the Chinese Government and the foreign interests concerned. Later it was arranged with all the Powers that China should undertake the work herself, that she would bear the whole cost, and that the annual expenses as fixed by the protocol of 1901 should remain at 460,000 Haikwan taels during a period of twenty years. By the engineer-in-chief's scheme in 1907 the works were to be finished in four years and the cost would amount to 8,000,000 taels. M. de Rijke being regarded by all the Powers as a man in whom the greatest confidence could be placed, China therefore accepted his scheme. The whole of the work according to the schedule ought to be finished by next year without demanding from the Chinese Government any more money. M. de Rijke ought to complete the work according to the estimate and within the proper time, but to the great surprise of the Chinese Government he suddenly demands more money for the work. This is quite contrary to the stipulations already agreed on.\n\nChina has expended large sums on the opening of the new channel and on the closing of the old channel, and she does not intend to allow the new channel to silt up afresh and thus lose the benefit of all the works already executed.\n\nThe Board has accordingly telegraphed frequently to the Shanghae taotai to take steps to provide the necessary funds, and to urge the engineer-in-chief to carry out the dredging operations, section by section, without any delay. The taotai has also been instructed to telegraph immediately a detailed and comprehensive scheme for the future carrying on of the works in order that the Board might carefully examine the same. As soon as the reply has been received it will be forwarded to you. In the meantime the Board has the honour to forward this memorandum for the information of the doyen, and begs that he will communicate it to his colleagues.\n\nPeking, October 9, 1909.\n\n## Inclosure 2 in No. 1\n\n### Memorial by Wai-wu Pu to Dean of Diplomatic Body\n\nIT is in the records that we have sent a memorial on the 9th October regarding the works for the correction of the Whangpoo River.\n\nNow we are in receipt of the telegraphic answer from the Shanghao taotai, in which he says:--\n\n\"According to the sum fixed, China has provided sufficient funds, and the work hitherto done early has been examined and approved by the officials and merchants of all nationalities. Also all the Ministers residing in Peking say that good results have been obtained. This showing that China, conforming to all articles of the special treaty concerning the correction of the Whangpoo River, acted in full accordance with them and did not delay. The costs for dredging work, amounting to 300,000 taels, are not included by the sum fixed by the special treaty. As this is a work of greatest importance for the future, according to the terms of the tender, a company, who was offering cheapest and in most conforming manner, has been selected already to undertake the work. As the engineer, de Rijke, is sick, he has gone to Japan for treatment. The other works of all kinds, which are executed in the original way, have not been finished yet and still are performed as always. Besides, as the construction of the jetties has not come to an end yet, how could the Li Chi Company (East Asiatic Dredging Company) discontinue the work?\"\n\nOut of this explanation of the Shanghae taotai we find that none of the different works have been suspended. As to the dredging work, likewise sufficient funds have already been prepared and a company has been selected for the execution. This shows sufficiently that China is acting according to the treaties and does not spare efforts. As these affairs are of the greatest importance to the Chinese Government and the views are differing, the Governor of Kiangsu, by Imperial command, has been ordered especially to proceed to Shanghae to direct the Shanghae taotai to inspect in detail and to find reliable methods in order to arrive at a satisfactory result.\n\n## Inclosure 3 in No. 1\n\n### Dean of Diplomatic Body to Prince Ch'ing\n\nAltesse,\n\nPékin, le 18 octobre, 1909.\n\nJ'AI l'honneur d'accuser réception à votre Altesse Impériale de la note qu'elle a bien voulu m'adresser à la date du 16 octobre, concernant les travaux d'amélioration du cours du Whangpoo.\n\nJe constate avec satisfaction que les autorités chinoises ont actuellement à leur disposition une somme suffisante pour permettre la reprise des travaux de dragage et que, par conséquent, cette reprise aurait lieu aussitôt que faire se pourra.\n\nJe me permets, à ce sujet, de faire remarquer à votre Altesse Impériale que l'absence de M. de Rijke au Japon ne semble devoir en rien retarder l'exécution de ce projet, puisque la nature peu compliquée des opérations ne saurait exiger la présence continuelle à Shanghaï de l'ingénieur en chef; et je pense que votre Altesse sera d'accord avec moi pour constater que rien, dans l'espèce, ne s'oppose à une reprise immédiate de ces travaux.\n\nLes représentants des Puissances attachent beaucoup de prix à la continuité dans l'œuvre d'amélioration, sans laquelle le libre accès du port de Shanghai ne saurait être assuré et un préjudice très grave pourrait être causé au commerce tant chinois qu'étranger. C'est pourquoi ils ne manqueront pas d'apprendre avec plaisir la décision prise par le Gouvernement chinois.\n\nJe prie votre Altesse Impériale de bien vouloir m'aviser de la reprise des travaux de dragage dès que celle-ci sera un fait accompli. Je pourrai alors reprendre avec le conseil de votre Altesse l'étude du projet de travaux à exécuter présenté par M. de Rijke et la demande de fonds qui en dépend.\n\n## Inclosure 4 in No. 1\n\n### Official Note addressed by the Wai-wu Pu to Dean of Diplomatic Body\n\n(Translation.)\n\nTHE Chief President of the Wai-wu Pu, &c., and Prince of the First Order Ch'ing sends an official reply.\n\nOn the 6th day of the first year Hsuan Tung (the 19th October) we received a note that the nature of the dredging work for the conservancy of the Whangpoo is not at all difficult, and that it is requested to resume the work quickly. Again, there is said that the Ministers of all nations regard the continuation of the work of the regulation of the Whangpoo as a matter of great importance; it is requested that a letter may be sent at the time when the dredging shall have been resumed in fact; afterwards there could be opened up the projects submitted by the engineer, de Rijke, and the funds in connection therewith.\n\nB 2\n\n`[2546 ƒ-2]`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423762, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "page_number": 366, "title": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "content_text": "## 4\n\nOur Ministry finds that, with regard to the conservancy of the Whangpoo, it is China's concern to raise funds and arrange herself. In spring or summer of next year the work can be finished. China has already done in an exhaustive way all duties arising from the special treaty regarding the conservancy of the Whangpoo; it cannot happen that any country has again a view to the contrary (a different view). As to the dredging, working funds have been provided which are outside the sum fixed originally. We have also received a telegram from the Shanghae taotai that on the 12th instant (the 20th October) Engineer de Rijke has returned to Shanghae from Japan, so the date for starting work can be fixed, and there is nothing which could make it necessary to reopen the negotiations. But as the Chinese Government regard the affair as a very important one, the Governor of Kiangsu has already been ordered specially by the Emperor to proceed to Shanghae and to inspect, and he must be able to find a reliable way to obtain a satisfactory result (reform).\n\nAll matters referred to in M. de Rijke's report, the Governor of Kiangsu also must deliberate one and all, and it is not necessary to open the negotiations. We consider it necessary to communicate this to your Excellency the Dean, that you may take note and inform their Excellencies the Ministers of all countries residing in Peking.\n\n## 5\n\nno longer liable for carrying the work, as originally contemplated, to completion. I hold that China is bound either to provide the funds for the completion of the improvement of the course of the Whangpoo as indicated in the protocol of 1901 or to revert to the principle laid down in that instrument, in accordance with which one half of the necessary funds is to be provided by her and the other half by the foreign interests concerned, whose share in the control of the expenditure of the money naturally revives.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\n### Inclosure 5 in No. 1\n\n**Dean's Circular of November 6, 1909**\n\nConformément à la décision prise dans la séance du corps diplomatique du 1er courant, le doyen s'est rendu hier à l'Ouaï-ou Pou pour insister afin que le dragage soit recommencé sans retard. Son Excellence Liang Tun-yen a promis de télégraphier à Shanghaï dans le sens de cette demande.\n\nQuant à la signification de la dernière note officielle du Ministère des Affaires Étrangères du 26 écoulé, communiquée au corps diplomatique par la circulaire No. 141, les explications échangées avec Mr. Liang Tun-yen ne laissent plus subsister aucun doute sur ce que le Gouvernement se croit dégagé des obligations résultant du protocole final par rapport à l'amélioration du Whangpoo. Tout de même, le dit Ministère des Affaires Etrangères a reconnu la nécessité et a confirmé l'intention du Gouvernement chinois de continuer les travaux de régularisation, mais de son propre chef et à sa guise.\n\nKUCZYNSKI,\n\n### Inclosure 6 in No. 1\n\n**Minute by Sir J. Jordan on Dean's Circular of November 6, 1909**\n\nI cannot assent to the view that the Chinese Government is released from the obligations of the final protocol of 1901, and is at liberty to continue the conservancy work in its own right and in its own way.\n\nThe protocol of 1901 and the \"règlement\" attached thereto created a mixed Conservancy Board, with jurisdiction on the Whangpoo River from the lower limit of the Kiangnan arsenal to the Yang-tsze. The expenses of improving the course of the river were estimated at 460,000 taels a-year, half of which was to be provided by the Chinese Government and half by the foreign interests concerned. It specified the manner in which the revenue for the work was to be raised and provided that, if it proved insufficient, it could be increased by bringing the respective moieties up to a figure which would be adequate to meet the requirements of the case.\n\nAt the special request of the Chinese Government the protocol of 1905 was substituted for the above, and under this China undertook herself to carry out the conservancy work and to bear the whole expense of it.\n\nThere is nothing to my mind in this protocol, or in the correspondence which passed at the time, to show that there was any intention of reducing the work to be done, and consequently of diminishing the possible expenditure to be incurred. The work has now come to a standstill for want of funds, and the Chinese Government have officially stated that they expect to have it all completed in the spring or summer of next year. This means that a large portion of the river included in the 1901 protocol is regarded as excluded from the 1905 one, and that the Chinese are \n\nPage 365", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428332, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 257, "title": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government\n\nCHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[3508]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n255\n\n4810\n\n[January 31.\n\nSECTION 18 FEB 10\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 31.)\n\n(No. 11.) Sir,\n\nPeking, January 9, 1910. WITH reference to my despatch No. 486 of the 27th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copies of correspondence between his Excellency Liang Shih-yi, Director-General of Railways, and the Peking agent of the British and Chinese Corporation, respecting the posts of engineer-in-chief and general manager on the Peking-Mukden Railway.\n\nYou will observe that the language of the director-general's communication is based upon the terms of the protocol and the loan agreement, of both of which instruments it takes due account. The director-general has also, I am glad to report, confirmed the assurances recorded in my above-mentioned despatch, and has expressed to Mr. Hillier his readiness to furnish Mr. Ricketts with a contract, free from the objectionable features which were embodied in the agreement with the late Mr. Bellingham.\n\nI think, therefore, we may assume that the question of the appointment of Mr. Kinder's successor is at last within measurable distance of being satisfactorily arranged.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\nSir,\n\nEnclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nMr. Robertson to Liang Shih-yi.\n\nDecember 30, 1909.\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 15th of the 11th month (27th December, 1909), informing me that it is proposed to appoint Mr. D. P. Ricketts to the post of engineer-in-chief of the Peking-Mukden Railway, and requesting to know if this appointment has the concurrence of the British and Chinese Corporation in terms of article 6 of the Railway Loan Agreement.\n\nIn reply, I have the honour to state that having submitted this enquiry by telegram to the Board of the British and Chinese Corporation in London, I am now authorised by them to inform your Excellency that the appointment of Mr. Ricketts to the post of engineer-in-chief has their approval.\n\nI note from your Excellency's separate letter of the same date that Mr. Ricketts has been appointed to the post of general manager of the above railway.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nG. H. ROBERTSON.\n\nEnclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nLiang Shih-yi to Mr. Robertson.\n\nDecember 27, 1909.\n\n\"IN the regulations for the restoration of the Shanhaikwan Railway, signed between the former director-general and the British representative on the 22nd day of the 3rd month of the 28th year of Kuang Hsü, it is provided that the general Board of Administration, under the director-general, shall appoint a general manager, who shall be an Englishman and shall have special control of the works, the Chinese and foreign workmen, inspection of foreign materials, and the like.\" The director-general now appoints district engineer Mr. Ricketts to the post of general manager to specially...\n\n[2581 hh-1]\n\nPage 256\n\nPage 257\n\nPage 258\n\nPage 258\n\nPage 258\n\nPage 259", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428401, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 326, "title": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n[B]\n\n# CHINA RAILWAYS\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n324\n\n5654\n\nREC\n\nRro° 24 FEB 10 [February 8.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n[4508]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey-(Received February 8.)\n\n(No. 4. Secret.) Sir,\n\nTokyo, January 6, 1930.\n\nIN my despatch No. 375 of the 26th December, 1909, I reported the views of the Japanese Government with regard to the American proposal respecting the internationalisation of railways in Manchuria; at the conclusion of that despatch I stated that I was still unaware whether the United States Government had approached His Majesty's Government on the internationalisation question.\n\nOn the 30th December Sir John Jordan repeated to me your telegram to him No. 204, stating that His Majesty's Government had been approached, and had replied that the general principle of this internationalisation commended itself to the Government of His Majesty so far as equal commercial opportunity and the open-door policy was concerned, but it seemed undesirable to consider the question of another international loan for railway undertakings until the Lukuang loan had been completed. To this the United States Government had replied on the 16th December that they considered no time should be lost in placing their proposal before the Powers interested, and that instructions would at once be issued to the American representatives at Paris, Berlin, St. Petersburgh, Peking, and Tokyo in the above sense. They further said in their reply that they were quite prepared to join His Majesty's Government as a preliminary step in urging China to consent to participation in the Chin-chow-Tsitsihar-Aigun Railway by Japan and other Powers interested.\n\nIn the Foreign Office bag received here on the 30th ultimo I observed in the Confidential Print the American memorandum of the 9th November and the reply of His Majesty's Government dated the 25th November. I am therefore now in possession of all the facts, and would venture to make a few observations on the internationalisation proposal put forward by the American Government.\n\nAt the New Year's reception at the Palace I had a further conversation with Count Komura, who repeated the declaration he had made to me at our previous meeting on Christmas Day, to the effect that the Japanese Government would decline to consider internationalisation in so far as the South Manchurian, the Mukden-Antung, and the Kirin-Hoiryong Railways were concerned, for reasons fully set forth in my above-quoted despatch. In a subsequent conversation I had with Marquis Katsura, the Prime Minister, his Excellency confirmed the statement made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and added the somewhat interesting piece of information that this question of internationalisation of Chinese railways had been first mooted by the late railway magnate, Mr. Harriman, when on a visit to Tokyo in 1905; but the Japanese Government had even then refused to entertain it. Mr. Rockhill, American representative, and Mr. Harriman had doubtless discussed the matter in Peking, and the former gentleman had seemingly always kept the idea before him, for he was believed to be the prime mover in the matter now.\n\nIt is difficult to fathom the intentions of the American Government in now bringing forward this scheme, unless—which is more than probable—they are jealous and alarmed at the manner in which Japan is making her position secure in Manchuria, for it must be evident to them that internationalisation could or would not be entertained by the Japanese. The Treaty of Portsmouth, to which they were the first to give their assent, must clearly have shown them the value the Japanese set on the South Manchurian Railway; they must have been equally aware of the provisions of the Peking Protocol of 1905—secret at the time, but, so far as article 6 is concerned, for some considerable time no longer so. The action taken by the Japanese last summer in threatening to commence the construction of the Antung-Mukden line, and the carrying out of the provisions of the said article 6 with or without permission of China, must have shown to the whole world the importance the Japanese set by this line. The terms of the agreement of the 3rd September last,\n\n[2631 -1]\n\nPage 324 appears three times at top and three times at bottom, indicating page metadata.\n\nPage 325\n\n...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428435, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 360, "title": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n[B]\n\n# CHINA RAILWAYS.\n\nCO 358/5654 [February 8.]\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\nSECTION 24 FEB 10\n\n[4508]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey-(Received February 8.)\n\n(No. 4. Secret.) Sir,\n\nTokyo, January 6, 1910. IN my despatch No. 375 of the 26th December, 1909, I reported the views of the Japanese Government with regard to the American proposal respecting the internationalisation of railways in Manchuria; at the conclusion of that despatch I stated that I was still unaware whether the United States Government had approached His Majesty's Government on the internationalisation question.\n\nOn the 30th December Sir John Jordan repeated to me your telegram to him No. 204, stating that His Majesty's Government had been approached, and had replied that the general principle of this internationalisation commended itself to the Government of His Majesty so far as equal commercial opportunity and the open-door policy was concerned, but it seemed undesirable to consider the question of another international loan for railway undertakings until the Hukuang loan had been completed. To this the United States Government had replied on the 16th December that they considered no time should be lost in placing their proposal before the Powers interested, and that instructions would at once be issued to the American representatives at Paris, Berlin, St. Petersburgh, Peking, and Tokyo in the above sense. They further said in their reply that they were quite prepared to join His Majesty's Government as a preliminary step in urging China to consent to participation in the Chinchow-Tsitsihar-Aigun Railway by Japan and other Powers interested.\n\nIn the Foreign Office bag received here on the 30th ultimo I observed in the Confidential Print the American memorandum of the 9th November and the reply of His Majesty's Government dated the 25th November. I am therefore now in possession of all the facts, and would venture to make a few observations on the internationalisation proposal put forward by the American Government. At the New Year's reception at the Palace I had a further conversation with Count Komura, who repeated the declaration he had made to me at our previous meeting on Christmas Day, to the effect that the Japanese Government would decline to consider internationalisation in so far as the South Manchurian, the Mukden-Antung, and the Kirin-Hoiryong Railways were concerned, for reasons fully set forth in my above-quoted despatch. In a subsequent conversation I had with Marquis Katsura, the Prime Minister, his Excellency confirmed the statement made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and added the somewhat interesting piece of information that this question of internationalisation of Chinese railways had been first mooted by the late railway magnate, Mr. Harriman, when on a visit to Tokyo in 1905; but the Japanese Government had even then refused to entertain it. Mr. Rockhill, American representative, and Mr. Harriman had doubtless discussed the matter in Peking, and the former gentleman had seemingly always kept the idea before him, for he was believed to be the prime mover in the matter now.\n\nIt is difficult to fathom the intentions of the American Government in now bringing forward this scheme, unless—which is more than probable—they are jealous and alarmed at the manner in which Japan is making her position secure in Manchuria, for it must be evident to them that internationalisation could or would not be entertained by the Japanese. The Treaty of Portsmouth, to which they were the first to give their assent, must clearly have shown them the value the Japanese set on the South Manchurian Railway; they must have been equally aware of the provisions of the Peking Protocol of 1905—secret at the time, but, so far as article 6 is concerned, for some considerable time no longer so. The action taken by the Japanese last summer in threatening to commence the construction of the Antung-Mukden line, and the carrying out of the provisions of the said article 6 with or without permission of China, must have shown to the whole world the importance the Japanese set by this line. The terms of the agreement of the 3rd September last,\n\n[2631 -1]\n\nPage 360\n\nPage 361", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428690, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 31, "title": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[April 25] 14294\n\n[14132]\n\nSECTION 2CD\n\nREC 12 MAY 10\n\nNo. 1.\n\nMr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 25.)\n\n(No. 98.) Sir,\n\nWITH reference to Sir John Jordan's despatch No. 490 of the 28th December last, I have the honour to report as follows upon the present position of the Whangpoo Conservancy question.\n\nPeking, April 7, 1910.\n\nThe Wai-wu Pu have not yet replied to the note from the doyen of the diplomatic body of the 14th December last, copy of which was enclosed in Sir John Jordan's despatch above-mentioned, in which M. de Kuczynski stated that the foreign representatives could not consider the Chinese Government absolved from their obligations so long as the conservancy work was not completed to the extent and within the limits provided by the protocol of 1901. Nor have they, on the other hand, acted upon the suggestion contained in a memorial from the Viceroy, who, according to a statement published in the \"North China Daily News\" on the 3rd January last, proposed that the foreign Ministers should be informed that China is neither willing nor obliged to contribute further to the conservancy work.\n\nMeanwhile, on the 17th January last, the Shanghae Chamber of Commerce and the Shanghae Branch of the China Association wrote to the senior consul and to Sir Pelham Warren respectively, urging, the one that the diplomatic body be urged to take steps to ensure the execution of the work, and the other that His Majesty's Minister should also take action in the same sense. The China Association stated in their letter that the European expert staff had received notice that their services would no longer be required after August next, but Sir Pelham Warren in his covering despatch, pointed out that this statement was not quite accurate, and that notice had only been given to the European employés that, on the expiration of their present contracts, they would be employed from month to month. No notice, Sir Pelham Warren added, had as yet been given to M. de Rijke.\n\nThe letter from the Shanghae Chamber of Commerce to the senior consul was sent by the latter to the doyen, and duly circulated by M. de Kuczynski among his colleagues. I made a minute to the effect that I hoped it would be possible to fix an early date for the discussion of this important subject, and I have also spoken to the doyen about the matter on one or two occasions, but I saw that it was useless to attempt to get the diplomatic body to agree upon collective action until my colleagues had had an opportunity of examining the report upon M. de Rijke's scheme which is to be drawn up by Sir J. Wolfe Barry, Sir W. Matthews and Mr. Lyster, members of the Mersey Board, according to the data collected by the two engineers whom they sent out to examine the question on the spot. I have therefore refrained from taking any further action here.\n\nIn their letter to Sir Pelham Warren of the 17th January last the China Association estimated that a further sum of 500,000 taels would be required to maintain the improvements already effected, when the present contract expires in July or August next. I also saw in the Shanghae paper a letter written by the engineers, who had examined the Whangpoo on behalf of the Mersey Board to the chairman of the Shanghae Municipal Council, in which these gentlemen stated that it would be some months before the report of the board could be expected and that \"it would be extremely unfortunate and detrimental to the works if, from want of funds, it should be found necessary to discontinue operations on those portions of the works now in progress and partially completed.\" I therefore telegraphed to Sir Pelham Warren on the 18th ultimo, explaining the difficulty of taking any action here, and enquiring whether any steps had been taken by the Consular Body to secure the provision of the funds necessary to maintain the works in progress. Sir Pelham Warren replied that no action had been taken by the Consular Body since sending to the doyen the letter from the Chamber of Commerce of the 17th January last, but that he would see the taotai on the 22nd ultimo and endeavour to ascertain the intentions of the Conservancy Board. The day after this interview took place\n\n[2729 hb-2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 429128, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 469, "title": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government]\n\n# CHINA RAILWAYS.\n\n## CONFIDENTIAL.\n\n(\n\n[26765]\n\n(No. 220.) Sir,\n\n24838.\n\n[July 25.]\n\n## SECTION 1.\n\nREC REG 12 AUG 10\n\nNo. 1.\n\nMr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 23.)\n\nPeking, July 5, 1910.\n\nWITH reference to Sir John Jordan's despatch No. 11 of the 9th January, I have the honour to enclose a copy of the agreement which Mr. Ricketts signed at Tien-tsin on the 3rd February as engineer-in-chief and general manager on the Imperial Railways of North China. It will be remembered that Mr. Liang Shih-yi, the Director-General of Railways, gave Sir John Jordan an explicit promise on the 24th November last that he would consult with Mr. E. G. Hillier, the agent of the British and Chinese Corporation, as to the wording of this agreement before it was signed. It turned out, however, that he studiously avoided a proper fulfilment of this promise, and took care to catch Mr. Ricketts at Tien-tsin, immediately upon his arrival from London, with the agreement drawn up and ready for signature. A copy of the English of the document was sent to me on the 9th February by Mr. Hillier, who, though not satisfied with the wording, did not feel justified in objecting formally. Later the Chinese text was produced formally by Mr. Hillier for comparison, and Mr. Campbell drew my attention to expressions in it which were out of place and evidently used of set purpose. The word \"employé,\" for example, was rendered throughout by Chinese which might be appropriate in the engagement of an artisan, but was clearly unsuitable in speaking of the engineer-in-chief of an important railway. The motive seemed to be to depreciate the position of Mr. Ricketts in a way peculiarly intelligible to Chinese, and when the matter was pointed out to Mr. Hillier he agreed that this was so. He promised to speak to the director-general, but he had not succeeded in seeing Mr. Liang before the arrival of Mr. Mayers. Further delay was caused by the absence of Mr. Liang from Peking on a tour of inspection, but eventually after two or three conversations, the gist of which is recorded in Mr. Mayers' letters of the 19th May and the 29th June, copies of which are also enclosed for your information, an assurance has been given that a more suitable phraseology will be used in all future agreements.\n\nThe point looks a small one, but it is indicative of the general attitude which Chinese authorities are assuming more and more vis-à-vis the foreigners whose employment is forced upon them by international obligations, and which, if unchecked, can hardly fail to create unpleasant questions.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nW. G. MAX MÜLLER.\n\n## Enclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nAgreement, signed February 3, 1910.\n\nIN accordance with article 6 of the Loan Agreement, dated the 10th October, 1898, which was made by the Director-General of the Imperial Railways of North China with the British and Chinese Corporation re the employment of an engineer-in-chief, and also according to article 1 of the Protocol, dated the 29th April, 1902, which were returned to the Chinese when the Imperial Railways of North China Government, that, under the authority of the director-general, there shall be a general manager.\n\nTherefore, Director-General Liang, of the Imperial Railways of North China, makes this agreement with Mr. D. Poyntz Ricketts, as follows:\n\n1. The Director-General of the Imperial Railways of North China (hereinafter called the director-general) agrees to appoint Mr. D. Poyntz Ricketts (hereinafter called the employé) as the engineer-in-chief and general manager of the Imperial Railways of North China, and the said employé agrees to serve the Imperial Railways of North China as engineer-in-chief and general manager.\n\n2. This agreement is made for a period of three years, commencing from the date at which the said employé joins the railway service, i.e., the third day of February, 1910, subject to the conditions contained in article 6.\n\nSix months before the expiration of this agreement either party can notify the other and have this agreement cancelled.\n\n[2813 b6-1]\n\n466", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 429129, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 470, "title": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "3. For such service rendered the Imperial Railways of North China shall pay the said employé monthly at the rate of two thousand pounds per annum, due in Tien-tsin at the rate of the exchange of the due date, to his credit with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.\n\n4. In addition to the salary, the railway shall furnish the said employé the house at Tongshan formerly occupied by Mr. Kinder, and the said house shall be cleaned, painted, and colour washed, and electric light installed at the railway's expense.\n\nThe employé is entitled to a horse allowance.\n\n5. As the said employé receives his salary from the Imperial Railways of North China, he is a subordinate under the director-general, and shall obey his instructions previously issued and (or) issued in future.\n\n6. If the said employé shall at any time neglect or refuse to perform or comply with all or any of the articles of this agreement, or any of the duties required of him, or all or any of the orders of the director-general in that behalf, or shall be guilty of any misconduct or negligence or of any breach or non-performance of the provisions of these presents, it shall be competent to the director-general to declare the employment of the said employé under this agreement at an end; in such case the director-general shall not be under obligation to provide the said employé with a passage to England. Should the said employé be temporarily incapacitated for duty owing to ill-health, his case shall be dealt with under the leave rules. If, however, the Imperial Railways of North China's medical officer certifies that the said employé is unfit for further services in China, and he forthwith and with all diligence (having regard to the condition of his health) proceed to England, the Imperial Railways of North China's medical officer shall be the sole judge of the said employé's fitness or unfitness to travel, and the director-general shall not recognise that any delay was occasioned by ill-health unless he so certifies.\n\n7. The said employé shall respect the Chinese officials and work harmoniously with all those Chinese who come in contact with him. The said employé shall report everything concerning railway affairs to the directors and the director-general, and he is forbidden to give any information to outsiders or disclose anything regarding railway business to other people, except what is due to the bondholders.\n\n8. The said employé shall exert the best of his ability and time as engineer-in-chief and general manager of the railway, and shall not engage himself in any other business and transact any business for other people. He is not allowed to interfere with the work of other railways in China unless he has been instructed by the director-general to do so, but this must not interfere with the working of the Imperial Railways of North China.\n\n9. After the signing of this agreement, if there is anything the said employé wishes to deal with the local authorities, he shall report the case to the directors, who will communicate the same with the said authorities, and he shall not communicate with the local authorities direct.\n\n10. After the expiration of this agreement, and if it is not renewed, the Imperial Railways of North China shall provide the said employé a first-class passage from Tien-tsin to London, and, in addition thereto, the said employé will receive a sum of one hundred taels (100 taels) Hongping Huao Pao to cover all hotel, the coolie hire for baggages, and other expenses.\n\n11. The said employé's special duties are to control the permanent-way, the foreign and Chinese engineers and workmen, and to inspect various materials and the workshops, but the director-general has given the directors the power over the above-mentioned concerns; therefore when the employé has any matter relating to the said concerns he must consult the directors before it could be carried out.\n\nThe accountant and traffic departments shall continue their present routines, but if the said employé has any suggestions to make the latter shall inform the directors of the same, who shall give his decision upon the matter.\n\nIn witness whereof the contracting parties do hereby subscribe their seal and (or) signature on this third day of February, 1910.\n\nFor the Imperial Railways of North China:\n\nWitness to the signature of Director-General Liang,\n\nLoo E. TONG.\n\nLIANG, Director-General.\n\nD. POYNTZ RICKETTS,\n\nEngineer-in-Chief,\n\nWitness to the signature of the Engineer-in-Chief,\n\nY. F. Woo.\n\nPage 3\n\nEnclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nMr. Mayers to Mr. Max Müller.\n\nPeking, May 19, 1910.\n\nIt will be recalled that the agreement between the Chinese Railway Administration and Mr. D. P. Ricketts, engineer-in-chief and general manager of the Northern Railways, which was drawn up after the director-general had given assurances to His Majesty's Minister that it should comply with the Loan Agreement of 1895 and the Railway Protocol of 1902, was signed somewhat hurriedly at Tien-tsin on the 3rd February before its text had been examined by the corporation's agents.\n\nWhen the document was scrutinised it was found that the new engineer-in-chief and general manager named in the first article was designated in subsequent articles of the agreement as the \"employé,\" and this term, which scarcely seemed appropriate, was translated in the Chinese version by the words \"shou ku jen,\" which undeniably mean “employé,” but rendered literally stand rather for the \"hired man.\" The expression appeared to have been intentionally selected in order to indicate the subordinate position of the person to whom it had reference. There were, in addition, one or two points where the Chinese version did not accord precisely with the English, but the variations did not affect the sense so much as the tone of the document.\n\nNo steps were taken respecting this matter prior to my arrival here towards the end of March, when I understood from Mr. E. G. Hillier that His Majesty's Legation considered, as indeed he did himself, that the attention of the director-general should be drawn to the use of these derogatory terms.\n\nThe result of my conversation with the director-general on the subject has already been communicated to you verbally, but it may be useful for future reference to record that, as soon as I had expressed surprise at the use of the expression \"shou ku jen,\" Liang Ta-jen assured me with some amusement that it was not, as I evidently thought, a specially invented term intended to depreciate the engineer-in-chief. He said that, as Mr. Kinder, the late engineer-in-chief, had never been under an agreement, they had no direct precedent to work on, and the draft was made on Mr. Collinson's agreement as engineer-in-chief of the Shanghai-Nanking Railway. In this agreement Mr. Collinson had been designated an \"employé\" and a \"shou ku jen\" without any loss of dignity. It would, however, be well, the director-general admitted, to bear in mind for the future that the words \"officer\" and \"yuan\" would be more appropriate. The wording taken from the Collinson agreement was, he explained, originally drafted by Sheng Hsuan-huai's interpreters in Shanghai several years ago.\n\nPage 44\n\nI felt, in face of this explanation, that I should gain nothing by pursuing the subject, and that I must first check the statement that the wording of the Collinson agreement had been followed.\n\nI have written for a copy of this document, but have not yet received it. When it reaches me I will not fail to inform you further on this subject.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nS. F. MAYERS.\n\nPeking, June 29, 1910.\n\nWith reference to my letter of the 19th May respecting the wording used in the Chinese version of the agreement signed in February last by Mr. D. P. Ricketts, engineer-in-chief and general manager of the Northern Railways, I have the honour to inform you that I have been given an assurance by the Director-General of Railways, Mr. Liang Shih-yi, that in all future agreements the word \"employé\" shall be translated in Chinese by the words \"kai yuan,\" which mean literally \"the said officer.\" I find, on reference, that in the English text of these agreements, which have been drafted mostly in London, the word \"employé\" has been used invariably; but I have not been able to prove whether Mr. Liang was correct or not in stating that the Chinese wording of Mr. Ricketts' agreement was copied from that of Mr. Collinson, of the Shanghai-Nanking Railway, as it appears that Mr. Collinson's agreement was never actually signed, and that consequently neither he nor the agents of the British and Chinese Corporation ever saw the Chinese version.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nS. F. MAYERS.\n\nPage 467", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 429139, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 480, "title": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nDear Mr. Grenfell,\n\nEnclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nMr. C. S. Addis to Mr. Grenfell.\n\n31, Lombard Street, London, July 1, 1910.\n\nI HAVE your letter of the 20th June, in which you say you are informing your New York friends that the British, German, and French groups are not in favour of issuing any provincial loans.\n\nThe distinction we make is between loans \"authorised\" or \"sanctioned\" as opposed to loans \"guaranteed\" by the Chinese Government. We have no objection at all to issue provincial loans, the due repayment of which is unconditionally guaranteed by the Imperial Chinese Government.\n\nIt is probably in this sense that you have communicated with your New York friends, in which case this letter requires no reply.\n\nYours truly,\n\nC. S. ADDIS.\n\nEnclosure 4 in No. 1.\n\nMr. Grenfell to Mr. C. S. Addis.\n\nDear Mr. Addis,\n\n22, Old Broad Street, London, July 9, 1910.\n\nREFERRING to your letter of the 1st July, I beg to confirm on behalf of the American group of bankers that they do not care to entertain a proposition for any Chinese provincial loan unless bearing an unconditional Imperial guarantee, and believe it would be prejudicial to the interests of all concerned to have other groups entertain provincial loans unless so secured.\n\nI think this communication should make our action on behalf of the American conform with that which we understand is to be taken by your group and the German and French groups in such matters.\n\nI leave it to you to communicate the contents of this letter to our friends on the continent.\n\nYours faithfully,\n\nE. C. GRENFELL.\n\nEnclosure 5 in No. 1.\n\nDear Mr. Grenfell,\n\nMr. C. S. Addis to Mr. Grenfell.\n\n31, Lombard Street, London, July 11, 1910.\n\nI AM glad to learn from your letter of the 9th instant that your American group is opposed to the issue of Chinese provincial loans except on condition that the repayment is secured by the unconditional guarantee of the Imperial Chinese Government.\n\nThis I believe to be in conformity with the views entertained by ourselves as well as by the French and German groups, to whom I am sending a copy of your letter.\n\nYours truly,\n\nC. S. ADDIS.\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[25949]\n\nCO 24838\n\n[July 18.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nREC?\n\nREG 12 AUG 10\n\nNo. 1.\n\nMr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 18.)\n\n(No. 212.) Sir,\n\nPeking, June 28, 1910.\n\nIN my despatch No. 98 of the 7th April I said that I had been given to understand that there was little probability of my colleagues taking any action in regard to the works of the Whangpoo Conservancy till after the receipt of the report on M. de Rijke's scheme, which is being drawn up by Sir J. Wolfe-Barry, Sir W. Matthews, and Mr. Lyster.\n\nI found, however, that I had been mistaken, as in the early days of May the Austrian Minister, in his capacity of doyen, informed me that he and the German Minister had now received instructions as to the line they were to pursue in negotiations with the Chinese Government for the completion of the Whangpoo Conservancy work, and enquired whether I was prepared to attend a meeting of the heads of missions principally interested in the question.\n\nAccordingly on the 31st ultimo the German, Japanese, French, and American Ministers and myself met, under the presidency of M. de Kuczynski, to discuss the question.\n\nI need not trouble you with full details of the lengthy discussion, but it soon became apparent that neither the German nor the Austrian Ministers was prepared either to adopt the de Rijke scheme in toto or to request the Chinese Government to complete the conservancy work to the extent and within the limits stated in the final protocol of 1901, which would have been the natural corollary to the note of the diplomatic body of the 14th December last.\n\nCount Rex explained that, in the opinion of his Government, it would not be correct to urge the Chinese Government to provide more funds, seeing that they had already paid the amounts stipulated in the 1905 agreement, but that the proper course to pursue was to endeavour by friendly means to prove to the Chinese that it was in their own interest to complete the works.\n\nM. de Kuczynski said that he had received similar instructions, with this difference, that his Government held that if the friendly representations failed, it would be necessary to request the Chinese Government to return to the conditions of the 1901 protocol and contribute to the carrying on of the works until their final completion.\n\nCount Rex then admitted that his instructions also authorised him to join in such action, if absolutely necessary and as a last resort.\n\nAll the representatives appeared to agree that, in the present state of the works, it was impossible to consider the Whangpoo Conservancy as completed, and it was, therefore, decided that the first thing to do was to ascertain from the Chinese Government (1) whether they regarded the works as completed or not; and (2) if not, what works they considered must still be executed. This would be done by requesting the Chinese Government to communicate to us officially the report of the Chinese commissioner, to whom I referred in the last paragraph of my despatch No. 98 of the 7th April.\n\nI pointed out, however, that this report, if received, would probably be of a technical nature, and deal with subjects on which we should be incompetent to pass judgment without further expert advice, and it appeared to me that we might equally well wait for the report of the three great English authorities at present under preparation.\n\nIt then appeared that my German and Austrian colleagues were not prepared to attach much weight to this report, for the absurd reason that it would not be the result of international collaboration, and had not been drawn up at the request of either the diplomatic or consular body or of the conservancy board.\n\nThe German Minister held that, if necessary, the Chinese report should be submitted to an international expert commission on which Germany would insist on having a delegate, and this delegate was evidently to be the technical attaché to the German Consulate-General, who has, I believe, been the prime mover in all the German...\n\n* Not printed.\n\n[2827 »-1]\n\n476\n\nPage 480\n\nPage 481", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 429616, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 353, "title": "CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[39126]\n\n34538\n\n[October 27.\n\nRECR\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nREG 1 NOV 10\n\nNo. 1.\n\nMr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 27.)\n\n(No. 355. Confidential.) Sir,\n\nPeking, October 8, 1910. WITH reference to my despatch No. 331 of the 23rd ultimo, I have the honour to transmit herewith copy of a despatch from the acting British consul at Harbin, reporting on the Russo-Chinese protocol governing the issue of the new regulations for the navigation of the Sungari River, Mr. Sly observes that, though the protocol contains no new departures of great importance, it strengthens the advantageous position acquired by Russia under the published regulations.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nW. G. MAX MÜLLER,\n\nEnclosure in No. 1.\n\nActing Consul Sly to Mr. Max Müller.\n\n(No. 33. Confidential.) Sir,\n\nHarbin, October 1, 1910. MY despatch No. 27 of the 12th ultimo forwarded the text of the new regulations for the navigation of the Sungari. I now beg to report concerning the protocol governing the issue of the said regulations. I learn, in confidence, that the principal stipulations of this instrument are as follows :-\n\nArticle 3 provides that \"all additions to, and modifications in, the said regulations, as long as they are in force, as well as all special regulations introduced on, or extended to, the Sungari will be settled by agreement between Russia and China.”\n\nArticle 4 reads: \"It is considered as understood that the fact of the Imperial Maritime Customs functioning on the land of the Chinese Eastern Railway at Harbin will not in future give a cause to be quoted as a precedent when discussing any question of principle.\"\n\nArticle stipulates that \"all articles and materials required for the construction, working, and repairs of the Chinese Eastern Railway line are exempted from all customs taxes and duties, as well as those levied inland. In these are also included all articles required for the protection of the line.\"\n\nArticle 6 requires that before the end of the present year rules shall be prepared for dealing with the through transport of grain products brought by the Sungari to Harbin in bulk or in bags, and transhipped immediately upon arrival at this Port from vessel to railway, or temporarily stored in storage places under the control of the Chinese Eastern Railway and Imperial Maritime Customs for subsequent export by rail. In both cases goods are to be exempt from a second duty at Manchuria or Suifenho,\n\nThe same article provides that the principle which allows a reduction of one-third duty on grain products brought by river to Harbin and thence exported by rail shall be extended to other goods similarly transported should a trade develop.\n\nAs regards tonnage dues and their withdrawal in favour of river dues, it is stated that the rates of the latter levy are to be arranged by the Commissioner of Customs at Harbin in co-operation with the chief of the navigation department of the Chinese Eastern Railway on the basis that the total assessment of river dues for the navigation period of the 18th June, 1909, to the 17th June, 1910 (Russian calendar), shall not exceed by more than 25 per cent, the amount of tonnage dues actually collected during that period.\n\nThe protocol was done in the Russian, Chinese, and English languages, and, in case of dispute, the English text is to be authoritative.\n\n[2958 dd-1]\n\n352", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 429617, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 354, "title": "CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "2\n\nA brief comment will suffice. There is no definite statement in the protocol to the effect that the navigation of the Sungari is reserved to the subjects of Russia and China; but it is evident that article 3, despite its somewhat elastic wording, is in close sympathy with article 18 of the Russo-Chinese treaty of 1881, and that its real intention is to confirm the stipulation of the 1858 treaty that the Sungari River is open to the exclusive navigation of Russians and Chinese. On this point it is interesting to recall the difficulties which the Russian authorities are placing in the way of the two steamers ordered by a local Chinese steam-ship company, which it is sought to bring from Nikolaievsk to Harbin. I had the honour to report on this matter in my despatch No. 31 of the 24th ultimo, and will shortly furnish you with further details. The Russian authorities apparently place their own interpretation on the meaning of article 1 of the 1858 treaty, and have no desire to see Chinese steamers navigating the Amur and the Ussuri.\n\nArticle 4 of the protocol is explained by the fact that the barge of the Imperial Maritime Customs at Harbin is moored alongside the railway settlement, a concession which is not to be taken as a precedent when considering any future point of principle.\n\nArticle 5 exempts all articles and materials required for the working, construction, repair, and protection of the Chinese Eastern Railway both from customs duties and native taxation inland.\n\nArticle 6 refers in the main to the procedure to be adopted in giving effect to the two-third duty scale in respect of grain products transported partly by river and partly by rail, and is chiefly interesting in that it provides for the extension of the same principle to other goods similarly conveyed should a trade develop.\n\nIt is clear that the protocol, though it contains no new departures of any great moment, strengthens the advantageous position acquired by Russia under the published regulations.\n\nIn concluding my despatch No. 27 of the 12th ultimo, I adverted to the conflict in spirit existing between the new Sungari regulations and the Aigun regulations issued last year.\n\nConfidential information is to the effect that the Russian authorities have already drawn attention to this matter, and it seems that a modified set of Aigun regulations may become necessary. The main points of principle have, of course, been decided in the new Sungari regulations, and I venture to predict in my above-mentioned despatch that a modus vivendi should not, with a little give and take, be difficult to obtain. In general, this should be so; but there is one matter which may not be altogether easy of solution. I gather that, from the Russian point of view, the question of chief material importance is that of live-stock exported from Aigun, or, rather, Taheiho, to Blagovestchensk. The cattle are driven from Hailar via Tsitsihar to the Aigun free zone, after entering which they are charged Imperial Maritime Customs duty—vide article 10 under \"Dues and Duties\" in the Aigun regulations. The levy of this duty is obviously not in accord with the new Sungari regulations, the provisions of which, in regard to the free frontier zones, do not, as stated in my despatch No. 30 of the 24th ultimo, require that the place of origin of the goods shall be situated within the fifty versts limits. It is sufficient for commodities to be destined for the free zones to warrant the exemption from duty. Again, the Russians complain bitterly of the heavy native taxation levied on the live-stock during the overland journey, and yet raise objection to the transit-pass system which requires a deposit of three times the export duty on the arrival of the cattle at the Imperial Maritime Customs barrier. The principal reason for this is that the cattle are often kept for months grazing in the Chinese free zone previous to export across the Amur, during which time the deposit money is lying idle.\n\nIt is estimated that 10,000 head of live-stock are annually sent across the Amur to Blagovestchensk and furnish about two-thirds of the duty levied by the Aigun customs.\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nPage 363\n\nPage 363\n\nPage 363\n\nC\n\nCONFIDENTIAL\n\n[October 28.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\n(No. 371. Confidential.) Sir,\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir Edward Grey to Mr. Max Müller.\n\nForeign Office, October 28, 1910.\n\nI HAVE given my careful consideration to the terms of your despatch No. 234 of the 19th July last, enclosing a report by the acting British consul at Harbin upon the Russian railway settlement at that town and commenting upon the situation with regard to the administration of the Russian railway settlements in Manchuria.\n\nHis Majesty's Government favour the conclusion of a reasonable understanding with Russia which the growing commercial interests of Great Britain at Harbin and elsewhere in the railway zone appear to render desirable, and they concur in the principle advocated by Mr. Sly and endorsed by you, that those who share in the benefits of municipal improvements should bear their part of the cost of the administration. You are therefore authorised to enter into negotiations with your Russian colleague, at the time and in the manner which may appear the most expedient to you, for the conclusion of an agreement which will provide for the payment of municipal taxes by British subjects, provided that such payment is accompanied by guarantees as to expenditure, and on other points in regard to which it may appear during the negotiations desirable that such guarantees should be obtained.\n\nSir John Jordan has expressed the opinion that the progress of the negotiations would be facilitated if the Russian representative in Peking were alone charged with their conduct on the Russian side, and were freed from the obligation of consulting the authorities of the Chinese Eastern Railway, whose attitude, in Sir John Jordan's experience, has in the past been guided by military rather than economic considerations, and has consequently not conduced to a settlement.\n\nIt is not possible for His Majesty's Government to require from the Russian Government an undertaking in regard to whom their legation should, or should not, consult in the course of the discussion, but I am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty's chargé d'affaires at St. Petersburgh, with instructions to ask the Russian Government to entrust the conduct of the negotiations to their diplomatic representative at Peking.\n\nYou should thank Mr. Sly for his interesting report.\n\nI am, &c.\n\nE. GREY.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nH. E. SLY.\n\nPage 364\n\nPage 364\n\nPage 364", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 429661, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 398, "title": "CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "6\n\ntides, the range of tides being about 5 feet. At Shanghai the rise of springs is neap about 9 feet, and at neap 6 ft. 6 in. above low-water ordinary spring tides the range of the neap tides being 4 feet. It would appear from levellings and observations recently made for M. de Rijke that low-water ordinary spring tide at Shanghai is 1 foot higher than low-water ordinary spring tide at Woosung.\n\nDatum.\n\n13. It will be noticed that we have referred the tidal particulars given above to low water of ordinary springs, this being the datum which has been adopted by the We should, Whangpoo Conservancy, and is the result of many years of observation. however, point out that there also exists the \"Customs datum,\" which is adopted by the harbour-master, and is used in signalling to vessels the depth of water which is available. This last-named datum is the lowest recorded low-water level, and is 2 feet below the \"Conservancy datum\" just referred to. It is desirable that the harbour officials and the Conservancy Board should endeavour to agree upon a common datum, the existence of two zeros being liable to give rise to confusion.\n\nCharacter of Bed of River.\n\n14. The Whangpoo runs throughout its length, across a flat alluvial country, of which extensive areas are liable to flooding, especially at high tides, for notwithstanding that dykes or bunds have been constructed over considerable lengths, they have not been maintained in proper and efficient state of repair. The bed of the river is in places of soft and, from the point of view of engineering works, a treacherous character, especially in the neighbourhood of Gough Island. The right bank through Ship Channel, previous to the construction of the new works, had been subject to very rapid erosion, a comparison of old charts showing that between 1877 and the date of the commencement of the works the channel has shifted to the eastward to an extent fully equal to its width.\n\n15. The Whangpoo is, naturally, a clear-running river. The Yang-tsze, on the other hand, is heavily charged with silt, especially during the floods in the summer months, when it is reported to rise normally 45 feet above its low-water level at Hankow and about 2 feet at Woosung. Its waters carry into the Whangpoo, on a rising tide, large quantities of matter in suspension, which are deposited during slack water, thus forming banks and shoals in the bed of the river. It therefore happens that the Whangpoo, although rising to a higher level, is not in so good a condition for navigation at this season of the year, as it is after the Yang-tsze floods are over.\n\nPort of Shanghai.\n\n16. The port of Shanghai is situated on the left bank of the river, about 14 miles above Woosung. On arrival there almost all vessels are berthed at a wharf, but some lie in the stream, made fast to buoys, and swing with the tide. In a few cases they moor head and stern and do not swing. The cargo from steamers lying in the stream is loaded into native boats, by which it is either conveyed up the creeks, or landed at one of the numerous pontoon piers or wharves, and thence taken to the merchants' godowns.\n\n17. The river is crowded with all kinds of native craft, running from large five-masted ocean-going junks down to sampans. We gathered from the witnesses, whom we examined, that vessels drawing upwards of, say 24 or 25 feet, and some of the mail-steamers, do not as a rule come up the river to Shanghai, but remain at anchor at Woosung, either in the Whangpoo abreast the fort railway station, or in the Yang-tsze off the end of the jetty. Other vessels, of heavy draught, not infrequently lighten at Woosung before going up the river to Shanghai.\n\nApproaches to Whangpoo River.\n\n18. It is important here to explain the general practice observed in the navigation of vessels proceeding to and from Shanghai. There exist in the Yang-tsze River, about 25 miles below Woosung, patches of shoal water named the Fairy Flats, on which, as shown on the Admiralty charts, the depth is from 2 to 3 fathoms, but, according to the local pilots, a minimum depth of about 18 feet at low-water ordinary spring tides may usually be found there.\n\n7\n\n19. Captain Gregor and Captain Evans (before referred to) informed us that it is the usual practice for vessels approaching Shanghai to leave the fair-way bell-buoy, off the Yang-tsze Cape, and 20 miles south-east of the Fairy Flats, at one hour after low water, and thence to proceed up the river. Fairy Flats are passed at about one-third flood, the vessel carrying the tide with her past Woosung—which is reached at about high water—and then up the river to Shanghai, where she arrives about an hour after high water, using the last of the flood current to swing head downstream prior to coming alongside a wharf. When outward bound from Shanghai the time for departure is not quite so important, as vessels are almost always then of lighter draught; but the practice is to leave a little before high water, so as to pass through the Astræa Channel about the top of the tide.\n\nNavigable Depth required.\n\n20. The improvement works in progress under the direction of M. de Rijke, for the Whangpoo Conservancy, are designed to give a minimum depth of 15 feet at low-water ordinary spring tides in the new or Astræa Channel. We have already mentioned, in paragraph 12, that at Woosung neap tides rise 8 feet above low-water ordinary spring tides thus giving an available depth at high-water neap tides of 25 feet, which may be taken as limiting the draught of vessels which could reach Shanghai during such tides to, say about 24 feet. From the foregoing it will be seen that the depth provided by the improvement works, about corresponds with that which is available over the Fairy Flats.\n\n21. It would thus appear, for the reasons given, that if a minimum depth of 18 feet at low-water ordinary spring tides is provided and maintained throughout the Whangpoo River to Shanghai, such depth would be sufficient to pass any vessel which could come up the Yang-tsze to Woosung. A vessel, however, of unusually heavy draught, which could not pass over Fairy Flats until a later period of the flood tide than above described would have either to anchor at Woosung and lighten, or wait there during a tide, in order to pass through the Astræa Channel during the following high water.\n\nII. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE WHANGPOO CONSERVANCY.\n\n22. For many years the deteriorating condition of the Whangpoo has been a menace to the existence of Shanghai as a sea-port, consequently efforts have been made by the Chamber of Commerce to obtain the appointment of a board charged with the improvement and proper conservation of the river. In putting forward these efforts the chamber were strongly supported by the consular body at Shanghai, as well as by the foreign Ministers at Peking; but it was not until almost thirty years had elapsed that definite provision was made for the above purpose in the peace protocol following the Boxer rising of 1900,\n\nOriginal Conservancy Board.\n\n23. At that date a Conservancy Board was appointed which comprised representatives of China and of all the foreign Powers interested in Shanghai. It was agreed that the necessary works should be carried out, and that half the cost should be defrayed by the Chinese Government and half by the foreign nationalities.\n\nModified Conservancy Board.\n\n24. This board, however, never actually met. Difficulties due to the number of its members and the complicated nature of its constitution proved to be so great that it was unanimously agreed by the Chinese Government and the foreign Powers that China should herself undertake the works, subject to the provision that, if they were not carried out satisfactorily, the Powers might revert to the original board, for which stipulation was made in the protocol.\n\n25. Thus, in 1905, a convention was signed under which, instead of the board provided by the peace protocol, a Conservancy Board was created consisting only of the taotai of the native city and the local commissioner of customs, China agreeing at the same time to pay the entire cost of the works, and to forthwith provide 9,200,000 Haikwan taels in twenty annual instalments of 460,000 each. Provision was likewise made that in the event of the money being required at an earlier period,\n\n397", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435050, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 464, "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "## Art. 8\n1. of all matters involved, and they shall issue this loan to the public as soon as possible after they shall have notified the Board of Finance that they will make the said programme and statements the basis for the issue of bonds hereunder.\n\n2. The price of the bonds to the Imperial Chinese Government shall be 95 per cent. of their nominal value. Subscriptions will be invited by the banks in China, the United States, and Europe, on equal conditions, preference being given to the application of the Imperial Chinese Government provided such application be made to the banks not less than four days before the issue of the prospectus to the public. Seven days' notice of the issue of the prospectus will be given by the banks to the Board of Finance.\n\n3. In the event of the Imperial Chinese Government requiring funds immediately for the commencement of any of the undertakings contemplated for Manchuria the banks agree upon the execution of this agreement and so soon as they shall have been furnished with a statement satisfactory to themselves of the nature of such undertaking or undertakings and the amounts to be applied thereto, to hold in America and Europe at the disposal of the Imperial Chinese Government the sum of 1,000,000l., and to advance the same, or such portion thereof as may be required, against the order of the Board of Finance.\n\n4. The banks further engage that so soon as they shall have handed to the Board of Finance the notification referred to in section 2 of this article, and prior to the issue of this loan to the public, to hold in America and Europe at the disposal of the Imperial Chinese Government a further sum of 1,000,000l., which amount, or such portion thereof as may be required, may be withdrawn for preliminary expenses in connection with currency reform by orders of the Board of Finance as provided by section 5 of article 9 hereunder.\n\n5. The above advances to the aggregate of 2,000,000l., or such portion or portions thereof as may, from time to time, have been availed of by the Imperial Chinese Government, shall bear interest at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum from the date on which such several sums may have been withdrawn by the Board of Finance from the banks, and these advances shall be repaid to the banks, with accrued interest from the first proceeds of this loan when issued, or in any case within eighteen months from the signature of this agreement unless otherwise mutually arranged between the Board of Finance and the banks.\n\n## Art. 9\n1. The net proceeds of the loan shall be placed to the credit of accounts to be designated respectively as \"The Chinese Government Currency Reform Account\" and \"The Chinese Government Manchurian Development Account\" with the American group in New York or such bank or banks in China as from time to time shall be designated by the American group, the International Banking Corporation being now so designated; and with the Hong Kong and the Shanghai Banking Corporation, the Deutsche-Asiatische Bank, and the Banque de l'Indo-Chine, in China, London, Berlin, or Paris, as the case may be. Payments of the loan proceeds into the credit of these accounts shall be made in the proportions fixed respectively by the statement of expenditures for currency reform and the statement of Manchurian expenditures provided for in article 8, section 1, above, in instalments, and on dates conforming to the conditions allowed to the subscribers to the loan, and the sums so credited shall be held by the banks above named subject to the order of the Board of Finance.\n\n2. Transfers of loan funds to China in amounts conforming to the Imperial Chinese Government's requirements, as specified in the statements of currency reform and Manchurian expenditures respectively, but not exceeding a maximum of 300,000l. transferred in any one week, will be made through the Shanghai branches of the several banks named in section 1 of this article by the Board of Finance; and if such transfer be made through more than one of the several banks, exchange therefor shall be settled with the transferring banks on the same day. Funds so transferred shall be held by the transferring banks in Shanghai until required to be withdrawn for the purposes specified in the statements of currency reform and Manchurian expenditures respectively.\n\n3. The banks agree to pay interest upon the funds held by them in America and Europe at the rate of 3 per cent. per annum, and upon the funds temporarily held by them in China at the banks' rates in Shanghai for current accounts.\n\n4. The Board of Finance shall, in accordance with the Imperial Chinese Government's requirements, as specified in the statements of currency reform and Manchurian expenditures respectively, make transfers from the loan funds held by the banks in China to the credit of a currency reform account and [or] a Manchurian development account, with the Shanghai and [or] Peking branches of such Chinese bank or banks as the Board of Finance may from time to time designate to be its agent or agents for financing the operations contemplated under this agreement.\n\n5. Orders on the banks for such transfers of loan funds held by the banks in China to the Shanghai and [or] Peking branches of the designated Chinese bank or banks shall be signed by the Board of Finance, and shall be handed to the banks in Shanghai or Peking three days before the transfers are to be made. Such orders shall be of a form to be stipulated in the statement of expenditures for currency reform and [or] the statement of Manchurian expenditures referred to in article 8, section 1, above, and shall specify to what item or items of such expenditures the transferred funds are to be applied. Such orders being found correct, the banks shall not be entitled to delay the transfer desired, and the sum requisitioned shall be immediately transferred to the credit of the currency reform account and [or] the Manchurian development account with the designated Chinese bank or banks.\n\n6. In case the Board of Finance should desire to withdraw or transfer funds held by the banks in America or Europe to make gold payments abroad for expenditures contemplated under the statement of expenditures for currency reform and [or] the statement of Manchurian expenditures, orders of the form specified in section 5 above shall be handed to the bank or banks concerned in Shanghai or Peking five days before such payments or transfers are to be made; and, the orders being found correct, the bank or banks concerned shall, at the expense of the Board of Finance, by telegraph, advise the bank or banks concerned in America or Europe, as the case may be, to make the payments or transfers thus requisitioned.\n\n7. Transfers of loan funds from the banks in America and Europe to China, and transfers from the banks in China to the designated Chinese bank or banks, shall be made as nearly as possible in equal amounts. In the event of equal transfers being found to be impracticable, however, a mutually satisfactory procedure for making the transfers above referred to shall be arranged by the Board of Finance with the banks.\n\n## Art. 10\nThe Imperial Chinese Government may, at its discretion, instruct the banks to make on its behalf payments in gold abroad from the proceeds of this loan held by them in America and Europe up to an amount not exceeding 2,500,000l., to meet its obligations due under the terms of the protocol of the 7th September, 1901. These disbursements in gold abroad shall be made upon the payment in Shanghai to the credit of the Chinese Government currency reform account and [or] the Chinese Government Manchurian development account with the bank or banks concerned of funds in Shanghai sycee, equivalent, at the average indemnity rate of exchange of the preceding month, to the amounts in gold so released. Funds so credited shall be held by the bank or banks concerned in Shanghai until withdrawn for the purposes specified in the statements of currency reform and Manchurian expenditures respectively, as provided in sections 4 and 5 of article 9 above.\n\n## Art. 11\nDesiring to assure the banks, in the interests of the bondholders, that the loan funds are being expended for the purposes contemplated under this agreement, the Board of Finance engages, until such time as the proceeds of the loan shall have been expended in accordance with the statements of currency reform and Manchurian expenditures, to hand to the banks, not later than thirty days after the expiration of each quarterly period (Chinese calendar)-\n\n(a) A quarterly report in Chinese and English, showing the disbursements incident to the inauguration and operation of the Imperial Chinese Government's programme of currency reform.\n\n(b) A quarterly report in Chinese and English, showing the disbursements for the promotion and extension of Manchurian industry.\n\nSuch quarterly reports shall be of a form to be specified in the statements of currency reform and Manchurian expenditures.\n\nIn addition to such quarterly reports, the Board of Finance will also hand to the banks a copy of the annual report which is to be published for the information of the Imperial National Assembly or the Imperial Chinese Parliament.\n\n## Art. 12\n1. The rate of interest for the loan shall be 5 per cent. per annum on the nominal principal, and shall be paid to the bondholders half-yearly, as calculated from the date on which the loan is issued to the public, and according to the amounts specified in the schedule attached to this agreement.\n\n2. The term of this loan and of the bonds evidencing the same shall be forty-five years. Repayment of principal shall commence with the eleventh year after the date... \n\nPage 459", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 440408, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-395 - Public Offices - 1912", "page_number": 331, "title": "CO129-395 - Public Offices - 1912", "content_text": "At the very beginning of the revolution General Li made it a capital offence in his army for a soldier to be found smoking opium. This is one of the first great evils to be met by the people of a free republic.\n\nChina is oppressed by awful famine, she has been fighting for the liberty of her people against misrule, she is greatly troubled by pillage and robbery, but more than this she realises that the curse of opium has brought ruin and sorrow to her land. They are planning a new and mighty effort to put down speedily this great evil.\n\nHer people and Government are united.\n\nLast year the National Assembly at Peking, voicing the purpose of the nation, voted a memorial against opium, looking to a speedy end of the trade. They were ready to give up all revenue from this drug, that is only a poison to the people. But the Manchu Government shelved the memorial, and, while making efforts against the cultivation, allowed the trade to go on, and increased the revenue on foreign opium to 350 taels per chest. This, with the higher prices prevailing, made a retail cost to China of over 100,000,000 Mexican dollars of foreign opium sold in the Empire during last year.\n\nThis was one result of the new opium agreement arranged by the Manchu dynasty, which, as the last report of the British Anti-Opium Society in London remarked, was more favourable to the opium traders than to the people of China. Can such a condition continue under the Republic of China?\n\nThe people and the Government are working together in this great effort. Officials and the people alike ask, How, then, to free China from the opium evil? First, No is the reply of the republican Government by strong public action, so that the world may know that it is the real desire and determination of the new republic to end this source of weakness and ruin to China. The people will earnestly support this strong moral appeal by the Government, that in the name of humanity this evil trade may stop.\n\nThe people of the republic have a right to ask and expect the freedom of self-preservation. They are doing so now, and a telegram was sent to the Republican Government urging action. A great mass meeting was held in Soochow, and meetings will be held in Shanghai to consider the same question. They will be held in other large cities. It is China's determination that the opium trade and cultivation must stop this year. The Christians of Great Britain will also co-operate in the effort to give freedom to China from opium in this the first year of the republic.\n\nThe new agreement provides that it may be changed at any time. The citizens of this nation feel as never before that the opium habit is a disgrace to the republic and it must go.\n\nPleas by British Missionaries.\n\nAnd I can assure you at this time of a wider national life that there will be strong and earnest British co-operation in this great reform. Let me read some of the opinions expressed by British missionaries in China. And remember also the more than 1,000 appeals from the great British Empire which failed because the weak Manchu Government did not take action.\n\nMr. T. Hudson Taylor said :-\n\n\"Ah! we have given China something besides the Gospel, something that is doing more harm in a week than the united efforts of all our Christians are doing good in a year. Oh, the evils of opium! The slave trade was bad; the drink is bad; the licensing of vice is bad; but the opium traffic is the sum of all villanies. It debauches more families than drink; it makes more slaves directly than the slave trade; and it demoralises more sad lives than all the licensing systems in the world. Will you not pray, my friends?--I entreat you to pray to the Mighty God that He will bring this great evil to an end.\"\n\nDr. Arnold Forster, of Wuchang, said, in closing his appeal against opium \"Ours is the manufactory of the Indian opium that has poured into China a never-ceasing stream of poison all through the Victorian era. Ours have been and are the profits, ours is the sin. As we value the maintenance among us of those principles of righteousness that have made our nation great, as we deprecate all those low-toned pleas for making material wealth the standard of our nation's prosperity, let us exert ourselves, in the cause of this crucial and representative moral question--the maintenance or abandonment of our national opium trade--to show the courage of our convictions. Let us offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put our trust in the Lord, and let us do it at once.\"\n\n(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nOPIUM.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[16201]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n327\n\nC. O.\n\n13377\n\n[April 18.]\n\nSECTION 2.13 JUN 12\n\nBritish Delegates to International Opium Conference to Sir Edward Grey.--- (Received April 18.) (Confidential.)\n\nSir,\n\nWE, the British delegates plenipotentiary at the recent International Opium Conference at The Hague, have now the honour to submit to you our report on the proceedings and results of the conference. We have already transmitted to you (on the 24th January)* the convention and the final protocol in which the labours of the conference resulted, and we now submit two volumes containing respectively (a) minutes of the conference sessions, and (b) memoranda or other papers laid before the conference by the various delegations.\n\n2. The conference was called together at the instance of the American Government, whose object was to give the force of law and international agreement to the proposals contained in the resolutions of the International Opium Commission which assembled at Shanghai in 1899, and to \"the essential corollaries derived therefrom.\" That Government accordingly put forward the following tentative programme for discussion by the conference ---\n\n(a.) The advisability of effective national laws and regulations to control the production, manufacture, and distribution of opium, its derivatives and preparations.\n\n(b.) The advisability of restricting the number of ports through which opium may be shipped by opium-producing countries.\n\n(c.) The means to be taken to prevent, at the port of departure, the shipment of opium, its derivatives and preparations, to countries that prohibit, or wish to prohibit or control, their entry.\n\n(d.) The advisability of reciprocal notification of the amount of opium, its derivatives and preparations, shipped from one country to another.\n\n(e.) Regulation by the Universal Postal Union of the transmission of opium, its derivatives and preparations, through the mails.\n\n(f) The restriction or control of the cultivation of the poppy, so that the production of opium will not be undertaken by countries which at present do not produce it, to compensate for the reduction being made in British India and China.\n\n(g.) The application of the pharmacy laws of the Governments concerned to their subjects in the consular districts, concessions, and settlements in China.\n\n(h.) The propriety of restudying treaty obligations and international agreements under which the opium traffic is at present conducted.\n\n(i.) The advisability of uniform provisions of penal laws concerning offences against any agreements that the Powers may make in regard to opium production and traffic.\n\n(j.) The advisability of uniform marks of identification of packages containing opium in international transit.\n\n(k.) The advisability of permits to be granted to exporters of opium, its derivatives and preparations.\n\n(l) The advisability of reciprocal right of search of vessels suspected of carrying contraband opium.\n\n(m.) The advisability of measures to prevent the unlawful use of a flag by vessels engaged in the opium traffic.\n\n(n.) The advisability of an International Commission to be entrusted with the carrying out of any international agreement concluded.\n\nMiscellaneous No. 2 (1912),", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-395 - Public Offices - 1912.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 445640, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-406 - Public Offices - 1913", "page_number": 111, "title": "CO129-406 - Public Offices - 1913", "content_text": "## No. 2 \n\ndistricts of the northern circuit, that, although occasional illicit cultivation had taken place, the magistrates of the above districts had in every case sent in a report and the crop had been completely rooted up. The tutu finally declared that the whole province had, in fact, been cleared of poppy.\n\nThe Wai-chiao Pu have the honour to observe that the province of Fukien led the way in opium suppression some years ago, and in doing so was earlier than any other province. During 1911 opium was already prohibited and the province completely cleared. Missionaries of various nationalities gave their assistance in investigating, and signed a statement recognising these facts. In the sixth moon of that year a proclamation was issued by the customs forbidding the import of opium from neighbouring provinces. The authorities were on the point of broaching negotiations for the prohibition of import of the Indian drug, when the revolution broke out, and there was no time to look into the matter. A result was that illicit cultivation began again in the southern prefectures, but the poppy there has now been ploughed up without exception and the whole province is now clear. Therefore, article 3 of the Opium Agreement of 1911 and the precedent of Chihli and other provinces should be acted upon, and the import of Indian opium should be stopped. The Wai-chiao Pu have the honour to request His Majesty's Minister to take note of the above and to consent to place Fukien on the list of provinces into which import of Indian opium is forbidden pending the revision of the Opium Agreement. The Wai-chiao Pu trusts to receive a reply from His Majesty's Minister.\n\n**(Seal of the Wai-chiao Pu.)**\n\n## Enclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\n**Memorandum communicated to Wai-chiao Pu by Mr. Alston.**\n\nHIS Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the memorandum from the Wai-chiao Pu, dated the 6th June, asking for the inclusion of Fukien among the provinces into which the import of Indian opium is forbidden.\n\nThe Wai-chiao Pu are no doubt well aware that His Majesty's Legation has ever been ready to make the necessary investigations in all cases of provinces which it might be desired to place on the prohibition list.\n\nThe poppy season in Fukien is now over, and it is too late to attempt any investigations. It is unfortunate that Fukien did not make its application earlier if it wished to be placed on the prohibition list this year.\n\nThe evidence in the possession of Mr. Alston would not justify him in acceding to the request put forward by the Wai-chiao Pu until he has made fuller and more detailed enquiries.\n\nHis Majesty's consuls at Amoy and Foochow are being called upon to submit reports in this connection, and on their receipt Mr. Alston will again communicate with the Wai-chiao Pu on the subject.\n\nPeking, June 10, 1913.\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n## 110 \n## OPIUM.\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n[June 30.]\n\n## SECTION 1.\n`[30168]`\n\n## No. 1.\n\nSir Edward Grey to British Delegates at the Second International Opium Conference, Gentlemen,\n\nForeign Office, June 30, 1913. YOU have already been informed that His Majesty's Government have selected you to be the British delegates at the International Conference which is to meet at The Hague on the 1st July to consider the question of the ratification of the International Opium Convention of January 1912.\n\nYou will doubtless remember with what difficulties you were confronted at the former Conference owing to the fact that, the Powers represented being limited in number to twelve, they were not alone competent to carry out the full extent of international co-operation contemplated by the convention, and owing to the danger also that the participating Powers might eventually find that they had unavailingly sacrificed their trade interests for the sake of international morality, while outside Powers, on whom no such obligation might rest, had merely profited by this altruism to advance their own interests, at the same time nullifying to a great extent the objects aimed at by the convention. The circumstances of the Conference were in this respect unprecedented, since some of the matters dealt with at its sittings were of world-wide interest and could not be adequately carried out by the small number of Powers represented, especially in view of the fact that some of the non-represented Powers occupied a very important position in regard to the questions under discussion, as for instance, Turkey in regard to raw opium, and Peru and Bolivia in regard to cocaine. It was difficulties of this sort that necessitated the special and original character of the \"effectuating\" clauses, according to which the first step after the signing of the convention was not to be ratification by the signatory Powers, but an invitation addressed to the thirty-four Powers of Europe and America not represented at the Conference, to sign the convention, and thus put themselves on the same footing as the original participating Powers.\n\nArticle 23 further provided that in the event of the signatures of all the Powers invited not having been obtained by the 31st December, 1912, the Netherland Government should immediately invite the Powers who had signed by that date to appoint delegates to examine at The Hague the possibility of depositing the ratifications notwithstanding.\n\nAccordingly in the month of January the Netherland Chargé d'Affaires communicated to His Majesty's Government an invitation from his Government to a Conference to be held at The Hague in the month of June, to consider the possibility of proceeding to the ratification of the International Opium Convention. Accompanying the invitation was a list of countries which had signed the supplementary protocol provided for in Article 22 of the convention, as well as of those countries which had at that date either failed or definitely refused to sign.\n\nAn examination of this list shows that of the thirty-four Powers invited to sign the additional protocol, seventeen had actually signed, namely: the Argentine Republic, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, the Republic of Ecuador, Guatemala, the Republic of Hayti, Honduras, Luxemburg, Mexico, Panamá, Paraguay, Salvador, Spain, and the United States of Venezuela.\n\nThe Powers whose signature had not been obtained by the end of last year were the following: Austria-Hungary, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, the Republic of Cuba, Greece, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Roumania, Servia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and Uruguay.\n\nOf these last seventeen, Bolivia, Colombia, and the Republic of Cuba actually signed, while Bulgaria, Nicaragua, and Uruguay have declared their intention of signing.\n\nThe invitation of the Netherland Government, together with the accompanying list, has received the careful consideration of the departments concerned, by whom the attention of His Majesty's Government has been directed to the following points:\n\nOn the one hand it has been urged that the non-acceptance of the convention by certain countries would have no practical effect upon the interests of India, nor \n\n`[2965 gg-1]`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-406 - Public Offices - 1913.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 450684, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914", "page_number": 266, "title": "CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914", "content_text": "Mr. Alston to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received August 18.)\n\n(No. 309.) Sir,\n\nPeking, August 3, 1913.\n\nI HAVE the honour to report that papers have recently been laid before the Diplomatic Body by the Wai-chiao Pu in connection with the disturbances in Southern China, and the endeavours of the Chinese Government to safeguard itself against the complicity of foreign subjects with the leaders of the rebel cause.\n\nIn reply to a note, dated the 24th July, requesting the expulsion from the international settlement at Shanghai of the rebel leaders Huang Hsing and Chen Chi-mei, in order that the settlement might not be used as a base for disturbances, the Wai-chiao Pu was informed by the Diplomatic Body that the Consular Body had already taken steps to that effect. An identic note was addressed to me, and I issued instructions to the consuls officiating at ports where British concessions have been established, to prevent the proscribed leaders from concealing themselves within the areas under our control.\n\nIn response to representations from the Wai-chiao Pu that code telegrams, purporting to be sent by foreign merchants were being utilised by the rebels at Kiukiang for the purpose of fomenting trouble, I also instructed His Majesty's consul as a temporary measure to attach his signature and official seal to all telegrams which were despatched in code by British merchants at that port.\n\nOn the 25th July martial law was proclaimed at Peking, and the Wai-chiao Pu requested that: (1) violent characters should not be permitted to make use of the legation quarter as a refuge; (2) that letters and telegrams despatched from the legation quarter, other than those of the legations and the banks, should be subjected to official censorship by the Chinese; and (3) that foreign subjects residing outside the quarter should be held responsible for the observance of orders issued under martial law.\n\nAt a diplomatic meeting on the 28th July it was decided that clause (1) was actually provided for by the protocol of 1901, no Chinese other than those in the employ of foreigners having the right to reside within the legation quarter; that clause (2) could not be accepted, but that code telegrams from commercial houses should be franked by the official seal of their legations during the period of disturbance; and that no measures could be taken to enforce clause 3 until the nature of the orders in question had been communicated by the Chinese Government.\n\nA question of broader interest was raised by a note from the Wai-chiao Pu of the 25th July, in which the approval of the Diplomatic Body was sought for certain regulations drawn up with a view to the prevention of the complicity of foreigners with the present revolt.\n\nThe Chinese Government proposed (1) that the houses and vessels of foreigners should be subject to search, under warrants vised by a consul, should one be in the vicinity; (2) that any war materials which might be discovered should be submitted to the trial of a prize court; (3) that foreigners assisting the rebels in the districts under martial law should be captured and punished, the trial and punishment to be in the hands of the Chinese alone should the capture be effected within the fighting zone.\n\nAfter careful consideration of the question the Diplomatic Body was unable to accept the representations, which in their opinion jeopardised the rights of foreigners as assured by treaty, and in his reply to the Wai-chiao Pu the dean expressed the view that any case in which a foreigner was accused of complicity with the rebels should be dealt with in accordance with treaty stipulations.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nB. ALSTON,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 457247, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-426 - Public Offices - 1915", "page_number": 563, "title": "CO129-426 - Public Offices - 1915", "content_text": "(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.)\n\nC.O.\n\n30608\n\nOPIUM.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n[37625]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nRac\n\nRef 5 JUL 15\n\n[March 31.]\n\n555\n\nSECTION 2.\n\nPage 376\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received March 31.)\n\n(No. 53.) Sir,\n\nPeking, March 9, 1915.\n\nI HAVE the honour to forward copy of a note, dated the 20th February, received from the Wai-chiao Pu, expressing the intention of the Chinese Government to put into effect The Hague Opium Convention of the 23rd January, 1912, in accordance with the terms of the Final Protocol of the third Hague Opium Conference of June 1914.\n\n(Copy to India.)\n\nEnclosure No. 1.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nWai-chiao Pu to Sir J. Jordan.\n\nSir,\n\nFebruary 20, 1915.\n\nIT is laid down in the Final Protocol of the third Hague Opium Conference of June 1914 that if by the 31st December, 1914, all the Powers have not found it possible to deposit their ratifications, it shall be lawful for the Powers whose ratifications have at that date been deposited and who wish to put the convention into effect, to declare their intention to do so by signing the protocol opened at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.\n\nHis Excellency the Minister for the Netherlands, M. Beelaerts, informed me officially that this protocol had been prepared by the Netherlands Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and this Ministry thereupon telegraphically instructed Mr. Tang Tsai-fu, the Chinese Minister to The Hague, to sign the protocol formally declaring the sincere intention of China to put into effect the principles set forth in the convention. I am now in receipt of a telegram from Mr. Tang Tsai-fu, informing me that on the 11th instant he signed the protocol formally declaring the putting into effect of the convention as from the date of this signature.\n\nThe various signatory Powers having rendered China valuable assistance in effecting the prohibition of opium, morphia, and cocaine, the Chinese Government has now, in accordance with the method decided on by the Opium Conference, signed the protocol opened at The Hague declaring the putting into effect of the convention, and I have therefore the honour to inform your Excellency that any question relating to these drugs which may arise in the future will be dealt with in accordance with the convention.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Seal of the Wai-chiao Pu.)\n\nPage 377\n\n[2371 hh-2]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-426 - Public Offices - 1915.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 478007, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-451 - Public Offices - 1918", "page_number": 244, "title": "CO129-451 - Public Offices - 1918", "content_text": "## AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n### [October 9.]\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\nREG 8 FEB 18\n\nSECTION 3.\n\n(181622)\n\n### No. 1.\n\nSir,\n\nForeign Office to Army Council.\n\nForeign Office, October 9, 1917.\n\nI am directed by the Secretary of State to enclose herewith, for communication to the Army Council, copy of a despatch and its enclosures from His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking in regard to the interruption of railway communications on the Peking-Shanhaikuan line caused by the movements of Chinese troops in the recent political crisis.\n\nIn this connection the following suggestions are made by Mr. Alston:—\n\n1. That a formal protest should be lodged with the Chinese Government against the action of the Chinese military authorities in damaging the railway, and thus interfering with the free movement of foreign troops on the line in contravention of the Protocol of 1901 and the Railway Agreement of 1902.\n\n2. That, in order to ensure that communications will not be cut and that an effectual control of the railway will be maintained in any emergency in future, the British garrison in North China should be strengthened in accordance with the recommendations of Lieutenant-Colonel Wright, the officer commanding at Tien-tsin, and Lieutenant Colonel Robertson, the military attaché at Peking.\n\nAs far as the military aspect of the question is concerned, it is not within the province of this Department to offer an opinion, but, regarded from a political point of view, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Balfour to observe that the situation as gauged from the correspondence does not, in his opinion, justify action on the lines suggested, and that, in view of China's entry into the war on the side of the Entente, the moment is inopportune to lodge a formal protest with the Chinese Government, who, at a time of the gravest embarrassment to themselves, apparently did all that they could reasonably be expected to do in the circumstances to fulfil their obligations under the protocol. Further, even admitting that His Majesty's Government have good reason to protest, and would be justified in insisting on the appointment of military co-directors and deputy co-directors as contemplated by the Railway Agreement, the question arises whether the Army Council have officers available for the purpose. It should be borne in mind that the military traffic which they had intended to regulate under the Railway Agreement is the transport of foreign troops, artillery, stores, &c., for the Legation guards, and that the volume of such traffic has been very considerably reduced since the beginning of the war.\n\nFor the reasons given above, Mr. Balfour is not inclined to give his sanction to the proposed protest, but before communicating definite instructions on the subject to Peking, he will be glad to learn the views of the Army Council on the suggestions which have been put forward by the military authorities in China, and the extent to which they can, if necessary, be met, having regard to the urgent demands on our resources in Europe.\n\nI am, &c.\n\nEYRE A. CROWE.\n\n[2737 - 8]\n\n240\n\nThe new President has to-day held his first audience of the Diplomatic Body, the congratulatory address read by my French colleague containing an allusion to the prospect of China speedily entering the war, to which the President sympathetically replied.\n\n(Copy to Tokyo.)\n\nI have, &c.\n\nB. ALSTON.\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nC.O. 7053", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-451 - Public Offices - 1918.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 478022, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-451 - Public Offices - 1918", "page_number": 259, "title": "CO129-451 - Public Offices - 1918", "content_text": "## AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n255\n\n[October 9.]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nForeign Office to Army Council,\n\n**REC REG 8 FEB 18**\n\nForeign Office, October 9, 1917.\n\nSir,\n\nI am directed by the Secretary of State to enclose herewith, for communication to the Army Council, copy of a despatch and its enclosures from His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking in regard to the interruption of railway communications on the Peking Shanhaikuan line caused by the movements of Chinese troops in the recent political crisis.\n\nIn this connection the following suggestions are made by Mr. Alston:-\n\n1. That a formal protest should be lodged with the Chinese Government against the action of the Chinese military authorities in damaging the railway, and thus interfering with the free movement of foreign troops on the line in contravention of the Protocol of 1901 and the Railway Agreement of 1902.\n\n2. That, in order to ensure that communications will not be cut and that an effectual control of the railway will be maintained in any similar emergency in future, the British garrison in North China should be strengthened in accordance with the recommendations of Lieutenant-Colonel Wright, the officer commanding at Tien-tsin, and Lieutenant Colonel Robertson, the military attaché at Peking.\n\nAs far as the military aspect of the question is concerned, it is not within the province of this Department to offer an opinion, but, regarded from a political point of view, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Balfour to observe that the situation as gauged from the correspondence does not, in his opinion, justify action on the lines suggested, and that, in view of China's entry into the war on the side of the Entente, the moment is inopportune to lodge a formal protest with the Chinese Government, who, at a time of the gravest embarrassment to themselves, apparently did all that they could reasonably be expected to do in the circumstances to fulfil their obligations under the protocol. Further, even admitting that His Majesty's Government have good reason to protest, and would be justified in insisting on the appointment of military co-directors and deputy co-directors as contemplated by the Railway Agreement, the question arises whether the Army Council have officers available for the purpose. It should be borne in mind that the military traffic which they had intended to regulate under the Railway Agreement is the transport of foreign troops, artillery, stores, &c., for the Legation guards, and that the volume of such traffic has been very considerably reduced since the beginning of the war.\n\nFor the reasons given above, Mr. Balfour is not inclined to give his sanction to the proposed protest, but before communicating definite instructions on the subject to Peking, he will be glad to learn the views of the Army Council on the suggestions which have been put forward by the military authorities in China, and the extent to which they can, if necessary, be met, having regard to the urgent demands on our resources in Europe.\n\nI am, &c.\n\nEYRE A. CROWE.\n\n[2737-8]\n\nThe new President has to-day held his first audience of the Diplomatic Body, the congratulatory address read by my French colleague containing an allusion to the prospect of China speedily entering the war, to which President sympathetically replied.\n\n(Copy to Tokyo.)\n\nI have, &c.\n\nB. ALSTON.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-451 - Public Offices - 1918.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 478023, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-451 - Public Offices - 1918", "page_number": 260, "title": "CO129-451 - Public Offices - 1918", "content_text": "**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n## SECTION 3\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir,\n\nForeign Office to Army Council.\n\nForeign Office, October 9, 1917.\n\nI am directed by the Secretary of State to enclose herewith, for communication to the Army Council, copy of a despatch and its enclosures from His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking in regard to the interruption of railway communications on the Peking-Shanhaikuan line caused by the movements of Chinese troops in the recent political crisis.\n\nIn this connection the following suggestions are made by Mr. Alston:\n\n1. That a formal protest should be lodged with the Chinese Government against the action of the Chinese military authorities in damaging the railway, and thus interfering with the free movement of foreign troops on the line in contravention of the Protocol of 1901 and the Railway Agreement of 1902.\n\n2. That, in order to ensure that communications will not be cut and that an effectual control of the railway will be maintained in any similar emergency in future, the British garrison in North China should be strengthened in accordance with the recommendations of Lieutenant-Colonel Wright, the officer commanding at Tien-tsin, and Lieutenant Colonel Robertson, the military attaché at Peking.\n\nAs far as the military aspect of the question is concerned, it is not within the province of this Department to offer an opinion, but, regarded from a political point of view, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Balfour to observe that the situation as gauged from the correspondence does not, in his opinion, justify action on the lines suggested, and that, in view of China's entry into the war on the side of the Entente, the moment is inopportune to lodge a formal protest with the Chinese Government, who, at a time of the gravest embarrassment to themselves, apparently did all that they could reasonably be expected to do in the circumstances to fulfil their obligations under the protocol. Further, even admitting that His Majesty's Government have good reason to protest, and would be justified in insisting on the appointment of military co-directors and deputy co-directors as contemplated by the Railway Agreement, the question arises whether the Army Council have officers available for the purpose. It should be borne in mind that the military traffic which they had intended to regulate under the Railway Agreement is the transport of foreign troops, artillery, stores, &c., for the Legation guards, and that the volume of such traffic has been very considerably reduced since the beginning of the war.\n\nFor the reasons given above, Mr. Balfour is not inclined to give his sanction to the proposed protest, but before communicating definite instructions on the subject to Peking, he will be glad to learn the views of the Army Council on the suggestions which have been put forward by the military authorities in China, and the extent to which they can, if necessary, be met, having regard to the urgent demands on our resources in Europe.\n\nI am, &c.\n\nEYRE A. CROWE.\n\n[2737 i -8] \n256", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-451 - Public Offices - 1918.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 478140, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-451 - Public Offices - 1918", "page_number": 377, "title": "CO129-451 - Public Offices - 1918", "content_text": "29765 Atthong \n\n373 \n\nInd \n\n**DRAFT** \n\nTrọng trong Me Conf. Pow. Sir H. Mong \n\nMr. \n\nMr. \n\n**MINUTE** \n\nSmmans 29/6/18 Cowell \n\nMr. \n\nMr. Grindle. \n\nMr. Lambert. \n\nMr H. Road. \n\nSir G. Fiddes. \n\nMr. Hewins. \n\nMr. Long. \n\n... \n\nFault No. \n\nJuly 1918. \n\nWith ref. to my desp. 117 of the 14 May regarding the protocols for the formation of a company with a view to the estab. of a Chinese Vernacular Paper for the furtherance of British interests in S. China, I have now to state that I have received (in apps) a copy of a tel. from HM's Minister at Peking dated the 2 May, in which it is stated that the Atthong Propaganda Committee have wired the Shanghai Committee.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-451 - Public Offices - 1918.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 489691, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "page_number": 182, "title": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "content_text": "## 181\n\n2 \n\nthe control of Chang Tso-lin. The latter has advised that the troops of his rivals be despatched to lose themselves in the waste places of Mongolia; he has offered to send troops himself if the Government will supply them with funds and ammunition, knowing full well that this is impossible; but to all appeals for active aid he has been deaf. It is possible that his indifference to the fate of Mongolia may be based upon the knowledge that the Mongols would be eager to accept a reversion to their condition of autonomy as it existed under the Empire, though determined to resist strenuously the servitude which the republic imposed upon them as soon as it was able to disregard the provisions of the Russian agreements of 1913 and 1915.\n\nA further circumstance confirming the information as to Chang Tso-lin's monarchical intentions is the fact that, recognising the impossibility of securing for Chang Hsien the appointment of Inspecting Commissioner of Kiangsu, Anhui, and Kiangsi, in succession to Li Shun, he induced the Government to create a sinecure for that notorious monarchist, who was gazetted on the 26th January to the post of Director-General of Forestry and Colonisation of the Jehol territory.\n\nIn this connection, it should be mentioned that Prince Tuan, the Imperial Prince who took in 1900 the foremost place in favouring the Boxers and in ordering the attack on the Legations, and who has since been in punishment under the terms of the 1901 protocol, has recently returned to Peking. While it is not suggested that his return is connected with any pro-monarchical plotting on the part of Chang Tso-lin or others, the doyen of the Diplomatic Body has recently, with the approval of his colleagues, enquired of the Wai-chiao Pu what measures it is proposed to take to ensure the fulfilment of the terms of the protocol. From private conversations with political personages, I gather that the Chinese Government will deny that they have given their consent to Prince Tuan's return, but it is certain that individual members of the Government have been aware of the matter; in March of last year, Mr. Ch'en Lu, Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, enquired as to the personal views of M. Boppe, then doyen of the Diplomatic Body, in the event of the return to Peking of Prince Tuan, but at the same time asked that the question be not discussed with the members of the Diplomatic Body as the Wai-chiao Pu did not wish to take the matter up officially.\n\nIt may also be well to mention, if only for purposes of record, that both in the province of Hupeh and in that of Szechuan, bodies of ignorant men professing the \"Boxer\" tenets of hostility to foreigners and their own invulnerability have recently come into existence; in both cases, the authorities appear to have succeeded in dispersing them. Such ebullitions may be taken as a sign of discontent with things as they are rather than as symptomatic of any widespread and anti-foreign feeling.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nB. ALSTON.\n\n**RESTRICTED**\n\n## Circulation:-\n\n| Name |\n| --- |\n| Mr. Bubett |\n| Mr. Colli |\n| Mr. Grindle |\n| Sir H. Lambert |\n| Sir H. Read |\n| Sir G. Fiddes |\n| Mr. Wood |\n| Mr. Churchill |\n\nPrevious Paper: `36321`\n\nDate: 22 July\n\nSubject: `36734`\n\n23 21 \n\nFederal Jet. Coy's Contract with Chinese Govt.\n\nCopy tel. from His Majesty's Minister at Washington\n\n... \n\nMINUTES\n\nDone Dom. No. 325, 11 August 1921 `413041/21`\n\nSubsequent Paper: `41881`\n\n(877800) W1 4710/18 Gp. 163\n\n| Reference | Amount |\n| --- | --- |\n| 40000 5-31 W&S Ltd. | 1.3000 |\n| Mr. E. J. Harting | AEC 3.8 |\n\nCopy of despatch of 23 May (`24865`)\n\nCRP 5/8/21.\n\nPage 363 \n\n||| 6/8/20 \n\n36327", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 489812, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "page_number": 303, "title": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "content_text": "# 302 \n\n## 2 \n\neasy route to Chinese markets. The good name of America was thus damaged by the actions of an unpatriotic few.\n\nChina is today facing a political crisis. The Central Government powerless before the lawless audacity of a handful of military leaders, or Tuchuns. These usurpers are playing fast and loose with the good name of China and utterly destroying the credit she had won through the energy and good faith with which she had carried out her obligations. These despots have ridden rough-shod alike over China's agreement with India and the still wider international obligations assumed by China at The Hague.\n\nIndia, in bitterness of spirit, assails China's insincerity and the flagrant breaking of her treaty. She asks, perhaps not unjustly, why India should sacrifice a much-needed revenue for the purpose of allowing China to control the opium market, which, unless China be checked in her downward course, is inevitable, as China's poppy cultivation can greatly exceed that of India. By underselling the Indian product she at once controls the world's market.\n\nThis is the menace.\n\nBut it must not be taken too seriously. China demonstrated her capacity when, in a few years, she practically wiped the poppy from her fields. With a stable Government her laws can once more be enforced and the will of her people be given expression, as it was in 1919, when the Government in Peking openly burned opium to the value of 15,000,000 dollars.\n\nThe Netherlands Government has turned over to the League of Nations the duties hitherto carried out by that Government, in so far as they relate to the Governments which are parties to the League. In February last a committee was appointed by the Assembly to advise the Council as to its future programme. This committee was composed of representatives from the eight countries particularly interested in the opium question - Great Britain, France, Holland, Portugal, China, Japan, Siam and India. To this committee were added three assessors or experts, chosen because of their knowledge of the subject and irrespective of nationality.\n\nAccording to article 595 of the Versailles Treaty, the signing of that treaty was equivalent to the signing of the protocol opened at The Hague. This refers to the signatory and belligerent Powers alone. The neutral and non-signatory Powers, however, having either signed or ratified the opium convention of 1912, being, therefore, still under the jurisdiction of the Netherlands Government, have been asked by that Government to fulfil their further obligations by signing the protocol at The Hague, which will bring them in line with the treaty Powers.\n\nAs for the recent meeting of the opium committee held in Geneva, there is a feeling that the League failed to take advantage of the great opportunity presented. The opium question is free from politics. It deals primarily with the welfare of humanity. And it was generally understood that the League would express specifically its intention of pressing this problem to its ultimate conclusion, irrespective of material interests involved. But there seemed to be a determined effort on the part of the majority of the committee to restrict the convention to a most rigid interpretation - to stick to the letter alone.\n\nIf the League is to take the responsibility of this great humanitarian movement, it should lose no time in stating definitely its position. The report of the committee was satisfactory so far as it went - but it must be frankly stated that the ground covered was extremely limited. In the final analysis there is but one solution to the opium problem - the suppression of the cultivation of the poppy save for medicinal purposes. The Hague Convention calls for legislation to restrict and regulate the trade, and no country has passed more rigid legislation than the United States. But no rules or regulations can protect a country from opium or its kindred drugs so long as the source of the trouble is not removed.\n\nThe Indian Government is prepared to abide by the strict letter of the convention, and agrees to prohibit the exportation of opium to countries which have laws against its importation, but it refuses to curtail its trade to countries accepting the drug. This means that opium inevitably makes its way through illicit channels to countries which prohibit, thus defeating the purpose of the convention of 1912.\n\nFor a hundred and fifty years opium has been a curse to humanity. It has all but undermined one of the greatest nations of the East - and, unless checked, presents a menace of increasing seriousness to the West. The opium monopolies of the East must be abandoned.\n\nThe giving up of slavery entailed great financial sacrifice. The Congress of Vienna in 1815 was the first to propose its abolition. It took, in America, an appalling civil war to accomplish the same end.\n\nBut Great Britain, at the same time, was working towards abolition.\n\nThe opium habit is worse than slavery. The drug should no longer be tolerated as a basis of revenue, an obsolete practice inherited from a primitive and unethical past. The opium problem presents to the League of Nations an extraordinary opportunity. If it can bring about its solution, that alone would justify its being. But it must be prepared to see it through to the end irrespective of material interests involved.\n\nIt is not necessary or desirable to pull down ruthlessly the financial structure of India or the colonies of the East, which at present rests upon this unwise source of revenue. But the principle of its eventual abolition must be accepted, and other means of raising revenue substituted. That opium is of incalculable value to humanity when legitimately used is undeniable. But, once released from these bounds, it becomes an instrument for immeasurable evil.\n\nThe opium-raising countries of the world today are India, Turkey, Persia and China. It is not just that the burden of sacrifice should fall alone upon the shoulders of India. Persia is already a party to the convention of 1912 - though with reservations. And Turkey, through the Treaty of Sèvres, must eventually submit to similar restrictions. China will do again what she has done before; public opinion there will demand this when she once more has a Government capable of enforcing laws. India, the best governed of all Eastern countries, can see her laws enforced at will. Therefore, with India rests the greatest responsibility of all.\n\nOpium should be placed on a plane with radium, as something of infinite worth to humanity, and of great monetary value. As the cultivation of the poppy is restricted to what is needed for medicinal use, the price must automatically ascend, and opium will still remain a large factor in the revenue of the East, but its value will be based on the legitimate need for it, not on its power to corrupt.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 489879, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "page_number": 370, "title": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "content_text": "# 369 \n\nThis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n## CHINA.\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\n`[F 2910/96/10]`\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[August 9.]\n\n### SECTION 5.\n\nSir B. Alston to Earl Curzon.-(Received August 9.)\n\n**(No. 337.)**\nMy Lord,\n\nPeking, June 21, 1921.\n\nWITH reference to my telegram of the 25th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit herewith a translation of the Chinese text of the new Sino-German Agreement and accompanying exchange of notes, a copy of which has been procured through private channels.\n\nI would draw attention to the last paragraph of the letter from the Minister for Foreign Affairs to Herr von Borch stating that a separate arrangement would be concerted for dealing with the Deutsche-Asiatische Bank and the Ching Hsing mines, but that the bank premises at Peking and Hankow, not having been subjected to liquidation, \"may be restored to the original owners.\" As your Lordship is aware, the status of the German bank in the Legation quarter has never been exactly determined, and the premises are at the present time in the custody of the Netherlands Minister, as representative of German interests during the war. Should an attempt be made to give effect to the promise given in Dr. Yen's letter, the question of the right of the Chinese Government to dispose of property within the Legation quarter will have to be settled.\n\nThe German drill ground referred to in Herr von Borch's letter signifies presumably the German portion of the extra-mural glacis. It is obvious that the German renunciation of rights over the glacis can only take practical effect if and when a similar renunciation has been made by the remaining protocol Powers.\n\n(Copies to Shanghai, Canton, Tien-tsin and Hankow.)\n\n### Enclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nHerr von Borch to Dr. Yen.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nB. ALSTON.\n\nSir,\n\nMay 20, 1921.\n\nI HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that I have been formally delegated to make to your Excellency in the name of my Government the following declaration:-\n\nThe Government of the German Republic desires to renew relations of amity and commercial intercourse between China and Germany. Now whereas it is right that such relations should be founded upon the principle of perfect equality and strict reciprocity, as in conformity with the provisions of general international law, and whereas on the 15th September, 1919, a mandate was promulgated by his Excellency the President of the Republic of China restoring peace with Germany, and whereas Germany has accepted the obligations towards China created by articles 128 to 134 of the Versailles Treaty of the 28th June, 1919, which came into operation on the 10th January, 1920, it is hereby stated that Germany has in consequence of her military situation and the Versailles Treaty been compelled to renounce all interests, property rights and concessions obtained by her under the treaty with China of the 6th March, 1898, and the various other documents relating to the province of Shantung, and that she has thereby ceased to have it in her power to restore to China the said interests, property rights and concessions.\n\nIt is further formally declared as follows:-\n\nGermany agrees to the abolition of her right to consular jurisdiction in China. She also renounces in entirety in China's favour all rights possessed by the German Government over the German drill ground belonging to the German Legation at Peking, acknowledging the expression \"public property\" mentioned in clause 1, article 130, of the Versailles Treaty as including in its denotation the drill ground in question.\n\n`[6735 i---5]`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 490216, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "page_number": 707, "title": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "content_text": "# The Macao Question.\n\n## A REPLY TO THE PORTUGUESE VERSION.\n\n**(Cantea Information Bureau)**\n\nCanton: September 26—A Hongkong paper has published what, we take it, is to be read as the official Portuguese version of the recent incident at Macao. The statement opens with the admission that \"various incidents have occurred recently relating to the question of Portuguese and Chinese jurisdiction all of which have been determined with more or less difficulty by the authorities at Canton and Macao\". We concur. But what follows in the Portuguese version is an obvious falsification of history. \"These incidents or conflicts\", it is said, \"far from being due to a desire to enlarge Portuguese authority—a desire which does not exist—are rather due to a want of comprehension of the right, duties and obligations of nations in their relations to each other, on the part of sundry or junior Chinese officials, who maintain a doubtful discipline amongst their subordinates,”\n\n## A CONCLUSIVE ANSWER.\n\nThe conclusive answer to this attempt to find the cause for these \"incidents or conflicts\" in Chinese truculency rather than in the Portuguese desire to grab more Chinese territory, is to point out that whereas in 1848, the area of Macau was actually less than 3 square miles, it is to-day considerably more than 11 square miles and, if the Portuguese claim were allowed, it would exceed 50 sq. m.!\n\nAs the Portuguese statement has plunged into history, and bad history at that, it is necessary to rehearse the relevant historical facts involved in the case. The settlement of Macao originally comprised the tip of the tongue of land jutting out at the southern extremity of the West River delta, known as the District of Heung-Shau. The Portuguese were at first no more than squatters and, according to a well-known book of reference, they \"first obtained a footing on a vacant lot near the shore under the pretext of drying wet cargo, and in 1557 were permitted by the Chinese Government, then under the Ming Dynasty, to erect factories on the payment of $20,000\". Later, the Portuguese made a new arrangement with the Manchu Government, which required them to pay an annual land tax of Tls. 500 and prohibited their movements beyond two barrier gates. These gates \"were opened 5 times a month, when the Portuguese were supplied with rice and other necessaries\".\n\n## \"A SCRAP OF PAPER\"\n\nThe land tax of Tls. 500 was paid until 1848, when the Portuguese—taking advantage of the weakened state of China brought about by the first Opium War—violated the agreement, refused to pay the land tax and expelled the Chinese authorities. It was about this time that the \"desire to enlarge Portuguese authority\" found its first notable expression. The northern boundary of Macao, which then ran across the centre of the tongue of land, was pushed back to include the entire peninsula, right up to the barrier on the sandy isthmus connecting the settlement with the rest of the delta. This illegal state of things, created by the Portuguese, continued down to 1887, when the Protocol of Lisbon and the Treaty of Peking legalised the Portuguese occupation of Macao in return for the Portuguese undertaking to aid in suppressing the smuggling trade in opium—which, by the way, is still vigorous and flourishing in the settlement.\n\nThe Portuguese statement appears to invoke article 2 of the Treaty of Peking. The article stipulates that \"Commissioners appointed by both Governments shall proceed to the delimitation of the boundaries (of Macao), which shall be determined by a special Convention; but so long as the delimitation of the boundaries is not concluded, everything in respect of them shall continue as at present without addition, diminution, or alteration by either of the parties,\"\n\n## LAPPA'S SPRING WATERS.\n\nAt the date of this Treaty of Peking of 1887, the water-boundary between Macao and the Chinese territory known as Lappa Island, lying opposite to it, was not an acute issue—if it were an issue at all because (a) the Portuguese authorities at the time had a more or less correct comprehension of the right, duties and obligations of nations in their relations to each other\" in the matter of an inlet-boundary, such as that existing between Macao and Lappa Island, i.e. the boundary line lies along the centre of the main channel; (b) it was only in 1909 that the Portuguese began dredging work with the view of making the Port of Macao available for the largest river-boats and ultimately oversea shipping; and (c) in 1887, the Portuguese had not yet contemplated the seizure of Lappa Island for the twofold purpose of enclosing the port entirely by Portuguese territory and securing for Macao the best navigable water in that section of the delta region. There is little doubt that the Lusitanians are thirsting for Lappa's spring-waters. But they are also wanted by the rightful and immemorial owners of the soil. (Continued on Page 8.)\n\n## The Macao Question.\n\n(Continued from Page 1.)\n\n### THE STATUS QUO OF 1887.\n\nIn these circumstances, the Portuguese statement wholly begs the question when it contends that, in view of the maintenance of the STATUS QUO of 1887 as stipulated by article 2 of the Treaty of Peking, \"it follows that if the port of Macao was solely under Portuguese jurisdiction in 1887, China cannot exercise any Authority in the waters of the port\". The entire point at issue is what are \"the waters of the port of Macao\". The historical evidence is completely against the present Portuguese contention that those waters included, in 1887, the Chinese side of the inlet separating Macao from Lappa Island. And even if the evidence—which is not the case—were less conclusive as to what were the \"waters of the port\" of Macao in 1887, the briefest consideration of the question, under the guidance of settled law, would show the STATUS QUO of 1887 to be precisely what is affirmed by the historical facts of the case. We cast this treatment of the issue into the form of a series of numbered statements:-\n\n1. It is to be noted that the inlet or waters between Macao and the Chinese island of Lappa were once exclusively Chinese.\n2. Prior to 1848, the Portuguese occupied Macao as yearly tenants of the Chinese Government.\n3. The refusal of the Portuguese to pay the annual land-rent of Tls. 500 rendered their occupation of Macao, from 1848 to 1887, tortious and illegal.\n4. The Treaty of Peking legalized the Portuguese occupation of Macao in terms tantamount to a cession of the territory of the settlement FROM THE DATE OF THE TREATY.\n5. While there was no general rule of International Law which could automatically fix the land frontier of Macao, there was, at the date of the Treaty of Peking (and it is still the rule of law), such a principle of the Law of Nations which determined the frontier line of two states bordering on waters, viz., the Macao harbour being an inlet matter has stationed a launch near Ngan Hang in order to compel Chinese fishing-boats to go to the Macao side of the river or to take out licences issued by him. There, however, limits even the tolerance of the Chinese with their inherited belief in compromise and common sense. Hence, the recent incident.\n6. As Macao was LEGALLY ceded to the Portuguese by the Treaty of 1887, it necessarily follows that the boundary line between it and the Chinese territory of Lappa Island then lay along the middle of the inlet separating the two.\n7. Hence, the STATUS QUO of 1887 was that the \"waters of the port\" of Macao bordered on to the centre of the inlet, the Lappa side being entirely under Chinese jurisdiction. On this view, the case against the Portuguese contention is complete both in law and in fact.\n\n## \"MONTE CARLO OF THE ORIENT.\"\n\n8. The recent incident at Macao is admittedly the direct outcome of the Portuguese attempt to extend the \"waters of the port\" right up to the Lappa side of the inlet, it is clear that the Portuguese are and must be in the wrong and wholly responsible for the origin and consequences of the incident.\n\nThe language of the Portuguese communique compels us to make a necessary reference to Macao as a centre of pernicious human activities which no government, definable as civilised, ought to tolerate far less legalise. \"Macao\", we read in a popular guide-book in a passage devoted to the Amenities of the place, \"is popularly known as the Monte Carlo of the Orient—there being several large gambling establishments, conducted, under Government control, the licences bringing in a large revenue to the Colonial Treasury. Besides licensed gambling houses, there is a lottery conducted by the Government. The lots are drawn once a month, the highest prize being as large as $150,000\". From these illegitimate monopolies and traffic in human frailties, the revenue derived is apausi surplus of 6-7 million dollars. Practically the whole of this sum is remitted to government, although the process of colonial milking is masked by a method of appropriation exclusively for the assistance of the Portuguese colony of Tin. off the N. W. coast of Australia.\n\n## ANOTHER \"SCRAP OF PAPER.\"\n\nIt is unnecessary to go afresh into the particular facts of the incident, except to state that—besides being due generally to the persistent violation of the Treaty of 1887 on the part of the Portuguese—it was specifically provoked by another characteristic Portuguese violation of a written agreement made between the Canton and Macao authorities as a MODUS VIVENDI pending the final settlement of the matter. It is one of the terms of the agreement that the Portuguese shall not interfere with Chinese fishing-boats which may be beached for cleaning or repairs near Ngan Hang, a Chinese village on the Lappa Island, in Chinese territory.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 493942, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "page_number": 333, "title": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n(11724.) (AMENDED.)\n\n328\n\nC. U\n\n7\n\n9085\n\nREC :\n\nREG25 FB22\n\nRemission of the Boxer Indemnity.\n\nAFTER the Boxer rising of 1900 the Chinese Government were called upon to pay an indemnity to the Powers concerned for damage sustained or military expenditure incurred.* By article 6 of the Final Protocol of 1901 the amount was fixed at 450,000,000 Haikwan taels. This sum constituted a gold debt calculated for the different currencies at rates of exchange fixed in the protocol (e.g., in calculating the amount of the gold debt the tael is to be taken as representing 3s. 71⁄2d gold dollars, 3.750 fr., 1.407 yen, &c.).\n\nThe gold debt was to bear interest at the rate of 4 per cent., and was to be redeemed in annual instalments spread over thirty-nine years, terminating at the end of 1940. A proportionate amount was to be paid monthly to a commission of bankers representing the interested Powers, and certain revenues were assigned as security.\n\nThe indemnity was made up between the different Powers as follows:--\n\n \n Taels\n Per cent of Total\n \n \n Russia\n 180,371,120\n 29.0\n \n \n Germany\n 90,070,515\n 20.0\n \n \n France..\n 70,878,240\n 15.75\n \n \n Great Britain\n 50,620,545\n 11.23\n \n \n Japan\n 94,793,100\n 7.7 (?)\n \n \n United States\n 32,939,055\n 7.8 (?)\n \n \n Italy\n 26,617,005\n 5.8\n \n \n Belgium..\n 8,484,345\n 1.8\n \n \n Austria..\n 4,008,920\n 0.9\n \n \n Netherlands\n 782,100\n 0.2\n \n \n Spain\n 185,315\n \n \n \n Portugal\n 92,250\n \n \n \n Sweden..\n 62,820\n \n \n \n Other claims\n 149,670\n \n \n \n Total\n 450,000,000\n 100.0\n \n\nIn 1908 the United States Government had the amount of their indemnity claim reviewed by a special claim's court, and according to a statement prepared by Mr. Morse, the author of the standard work, \"The International Relations of the Chinese Empire,\" for the China Association, it was decided to demand from China not the entire cost of the expeditionary force, but a sum to cover the difference between the war cost in the field and the peace cost in garrison. This difference added to the private claims amounted to about 2,800,000l., as compared with the estimate of about 5,000,000l. provisionally made in 1901. The balance of 2,200,000l. was remitted by proportionate deductions from future payments. This was done without any conditions being imposed.\n\nThe United States Minister at Peking, Mr. Rockhill, a persona gratissima with the Chinese Government, induced them to continue voluntarily to issue the American quota of the indemnity without deduction and to pay that portion which was renounced by the United States Government to a Commission of Education for the purpose of sending Chinese students to American Universities. The net result, therefore, was that the Chinese Government devoted the amount by which the original American claim was over-estimated to the education of Chinese students in America.\n\n* For fuller details and for some account of the machinery for the payment of the indemnity instalments, see Appendix I.\n\nTo nearest decimal.\n\n477.6 [6823]\n\nB", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 493945, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "page_number": 336, "title": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "content_text": "331\n\n6\n\n9. Accordingly, under the Rules of Trade signed with the Chinese Government by Lord Elgin and his French and American colleagues in November 1858, similar custom offices were opened at Canton in 1859; Swatow in 1860; Ningpo, Foochow, Chinkiang, Tien-tsin and Kiukiang in 1861; Amoy and Hankow in 1862; Chefoo in 1863; and Newchwang in 1864.\n\n10. Under the Treaties of Peking of 1860 with France and Great Britain, China agreed to pay indemnities to those two countries. These were secured upon the custom receipts. To ensure due payment, Mr. Lay, who had succeeded Mr. Wade as one of the three \"foreign inspectors of customs\" just a year after the institution of the new system, was appointed first Inspector-General of Customs on the 21st January, 1861, but he soon quarrelled with the Chinese Government and was dismissed from Chinese service. His successor as Inspector-General of Customs was Mr. (later Sir Robert) Hart. In 1865 Mr. Hart established his office at Peking, which has since remained the headquarters of the maritime customs service.\n\n11. In 1898 His Majesty's Government received an assurance from China that\n\n\"the Inspector-General of Maritime Customs shall in the future, as in the past, be of British nationality.\n\nBut if at some future time the trade\n\nof some other country should become greater than that of Great Britain, China will then of course not be bound to necessarily employ an Englishman as inspector-general.\"\n\n12. The service, though international as to staff, has always been, and still remains, pre-eminently a British institution. English is the official language, and the administration is moulded on British lines.\n\n13. Sir R. Hart died in 1911, and was succeeded by Sir F. Aglen, the present Inspector-General.\n\nBoxer Indemnity.\n\n14. After the Boxer rising of 1900 the Chinese were called upon to pay a heavy indemnity to the Powers for damage sustained or military expenditure incurred. The claims filed amounted to about 67,500,000l., say 450,000,000 taels; and at that sum the indemnity was eventually fixed by article 6 of the Final Protocol of 1901. Interest was to be at 4 per cent.; amortisation was to begin on the 1st January, 1902, and to end on the 31st December, 1940; annual payments (in gold at a fixed rate of exchange) were to amount to 18,829,500 taels in 1902, 19,899,300 taels from 1911, 23,383,300 taels in 1915, 24,483,800 taels from 1916, and 35,350,152 taels from 1932 until the end, the whole amount for principal and interest being 982,238,150 taels. A proportionate amount was to be paid monthly to a commission of bankers representing the interested Powers, and to secure these payments certain revenues were assigned: (1) the balance of the maritime customs revenues after payment of all prior obligations secured upon them, plus the proceeds of an enhanced customs tariff of an effective 5 per cent.; (2) the native customs at each treaty port to be administered henceforth by the maritime customs; (3) the balance of the salt revenue not already pledged.\n\n15. The total indemnity was made up as follows:-\n\n \n Taels.\n Per Cent.* of Total.\n \n \n Russia\n 130,371,120\n 29.0\n \n \n Germany\n 90,070,515\n 20.0\n \n \n France\n 70,878,240\n 15.75\n \n \n Great Britain\n 50,620,545\n 11.25\n \n \n Japan\n 34,793,100\n 7.7\n \n \n United States\n 32,939,055\n 7.3\n \n \n Italy\n 26,517,005\n 5.9\n \n \n Belgium\n 8,184,345\n 1.9\n \n \n Austria\n 4,008,920\n 0.9\n \n \n Netherlands\n 782,100\n 0.2\n \n \n Spain\n 135,315\n \n \n \n Portugal\n 92,250\n 0.1\n \n \n Sweden\n 62,820\n \n \n \n Other claims\n 149,670\n \n \n \n Total\n 450,000,000\n 100.0\n \n\n*To nearest decimal.\n\nThe Pre-Boxer Loans.\n\n16. Prior to the imposition of the Boxer indemnity, certain earlier foreign obligations had been already secured upon the maritime customs revenue.\n\n \n Date.\n Title, Source, &c.\n Interest.\n Amount.\n Term of Redemption.\n Redeemed.\n \n \n 1894\n Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank. (War Loan)\n 7\n 10,000,000 taels\n 1914\n 1913\n \n \n 1895\n Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank. (War Loan)\n 6\n 3,000,000l.\n 1915\n 1914\n \n \n 1895\n Chartered Bank. (Cassel Loan)\n \n 1,000,000l.\n 1915\n 1915\n \n \n 1895\n Arnhold, Karberg & Co. (Nanking Loan)\n 6\n 1,000,000l.\n 1915\n 1915\n \n \n 1895\n Franco-Russian\n 4\n 400,000,000 fr.\n 1931\n \n \n \n 1896\n Anglo-German\n 5\n 16,000,000l.\n 1932\n \n \n \n 1898\n Anglo-German\n 4½\n 16,000,000l.\n 1948\n \n \n\n17. Of these loans only three are now outstanding, namely, the Franco-Russian Loan of 1895, the Anglo-German Loan of 1896 and the Anglo-German Loan of 1898. These three loans are conveniently referred to as the \"pre-Boxer loans.\"\n\nNo. 439,\n\nLoan Service and Indemnity Payments as affected by the Revolution of 1911.\n\n18. Among the subsidiary questions raised by the revolutionary movement that broke out in China in 1911 was that of the disposal of the customs revenue at the various treaty ports, and of how to maintain it intact for the service of the foreign debt (\"China,\" Part LXIX, No. 23/1911.\n\n19. Under the system till then existing these revenues had been paid into Chinese Government banks and disposed of by the Chinese superintendents of customs at the ports, the Maritime Customs Service having no responsibility beyond that of verifying and filing the bank receipts in proof of the payment of duties, and not handling the actual cash at any stage. But with the advance of the revolution the funds collected at one treaty port after another fell under revolutionary control, and there was a serious risk of their being diverted to military purposes or to other forms of support of the revolutionary movement. The first port at which this question arose was Changsha; later the same problem presented itself at Hankow; and as a temporary measure it was arranged with the revolutionaries that the revenue should be held to the order of the Inspector-General of Customs, on the ground that it was really the property of the foreign bondholders and that complications with foreign Powers might well arise if it were seized.\n\n20. At Shanghai this raised a fresh issue. The Commissioner of Customs proposed that the revenue should be lodged with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank to the credit of the Inspector-General. This at once brought various of the foreign representatives at Peking into the field with the suggestion that the already existing machinery of the Indemnity Commission of Bankers (see paragraph 14) should be utilised. But this again was open to certain objections. The customs revenues being firstly pledged in the first place for the service of the pre-Boxer loans in regular order of priority, Mr. (now Sir Francis) Aglen, the Inspector-General of Customs, suggested that a special commission of the bankers interested in these pre-Boxer loans should be formed to deal with these funds. The merit of this proposal lay in that the customs revenues would thus be entrusted to those banks actually responsible to the bondholders for the due service of the loans secured by a first charge upon them. These loans amounted to a nominal capital of 54,455,000l.; and whilst almost all the Powers had become creditors of China since 1900, only Great Britain, Germany, Russia and to a small extent France, were interested in the loans prior to that date. The Boxer indemnity was only a second charge on the customs revenue (see paragraph 14).\n\n21. The foreign representatives at Peking had difficulty in coming to any agreement as to the arrangements to be made, the United States, Japanese and Belgian Ministers in particular (although none of them had any interest in the pre-Boxer loans) being insistent upon a revival of the powers of the Indemnity Commission of Bankers.\n\nNo. 400.)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 493946, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "page_number": 337, "title": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "content_text": "Peking, No. 494, Dec. 5, 1911. (\"China,\" Part LXIX. No. 601.)\n\nPeking, No. 55, (\"China,\" Part LXX. No. 216.)\n\nPeking, No. 196, Apr. 20, 1912, (China Part LXX, No. 581.)\n\n8\n\nFinally, it was decided to refer the matter to all the banks at Shanghai connected with any of the obligations secured on the customs for their views.\n\n22. Meantime the Chinese Government had defaulted upon the monthly payment of interest on the Anglo-German Loan of 1896, and Sir J. Jordan without more ado insisted that they should take immediate steps to place the whole revenue receipts of the Maritime Customs both at those treaty ports still in their possession and at those in revolutionary hands under the direct control of the Inspector-General of Customs. The Chinese Government officially assured Sir John that they had already decided upon this course, and that the customs revenue receipts at all ports throughout the country were henceforth entirely under the control of Mr. Aglen for the purpose of meeting China's foreign loans and indemnity obligations.\n\nInstitution of Control of Maritime Customs by the Diplomatic Body at Peking.\n\n23. After consulting the managers of the banks at Shanghai a formal arrangement was eventually agreed upon between the Chinese Government and the Diplomatic Body. Under this arrangement the Diplomatic Body were practically appointed by China as trustees to see that all the obligations secured upon the customs revenue were duly met. This arrangement, though modified subsequently in one or two matters of detail which will be explained later, is still in force, and constitutes the authority under which the Diplomatic Body to-day exercise their control over the Chinese customs revenue.\n\n24. The text of the agreement between the Diplomatic Body and the Chinese Government of the 30th January, 1912, runs as follows:--\n\n\"1. The International Commission of Bankers shall consist of the managers of the banks interested in the service of all outstanding loans secured by the customs revenue contracted previous to 1900 and/or the indemnity payments. The said commission shall decide all questions of priority of claim between foreign loan payments, and shall draw up a schedule of the various payments to be made in this connection for the guidance of the commissioner of customs at Shanghai.\n\n\"2. The banks chiefly interested, viz., the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank and the Russo-Asiatic Bank, shall be custodians of the customs funds at Shanghai. [Since amended, see paragraphs 32, 34 and 40.]\n\n\"3. The inspector-general of customs shall account to the commission appointed for the net customs revenue until such time as the Chinese Government are in a position to resume payments of loans and indemnity.\n\n\"4. The inspector-general of customs shall arrange for weekly remittance of net revenue from all collecting points to Shanghai.\n\n\"5. The inspector-general of customs shall arrange that the net revenue accumulated at Shanghai shall be divided weekly in as nearly as possible equal amounts between the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank and the Russo-Asiatic Bank for account of the loans concerned and indemnity payments, and the commissioner of customs shall be authorised to draw upon these accounts for loan payments as they fall due, according to the priority of such loans as determined by the commission of bankers in terms of clause No. 1,\n\n\"6. If normal conditions are not restored by the end of 1912, then at that time an account shall be taken of the surplus available for the indemnity, and such account shall be sent to the Diplomatic Body for their decision as to its disposal. [Since cancelled, see paragraph 32.]\n\n\"7. The commission shall furnish to the Diplomatic Body at Peking, through the consuls at Shanghai, a quarterly report showing the appropriation of the revenue received.\n\n\"8. The above arrangement is subject to future revision should circumstances require it.\"\n\n25. A fresh point arose almost at once. Certain portions of the native customs revenue had been assigned by the Final Protocol of 1901 as security for the indemnity (see paragraph 14). Under the new arrangements these native customs revenues, collected by the Maritime Customs, were to be treated in the same manner as the maritime customs revenue proper and to be divided for custody amongst the three custodian banks (the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank and the Russo-Asiatic Bank, i.e., the three banks principally interested in the pre-Boxer loans (see clause 2 of the Agreement of the 30th January, 1912 - paragraph 24, supra)).\n\nThe Yokohama Specie Bank pointed out that this native customs revenue should properly be divided amongst all the banks interested in the Boxer indemnity, and not merely between the three custodian banks, seeing that this revenue was one of the securities for the indemnity under the Final Protocol of 1901 and was not affected by the pre-Boxer loans. The claim was reasonable, and it was decided that this native Peking customs revenue should be divided amongst all the indemnity banks in proportion to each bank's share in the indemnity. These banks were at that time -\n\n \n Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank.\n \n \n *Deutsch-Asiatische Bank.\n \n \n Russo-Asiatic Bank.\n \n \n Yokohama Specie Bank.\n \n \n Banque de l'Indo-Chine.\n \n \n International Bank.\n \n \n Banque sino-belge.\n \n\nMay 7, 1912.\n\nDefault on Indemnity Payments consequent on Revolution.\n\nPeking, No. 862, Sept. 6, 1912. (\"China,\" Part LXXI, No. 211.)\n\nMay 9, 1912. No. 217. (\"Chius,\" Part LXX, No. 664.)\n\n26. In the meantime, owing to the disturbances in the country, default on indemnity payments by the Chinese Government had occurred as from the 30th September, 1911. Payment was not resumed until October 1912, when the October 1911 instalment was paid.\n\nTo Treasury. H. & S. Bank, Oct. 26, 1912. (\"China,\" Part LXXI, No. 392.)\n\nPeking, No. 853 A.) Dec. 21, 1912. (\"China,\" Part LXXI, No. 853 A.)\n\n27. Later the Chinese Government, acting upon the advice of the Inspector-General of Customs, proposed to devote the whole surplus customs revenue, after meeting all loan service, towards payment of the indemnity arrears due from November 1911 to December 1912 (£3,400,000), before meeting current indemnity payments as they fell due. But eventually this proposal was dropped and the suggestion made that payment of indemnity arrears should be postponed. To this His Majesty's Government were ready to assent.\n\nPeking, No. 265, Tel., Nov. (\"China,\" No. 560)\n\nPeking, Jan 4, 1913. (\"China,\" Part LXXII, Nos. 16 and 18.)\n\nNo. 512, Tel. Part LXXII, No. 38.\n\n28. Both Russia and France, the former of whom was interested as to 29 per cent. and the latter as to 15 per cent. of the whole indemnity, were less complacent. Russia even hinted that she might take active measures to obtain possession of the salt or some other source of revenue in default of the indemnity payments. The Russian Minister notified the Chinese Government that Russia insisted on full payment of the indemnity due, and in view of this attitude Sir J. Jordan proposed to withhold British consent to the proposed postponement if other Powers adopted that attitude. To this His Majesty's Government reluctantly agreed.\n\nPeking, Dec. 28, 1912, (\"China,\" Part LXXII, No. 18, Tel.)\n\nTo Peking, No. 12, Tel., Jan. 16, 1913. (\"China,\" Part LXXII, No. 48.)\n\n29. On the 1st February, 1913, the November 1911 and December 1911 arrears of indemnity were paid; on the 3rd February the January 1912 arrears; on the 4th February the February 1912; and later arrears were all eventually paid up out of the proceeds of the Reorganisation Loan which was signed on the 26th April, 1913.\n\nH. & S. Bank, Feb 1, 1913. (\"China,\" Part LXXII, No. 116.)\n\nH. & S. Bank, Feb. 8, 1913. (\"China,\" Part LXXII, No. 128.)\n\nH. & S. Bank, Feb. 4, 1913. (\"China,\" Part LXXII, No. 134.)\n\nPeking, No. 149, Tel., June 30, 1913. (\"China,\" Part LXXII, No. 627.)\n\nH. & S. Bank, July 22, 1913.\n\n* The Deutsch-Asiatische Bank dropped out in 1917 on the suspension of relations between China and Germany.\n\n[6823]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 493947, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "page_number": 338, "title": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "content_text": "Peking, \n\nNo. 27, Tel., \n\nJan. 2, 1912. (\"China,\" \n\nPart LXXII, No. 124.) \n\nPeking, \n\nNo. 144, \n\nProblems arising out of Control by Diplomatic Body of Customs Revenue.\n\n30. In the arrangement of the 30th January, 1912, article 6 (see paragraph 2) runs as follows:— \n\nIf normal conditions are not restored by the end of 1912, then at that time an account shall be taken of the surplus available for the indemnity, and such account shall be sent to the Diplomatic Body for their decision as to its disposal.\"\n\n31. At the end of 1912 this surplus stood at over 10,250,000 taels, and its disposal gave rise to some commotion amongst the Diplomatic Body. The French Minister, M. Conty, complained that it should have been distributed on the 31st December amongst the seven indemnity banks. Sir John Jordan contended that under article 8 of the 1912 arrangement it was not the credit balance that was to be accounted for, but the surplus available for the indemnity at the end of the year 1912. The service of the 1898 Anglo-German loan falling due on the 4th January, 1913, it was absurd to maintain that the total customs balance on the 31st December should be handed over for indemnity service four days before the 1898 loan service fell due, thus leaving no funds for that service available four days later. The French Minister, however, backed up by his Russian colleague, maintained that the 1913 loan service must come out of 1913 revenue. Sir John, knowing that the loan service was in fact provided for from other sources (li-kin), eventually gave way, but made it clear he in no way admitted the justice of M. Conty's contention. Some of the foreign representatives took the opportunity for the first time to challenge the position of the three custodian banks, which they naturally regarded with some envy. Sir J. Jordan, recognising that the grievance of the smaller banks was to some extent justified, was prepared to agree that the custodian banks, instead of being the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, Deutsch-Asiatische Bank and Russo-Asiatic Bank, should be extended to include all the banks interested in the customs loans and the indemnity, and that the revenue should be distributed in such proportions as the banks might themselves decide on the basis of their respective interests, subject to the proviso that the priority of those interests should be determined according to the loan agreements and the protocol of 1901. The Russian Minister unconditionally refused to agree.\n\n32. Eventually the French Minister notified the Diplomatic Body that, unless his point of view was admitted, his instructions were to refuse to renew the arrangement of the 30th January, 1912 (see paragraph 24). As neither the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank nor the Bankers' Commission were prepared to dispute the point, it was decided:— \n\n(1.) To cancel article 6 of the agreement of the 30th January, 1912.\n\n(2.) To amend article 2 of that agreement to run as follows:- \n\nPeking, \n\nNo. 447.) \n\nFeking, \n\nNo. 416, \n\nNov. 30, 1913, \n\n(\"China,\" \n\nPart LXXIII, \n\nNo. 307.) \n\nPeking, \n\nNo. 472, Dec. 24, 1913, \n\n\"The banks chiefly interested, viz., the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank and the Russo-Asiatic Bank shall be custodians of the customs funds at Shanghai, but as soon as the service for the current year of all loans contracted before 1900 is provided for by funds in these banks, then the surplus shall be divided pro ratâ till the end of 1913 amongst the banks having charge of the indemnity service.\"\n\n33. In November 1913, the Inspector-General of Customs made a fresh proposal, which led to a suggestion that the existing procedure should be modified and a new plan adopted, under which loan and indemnity payments would, as far as possible, be concurrently month by month out of customs revenue, any necessary balance being provided out of salt funds.\n\n34. This proposal was later (December 1913) officially made by the Chinese Government and accepted by the Diplomatic Body. It necessitated yet a further revision of article 2 of the agreement of the 30th January, 1912, which was now made to run as follows: \n\n(\"Loans and \n\nConcessions,\" \n\nPart I, \n\nNo. 10.) \n\nPeking, \n\nNo. 30, Jan. 20, 1914. (\"Loans and \n\nConcessions,\" Part I, \n\nNo. 70.) \n\n2. The banks chiefly interested, viz., the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank and the Russo-Asiatic Bank shall be custodians of the customs funds at Shanghai; at the end of each month, beginning with January 1914, the surplus, after all payments due each month on account of loans secured by the customs revenue and contracted previous to 1900 have been fully met, shall be divided pro ratâ amongst the banks having charge of the indemnity service up to the amount of the instalments respectively due to them each month.\n\n35. The Inspector-General of Customs was at this time most anxious that the control of the customs revenue by the Diplomatic Body should be maintained, and he expressed the opinion that it was essential in the interests of the bondholders that the Chinese Government should not be allowed to resume that control. The Belgian Minister alone opposed this view, holding that the Diplomatic Body had no longer any legal right to impose conditions upon China now that the Government of the Republic had been recognised and had reached a solvent condition; in this attitude, he was no doubt to some extent supported by the wording of article 3 of the agreement of the 30th January, 1912, which implied that foreign control was to cease when the Chinese Government were in a position to resume loan and indemnity payments. But good sense was in favour of the continuance of the control, and eventually prevailed. In reporting upon this, Sir J. Jordan added the comment:— \n\n\"...but The question, it is to be hoped, is therefore settled for another year, that an attempt will sooner or later be made to regain control of the customs revenue is morally certain. It is absolutely necessary, in my opinion, that the present system of control, which works with perfect smoothness and affords the only adequate security for the vast interests at stake, should be continued intact.\"\n\n(\"Loans and \n\nConcessions,\" \n\nNo. 83, \n\nPeking. \n\nFeb. 21, 1914. \n\nNo. 14.) \n\n36. One small matter of technical detail came up for adjustment at this stage. As the 1895 Franco-Russian loan service was only provided for half-yearly and not monthly, as in the case of the Anglo-German 1896 and 1898 loans over which it had priority, it was necessary to authorise the Bankers' Commission to set aside monthly from the customs revenue a sum sufficient to provide for the service of this loan, as well as for that of the other two, so that they should all be placed on a level of equality.\n\nRenewed Danger of Suspension of Indemnity (see paragraph 26).\n\nJan. 18, 1912. \n\nNo. 29.) \n\n37. By the 6th January, 1914, all the 1913 indemnity payments due to Great Britain had been duly paid. But in August 1914, there was again a danger that China might default. The estimates of the Inspector-General of Customs upon which the \"concurrent\" service of loan and indemnity payments (see paragraphs 33 and 34) had been based in December 1913 were completely upset by the decrease in customs revenue and heavy fall in exchange caused by the European war. In consequence, the Inspector-General of Customs was forced to stop all indemnity payments as from September 1, 1914, and to revert to the original 1912 arrangement (see paragraph 23) under which customs revenue was allowed to accumulate with the custodian banks till the end of each year in order to ensure the service of the pre-Boxer loans for that year. This, though contrary to the \"concurrent procedure\" decided upon in December 1913 (see paragraph 34), was certainly justified by the circumstance.\n\n(\"China,\" \n\nPart LXXIV, \n\nNo. 319, \n\nPeking \n\nNo. 56.) \n\n38. It will be remembered that one of the securities of the Boxer indemnity is the salt revenue (see paragraph 14). The Chinese Government were at this time in dire straits, and they urged that they were dependent upon the periodical releases of salt revenue to continue the government of the country, and that they should be absolved from devoting these, their only, funds to indemnity payments. But as they proposed to continue from salt funds the service of two loans (the Crisp Loan and the Reorganisation Loan) which were a later charge upon salt revenue than was the indemnity, it was unlikely that those foreign Governments not interested in either the Crisp or the Reorganisation Loan would agree to the suspension of their indemnity payments so long as the two loans in question continued to be served from that source. Fortunately, with the aid of reserve salt revenue and with the assistance of the banks, the difficulty was ultimately tided over by a scheme devised by Mr. Hillier, of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, and the request for the suspension of indemnity payments was not pressed.\n\n(\"China,\" \n\nPart LXXV, \n\nNo. 348, \n\nPeking \n\nSept. 29, 1914. \n\nNo. 62.) \n\nSubsequent Developments regarding Control of Customs Revenue.\n\n39. In December 1914, the French Government endeavoured to reopen the whole question in London, including the vexed question of the custody of the customs funds. But we were able to show that, in spite of the falling off of customs revenue, the arrangements for loan and indemnity service were working smoothly and that it was inadvisable to disturb them.\n\nTo \n\nM. Cambon, \n\nDec. 30, 1914. \n\n(\"Loans and \n\nConcessions \n\nPart II, \n\nNo. 75.) \n\n[6823]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 493948, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "page_number": 339, "title": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "content_text": "Peking, No. 32, Feb. 1, 1918. (\"Loans and Concessions.\" Part III, No. 10.)\n\nPeking No. 177, July 22, 1915. (\"Loans and Concessions, Part III, No. 43.)\n\nPeking, No. 25, Jan. 24, 1916. (\"Loans and Concessions,\" Part IV, No. 5.)\n\nPeking, No. 41, Jan 27, 1917. (\"Loans and Concessions,\" Part V, No. 38)\n\n12\n\n13\n\n40. Owing to the breakdown which had occurred in the \"concurrent loan and indemnity service (see paragraph 37), the Diplomatic Body proposed to the Chinese Government, early in 1915, a further revision of article 2 of the original agreement (see paragraph 24). This would have practically amounted to a reversion to its original form under which the balance of customs revenue was to be retained by the custodian banks until all the pre-Boxer loan service for the year was provided for. But the Inspector-General of Customs now assured the Diplomatic Body that such revision was no longer necessary, and the Diplomatic Body, in view of his assurances, agreed to drop the proposal. In short, the Diplomatic Body agreed to the continuance of the \"concurrent\" system of loan and indemnity payments from customs revenue assisted from salt funds which had been arranged at the end of 1913 (see paragraph 34). Their consent was, however, subject to the right of any interested Power to insist that, in the event of doubt arising as to the sufficiency of the maritime customs revenue and salt revenue to defray all charges secured thereon in respect of the loan and indemnity services, payments of customs revenue to the indemnity banks should be deferred until full provision had been made for meeting the services of the pre-Boxer loans.\n\n41. From 1915 onwards this \"concurrent\" service has worked well and smoothly. With the rise in exchange, the salt revenues were called upon to contribute less and less, until at one moment the customs revenue unaided was sufficient to meet both services. This is no longer the case, but the position is still satisfactory.\n\n Cancellation of German and Austrian Indemnities and Suspension of German Loan Service.\n\n42. On the 12th August, 1917, China declared war upon Germany. It is unnecessary to go into the negotiations that preceded that event, but one of the considerations that led her to take the step was the consent of the Allied Powers to the suspension of the indemnity without interest for a period of five years from the 1st December, 1917.\n\n43. The terms for repayment of the suspended portions since agreed upon by the Allied Powers are as follows:-\n\nTo Great Britain\n\nTo Japan\n\nTo France\n\n1940-45 1923-40\n\n1922-27\n\n13\n\n46. The incident arose as follows: After all calls upon the customs revenues had been met, there was still an estimated surplus for the year 1917 of at least 4,000,000 taels. The Chinese Government accordingly applied for a release to them of 2,000,000 taels. The Diplomatic Body were disposed to agree, as was clearly only right, but the Italian Minister (Baron Aliotti) made difficulties and refused his sanction to the release unless the Chinese Government, on their part, agreed first to repay certain debts due to Italian nationals. Baron Aliotti was pressed to modify his attitude, but refused to do so. He explained that not only did he wish to show the Chinese Government that the Italian Minister was in a position to make good his threats, but that he intended to obtain a \"rectification\" of the Italian concession at Tien-tsin. He subsequently withdrew his opposition, but the incident had irritated the Chinese Government and made them critical of a system which placed it in the power of an individual Minister to block perfectly legitimate releases of Chinese Government money in order to gain his own ends.\n\n334\n\n47. Profiting by this incident, the French and Japanese Ministers again sought to reopen the question of the position of the custodian banks and the custody of the customs funds. The Deutsch-Asiatische Bank having dropped out on the outbreak of war, they represented that, as the service of the German portion of the loans of 1896 and 1898 had now ceased, the whole distribution of the customs revenue should be reconsidered. They failed to carry their point, and the matter dropped for the time being. But in December 1917, in company with the Belgian Minister, they again broached the subject. Dec. 29, 1917.\n\nNo. 453,\n\n17\n\nChina,\" Part LXIII, No. 48.)\n\n48. It will be remembered that, under the existing procedure, any surplus of customs revenue, after all prior claims have been met, is divided up in proportion amongst the various banks charged with the indemnity service, but only up to the amount of the indemnity instalments due to those banks each month. The residue, if any, remained with the two custodian banks (the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank and the Russo-Asiatic Bank) as to two-thirds with the British, and one-third with the Russian Bank. The French, Japanese, and Belgian Ministers, seizing the opportunity afforded by the necessity of making definite arrangements with the Chinese Government for the refund to China of the suspended indemnity to which the Powers had all agreed for the term of five years, now proposed that the whole customs surplus, after all other obligations had been met, should be divided up in proportion between all the indemnity banks, thus depriving the custodian banks of their right to handle the residue after the monthly indemnity instalments had been provided for.\n\n49. At that time, owing to high exchange and other causes, the customs revenues had risen considerably, and the point was one of great importance to the two custodian banks. The British and Russian Ministers argued the question out with their colleagues and succeeded in maintaining the existing procedure.\n\nNo. 432,\n\n{\"Loans and Concessions,\" Part VI, No. 48.)\n\n30. The arrangement reached was formally recorded in two memoranda signed by all the Allied representatives except the Italian Minister, but as no Italian bank was concerned, his abstention was of no importance. The first of these was drawn up for purposes of record and not for communication to the Chinese Government. It ran as follows:-\n\nPeking, No. 356,\n\nwhile Italy holds out for repayment in full after five years, i.e., in 1922.\n\nThe total amount of indemnity due to Great Britain before the end of 1945 - the date of final payment is 11,186,547l. This, of course, includes interest as provided under the 1901 protocol.\n\n44. As regards the German and Austrian loan and indemnity payments, the following arrangements have been adopted: On the rupture of diplomatic relations with Germany on the 14th March, 1917, China's indemnity payments to her (about 732,810l. a year) ceased, but the service of the loans of 1896 and 1898 continued. The latter payments were met until the 12th August, the date of the declaration of war. The German and Austrian indemnity payments were thenceforth placed at the disposal of Sir F. Aglen to meet the services of the two domestic Chinese Government loans, with which he is associated. The service due to Germany on the 1896 and 1898 loans were lodged with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank in London and used for purchasing Chinese securities on behalf of the Chinese Government to the amount of about 50,000l. a month.\n\nPeking, No. 276,\n\nAbuse of Control vested in Diplomatic Body. Position of Custodian Banks.\n\n45. It was almost on top of the declaration of war by China that there occurred the first abuse of the control over customs revenues vested in the Diplomatic Body. Jan. 27, 1917.\n\n{\"Loans and Concessions,\" Part 7, No. 109.)\n\n1. The procedure laid down by the Diplomatic Body in December 1913 states as follows:-\n\n\"The banks chiefly interested, viz., the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank, and the Russo-Asiatic Bank shall be custodians of the customs funds at Shanghai; at the end of each month, beginning with January 1914, the surplus, after all payments due each month on account of loans secured by the customs revenue and contracted previous to 1900 have been fully met, shall be divided pro rata amongst the banks having charge of the indemnity service up to the amount of the instalments respectively due to them each month.\"\n\n2. In a letter dated the 10th January, 1914, the International Bankers' Commission pointed out to the doyen that as the service of the Russian 4 per Cent. Gold Loan of 1895 was by the terms of the Loan Agreement payable in half-yearly and not in monthly instalments, it would be excluded under the above arrangement from participation in the monthly provision for loans secured.\n\n* The third custodian bank - the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank - had dropped out on China's declaration of war.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 493959, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "page_number": 350, "title": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "content_text": "34\n\nBy a protocol signed at Peking on the 14th June, 1902, the Boxer indemnity was fixed at 450,000,000 taels (tael-3s.), to be paid off by 1940, and to be divided as follows among the different Powers:-\n\n \n \n Per cent.\n Taels.\n \n \n Germany.\n 20.01567\n 90,070,515\n \n \n Austria-Hungary\n *0.88976\n 4,008,920\n \n \n Belgium\n 1.88541\n 8,484,345\n \n \n Spain\n ·03007\n 135,315\n \n \n United States of America\n 7.81979\n 35,189,055\n \n \n France\n 15.75072\n 70,878,240\n \n \n Great Britain\n 11.24901\n 50,620,545\n \n \n Italy\n 11.26951\n 50,712,795\n \n \n Japan\n 7.78180\n 35,017,100\n \n \n Netherlands\n -0.17580\n 782,100\n \n \n Russia\n 28.97136\n 130,371,120\n \n \n International claims\n 0.08326\n 212,490\n \n \n Portugal..\n *0.01396\n 62,820\n \n \n Sweden and Norway\n 0.04722\n 149,670\n \n \n Grand total\n 100.00000\n 450,000,000\n \n\nIn 1908 the United States Government, who, in contradistinction to His Majesty's Government, had very largely over-estimated their losses during the Boxer rising, voluntarily reduced the sum allotted to them (24,440,778 dollars) to 11,655,492 dollars, in return for a guarantee that a certain number of Chinese students should be sent to the United States for their education.\n\nFour years later, in 1912, a proposal was put forward by Sir Evan Spicer, and supported by His Majesty's Minister in Peking and by the Foreign Office, to employ £400,000 out of the British share of the indemnity in order to found and maintain a Chinese university in Central China. The Treasury, however, did not agree, and the following passages taken from the Treasury reply of the 10th January, 1913, explain the Treasury point of view :-\n\nThe method in which the Boxer indemnity receipts should be used was considered in 1905 and 1906, and Parliament decided and enacted in paragraph 7 (2) of the Finance Act, 1906, that they should be applied in reduction of debt, this use being supported by the fact that the money represents repayment of expenditure originally met from the proceeds of debt created for the purpose. It does not appear to their Lordships that there is any sufficient reason for reopening the question thus decided. Should it be thought desirable that a sum of £400,000 should now be spent from public funds on the establishment and endowment of a university in China as suggested, the most convenient and proper method of finding the money would, in their Lordship's opinion, be to invite Parliament to provide that sum by means of a Special Vote in Supply as a grant in aid of the university. The interception of indemnity moneys earmarked to the extinction of debt would be contrary to all the established principles of national finance, and it would involve special legislation of a controversial character which their Lordships could not undertake to propose.\n\nIt appears, therefore, to their Lordships that the proposal for a university in China under British auspices must be separated entirely from all connection with the Boxer indemnity, and that only when thus separated can it be properly discussed on its merits. The proposal can then be shortly stated in the form of the question: Is it desirable that the British taxpayer should be asked to provide a sum of £400,000 towards the establishment and endowment of a university in the centre of China?\n\n\"In view of the many demands upon the available resources of the Exchequer at the present time, of the increasing requirements of education in this country, and of the many other services upon which a sum of £400,000, if made available, could be usefully spent, my Lords are inclined to think that the question thus stated must be answered at once in the negative.**\n\nPage 35\n\nThe matter did not, however, drop here, and in the early part of 1914 practically all the Chambers of Commerce in the United Kingdom had been worked up to memorialise the Treasury and the Foreign Office on the subject. After consultation with the Foreign Office, the Treasury addressed on the 23rd July, 1914, the following letter to the Manchester and other Chambers of Commerce :—\n\nThe Chancellor of the Exchequer has had before him the memorial of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce asking for a grant from Imperial sources in aid of the proposed university in Central China. In reply, I am desired by him to say that the Government had occasion last year very carefully to consider the question of giving financial assistance to this project, and that, although the proposal to establish a British university in China, and by this means to promote British influence and interests in that country, is one which commands their sympathy, they were unable, after a careful review of all the circumstances, to see their way to accede to the request.\n\nMr. Lloyd George notes that no effort appears to have been made on the part of the promoters of the scheme to find by private effort any part of the sum required. If, however, it could be shown that a substantial proportion of this sum can be found from other than Imperial sources, he would be prepared to bring the matter again to the notice of His Majesty's Government.\"\n\nOn the outbreak of the war in 1914 the whole question was necessarily shelved, but in the spring of 1917 it was proposed, as an inducement to China to enter the war on the side of the Allies, that the indemnity payments should be postponed or even remitted altogether. In fact, the Treasury, in a letter of the 12th April, 1917, stated that:-\n\n**In all the circumstances of the case, if it should prove that an offer to remit the balance of the indemnity is necessary to secure the political and diplomatic objects which His Majesty's Government have in view, and if the other Allied Powers concur and are willing to take a similar course, my Lords will not raise objections.\"\n\nSubsequently, in February 1918, after considerable discussion among the Allied Powers, it was agreed to suspend payment of the indemnity for five years, i.e., from 1917 to 1922, the terms for repayment of the suspended portions being as follows :-\n\n \n \n \n \n \n To Great Britain\n 1940-45\n \n \n France\n 1923-40\n \n \n Japan\n 1922-27\n \n \n Belgium\n \n \n \n while Italy holds out for repayment in full after five years, i.e., in 1922.\n \n \n \n The total amount of the indemnity to be paid to us before the end of 1945 is £11,188,547.\n \n \n\nBut\n\nFrom the foregoing it will be seen that the Foreign Office have in the past not been unsympathetic to the idea of utilising a part of the indemnity for educational purposes in China, and that the Treasury, on certain conditions, were prepared just before the war to modify their original attitude or at least to reconsider it. The official view of the Boxer indemnity must not be forgotten, namely, that the receipt of the indemnity due to this country represents the repayment of expenditure originally met from the proceeds of debt created for the purpose.\n\nThe present would, therefore, perhaps hardly appear to be a very opportune moment for raising the matter again with the Treasury, were it not that the two following considerations seem to render some action on our part necessary:-\n\n1. An important despatch from Sir John Jordan (which, owing to more immediate demands, has only just been received from the printers) is now available, enclosing a memorandum on the question of education in China, with constructive suggestions as to the best means of spreading British influence in this sphere. A copy of this report is attached.\n\nBriefly the proposals are-\n\n(a.) To strengthen financially certain British institutions already in existence in China.\n\n(b) To give financial assistance to Hong Kong University, and to establish a school at Canton in close connection with the university.\n\n(c.) To give financial assistance to Chinese technical institutions already in existence, and to the technical department of Peking University.\n\n345", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 495852, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-481 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [8-12]", "page_number": 518, "title": "CO129-481 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [8-12]", "content_text": "80% \n\nof \n\n.2961,20 duocat d#RI \n\n. vgc Copy. \n\n510 \n\nEnclosure No. 6. \n\nTELEGRAM \n\nFrom \n\nH. B. M. Minister, Peking. \n\nTo \n\nH. B. M. Consul-General, Canton. \n\nDate \n\n11th December, 1923. \n\n... \n\nFollowing sent at the request of Acting Doyen; - \n\n\"Corps Diplomatique agreed this morning on following text of a letter from Acting Doyen to you as Senior Consul copy to follow by post\". \n\n\"Sir, \n\nWith reference to your letters dated September 7 and October 24 last on the subject of the claim put forward by the Government of Dr. Sun Yat-sen in Canton to a share in the Customs surplus after foreign obligations charged on Customs revenues are paid I have the honour to inform you that this question was duly considered by the Corps Diplomatique. The conclusion arrived at which I am desired to request you to bring to the notice of Canton Authorities concerned was to the effect that granting or refusal of such a claim does not lie within province of Corps Diplomatique. \n\nThe Signatory Powers of the final Protocol of September 7, 1901 derive from that Protocol the right to ensure priority of payment of interest and amortisation of certain foreign loans secured on Customs revenues previous to 1901 and of payment of interests amortisation of indemnity mentioned in Article 6 thereof but no treaty right has been conferred upon them to decide for what purpose the Chinese Government shall use funds which at end of each year shall remain at disposal of that Government after service of said loans and indemnity shall have been entirely provided for. \n\nMoreover by agreement between Diplomatic Body and Chinese Government of January 30, 1912, the former were practically appointed trustees of Maritime Customs' revenues...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-481 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [8-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 500990, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-490 - Public Offices - 1925", "page_number": 17, "title": "CO129-490 - Public Offices - 1925", "content_text": "#1 Example 10% bra suanto of last mi javirta e'gnad rosta vitrodu\n\n#Jembut MEN OFTNINGSBY TLON S\n\n24 00 BatiJOT BACK,Tedsevol áƒTA NO\n\nBatutim, mCTI AZIJOS od srinah Bid yatsunięZO BILIK\n\nTegninulzed odd ca add tost end of galwo\n\n.00\n\nId AT2W Metasiz od boxiter bad grado TadmoosÜ Iuf ald bna gost zot bisit qasio a galvani nudi add to meltilidimsoq #zon #rest „gatxet at sbasiri A telatnik «K«E ban,etvos Stom gulmoned mold and la\n\nX\n\nDoong of assalbast at uqtda Alor of m kin du count of \"loodylioX\" berebzo I „aoqu TOAT\n\n--\n\nod reditnoel dià sốt no \"evolgzoï\" beństaquab hata tu fali waoletim a na tos of bna,xed svallar kominkow Liv kongnok of babasco1qnedd, \"dodę LIOH”\n\nsi talones: tot beitas I\n\n. LE\n\neft to syrado al \"med zoⱭ\" edt 10 motikmuä alatq40 bne \"eisline, udt d#Iw devol edð ni aztałts to Joubace\n\n1. Aganda 35 DATE WORDT I Jatuālo mẰẾ zaban \"svoIgxet\"\n\noj bebɛnD01q \"sæki==}\" naɗw zoɗmestű ¡#ki ort Ittan Istoitto degawdexe I,tangaudƐ de Juliɗë\n\nsid at Juseerq saw odw notyoldas\" Iszimba ¿tkw m[Lao\n\nto gi kaut rongo edt bad ône,\"пozƒX\",¿...U_qldogs,IN COOKILNÚ VA? at Jasalmong miqi sg listrik prAN ZAŻŻEOM dalw outgn-I sat no saoiJibnog sad Desksomit I .brow\n\nDad I monW\n\n•\n\n.TİK.60 30lviet ede biroda infgus2 Ja se jsem of badna\n\n.35\n\nbna znizes veeetod zožicolnamoo exiw Anal Bi\n\nquilla 10 do. I bus noideat tedni ot oldall wuz nisjaett 13.5% ads 13kw dogaj 2\\u mon:iðsað betuWVANĘ KLOTATOɖo - CG 0946! 36 ? #nba I P\n\nOF SEITOTIC synerf gathammaro roolito mali en: Totajnik\n\nsend ratings to keep the Peking Legation W/T Station continually manned. This offer was accepted and \"Durban\" was ordered to send the necessary ratings, Since then satisfactory W/T communication has been established by Peking with the \"Foxglove\" and I am now endeavouring to obtain direct W/T signalling between the Legation, Peking and H.M.Ships at Weihaiwei.\n\n13. In Peking, the Protocol Powers have recognised Tuan Chi Jui and the provisional government provided they agree to recognise China's Loans and Treaties with Foreign Powers. Sun Yat Sen has now arrived in Tientsin and it is reported that Chi Hsieh Yuan of Nanking has fled to Shanghai. There are rumours that Feng Yu Hsiang's resignation is definite and he will shortly leave for abroad. Should this be true, it is possible that matters in the North will be simplified.\n\n14. In Szechuan, trouble appears to be brewing; Yang Sen, who conquered this province on behalf of Wu Pol Fu in 1923, is gradually losing his hold, and his generals are acquiring spheres of interests in the province. Moreover Hsiung Ki Wo, whom Yang Sen defeated, is reported to be active and desirous of revenge. Any trouble in Szechuan might affect British trade interests on the Upper Yangtze.\n\n16. The situation in Canton area has been peaceful during the last month. Sun Yat Sen in the gunboat \"Wing Fung\" arrived in Hongkong on the 16th November on his way North to join the Conference in Tientsin to which place he proceeded via Shanghai and Japan, where he delivered speeches on the subject of Asia for the Asiatics.\n\nPiracy...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-490 - Public Offices - 1925.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 501842, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-491 - Public Offices - 1925", "page_number": 88, "title": "CO129-491 - Public Offices - 1925", "content_text": "52\n\nto discard completely these means of raising revenue, excepting the import and export duties, inland tax, and excise as hereinafter provided for, and to abolish completely and permanently throughout the provinces and special territories of the Chinese Republic all li-kin and other transit dues, native customs duties, production taxes, weighing taxes, slaughter taxes, consumption taxes, destination taxes, octroi taxes, boat and cart and motor-car and transport, animal and conveyance taxes (excepting existing tonnage and port dues), bridge and road tolls, shop and business taxes, monopoly fees, licence fees, examination fees, protection and escort fees, school, temple, guild, and chamber of commerce taxes, and all public utility contributions levied on goods, and all other forms of internal taxation on goods and trade whatsoever; and the Chinese Government guarantees that, excepting the import and export duties, inland tax and excise above referred to, no other taxes or dues or fees of any kind shall in future be levied directly or indirectly on native or foreign goods or raw material, whether in Chinese or foreign hands, nor on their importation, exportation, purchase, transportation, sale or consumption, nor on their means of manufacture or conveyance, nor on the shops or businesses dealing therein; and it is understood that the Chinese Government will refund the amount of any taxation levied in violation of the provisions of this paragraph to the firms or individuals who may have paid such irregular taxation. The abolition of internal taxation as above provided for shall be carried completely into effect before the enforcement of the increased import and export duties and excise and inland tax hereinafter provided for.\n\n(Note. Municipal rates and taxes and licences and possibly an income tax should perhaps be excluded from the above under proper safeguards.)\n\nThe Governments of the other contracting Powers in return agree that China shall be free to fix her own customs tariff rates on the lines and within the limits hereinafter laid down; and they consent to the imposition of an inland tax on all goods imported into China by their nationals, the proceeds of which shall accrue to the provinces for local expenditure of a constructive nature in compensation for the loss of local revenue resulting from the abolition of internal taxation. They further agree to consider the concession of full tariff autonomy in ten years from the date of the carrying into effect of the present supplementary article if, in the opinion of a two-thirds majority of the Governments of the contracting Powers, the provisions of the present treaty and supplementary article, including the complete abolition of internal taxation, have been satisfactorily carried into effect.\n\nThe increased import and export duties and excise and inland tax provided for in the present supplementary article shall come into force within one year from the date of the signature of the protocol carrying the present supplementary article into effect on a date to be determined by the Chinese Government; but at least three months' notice of such enforcement shall be given to the Governments of the other contracting Powers.\n\nThe Chinese Government will recast the export tariff on a graduated scale not exceeding 10 per cent, ad valorem.\n\nThe Chinese Government will recast the import tariff on a graduated scale not exceeding 10 per cent. ad valorem in the case of ordinary articles, 25 per cent. ad valorem in the case of articles of luxury as detailed in the schedule attached to article 2, and 40 per cent. ad valorem in the case of wines, beer, porter, spirits, tobacco products and narcotics.\n\nAn inland tax at a uniform rate of 5 per cent. ad valorem will be levied by the Maritime Customs Administration on all imported goods simultaneously with the import duty, and by the Excise Administration on all local manufactures simultaneously with the excise duty; excepting only wines, beer, porter, spirits, tobacco products, and narcotics, whether imported or locally produced, on which the inland tax shall continue to be levied by the Wine and Tobacco Administration as provided for and at the rate laid down in article 1.\n\nThe proceeds of the import and export duties shall constitute the customs revenues, which shall be dealt with as provided for in article 3.\n\nThe revenues from the inland tax levied on foreign imports by the Maritime Customs Administration will be lodged, less expenses of collection, in the Shanghai Office of the Bank of China, where they shall lie in a special account at the disposal of the head of the Revenue Council and the Inspector-General of Customs, who, acting on behalf of the Central Government, will distribute the proceeds pro ratâ according to the localities in which the foreign imports are consumed amongst the provinces for local expenditure of a productive nature in compensation for loss\n\n53\n\nIn the event of any further taxation being levied, directly or indirectly, on such foreign imports, or on their transportation, sale or consumption, the amount of such taxation will be refunded, on presentation of taxation receipts or other satisfactory proof of payment, by the Maritime Customs Administration out of and up to the amount held by the said Administration on account of inland tax for the province in which such taxation is levied, and the total amount of such irregular taxation shall be deducted from the amount due on account of inland tax to the province in question. In the event of the amount of such taxation exceeding the amount due to the province concerned, reimbursement will be made by the provincial authorities, or, if the said authorities fail to do so, by the Central Government, out of other funds.\n\n(Note.-The above is a repetition of the paragraph in article 1 regarding the disposal of the transit pass dues, which are replaced by the inland tax.) The revenues from the inland tax levied on local manufactures by the Excise Administration will be similarly dealt with mutatis mutandis and distributed by the Chinese and foreign chiefs of the Excise Administration pro ratâ amongst the provinces in the same way.\n\nThe revenues from the inland tax levied on locally manufactured wine and tobacco products by the Wine and Tobacco Administration will continue to be dealt with as provided for in article 1.\n\nThe revenues from the factory excise and from the excise on wine and tobacco products, and those from the stamp taxes and salt duties, will continue to be dealt with as provided for in article 6.\n\n(Final Note. The Washington China Customs Tariff Treaty was signed by China and the United States, Belgium, the British Empire, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and Portugal. The other \"Old Treaty Powers\" are Brazil, Denmark, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The \"New Treaty Powers,\" namely, who cannot claim tariff privileges, are Bolivia, Chile, Germany, Persia, and Russia. The Chinese Government are also in relations of some kind with Austria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Uruguay.)\n\nAnnex I.\n\n(Referred to in Article 1.)\n\nList of Ports open to Foreign Residence and Trade.\n\nThis list will include all existing treaty ports and trade marts (with possibly a few exceptions in the case of certain marts opened by the Chinese in the north for political reasons in which foreign trade is not yet interested), and also certain centres such as Wanhsien, and Yunnanfu, the status of which is doubtful, and also a number of other places which might well be opened in the interests of foreign trade, e.g., Peking, Chengtu, Chengchow, Hsuchow, Pengpu, Siangtan, &c., in regard to which the British Chambers of Commerce in the various important centres would have to be consulted.\n\nAnnex II.\n\n(Referred to in Article 2.)\n\nSchedule of Luxury Articles.\n\nNo attempt is here made to draw up a list of luxury (i.e., non-essential) articles. But two lists are attached hereto, as being of possible assistance in a later study of this very contentious question. List No. I is a tentative list of luxury articles drawn up by the customs representative on the last Tariff Revision Commission for the preliminary consideration of the inspector-general; and List No. 2 is a \"Provisional Import Tariff for German and Austrian Goods,\" issued by the Chinese Government in 1920 but never enforced owing to the refusal of the Treaty Powers to agree to the use of certificates of origin. These two lists, which have been obtained privately from the Inspector-General of Customs, should be regarded as strictly confidential documents.\n\n[13577]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-491 - Public Offices - 1925.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 504674, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12]", "page_number": 543, "title": "CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12]", "content_text": "74\n\n4. I do not attempt to deal with recommendation that His Majesty's Government should take action at Moscow to secure removal of Russian Bolsheviks from Canton, or suggestion that other maritime Powers might be induced to co-operate in warlike action against Canton, as these matters appear to lie outside my province.\n\n(Repeated to Hong Kong and Canton.)\n\n(D.)\n\nSir R. Macleay to Sir Austen Chamberlain.—(Received January 30.)\n\n(No. 40.) \"Telegraphic.)\n\nPeking, January 30, 1926.\n\nYOUR telegram No. 30 and my telegram No. 39. From official reports of His Majesty's consul-general at Canton and His Majesty's consuls at Swatow and Amoy, which are confirmed by private letter from Governor of Hong Kong, reports of abortive negotiations between representatives of colony and Canton Government for a settlement of strike and boycott, I think it is unquestionable that both Canton Government and local authorities in other cities in province of Kwangtung are still under direct Bolshevik influence, and that this influence, which is open and violently anti-British, stands in the way of a settlement.\n\nI broached the question of possible intervention as mediators of moderate Kuo Min Tang element to Minister for Foreign Affairs on 27th January. He replied that Peking Government had attempted to send two delegates to Canton, but circumstances had prevented their going farther than Shanghai. He undertook to go into the whole question of situation in the South and difficulties between Hong Kong and Canton with Premier, with special reference to proposal to send delegates to the South to enquire not only into external but also internal situation and attitude of Cantonese towards Peking Government. I derived the impression that neither present Government in Peking nor moderate element in Kuo Min Tang had any influence whatever with faction now predominant in Kwangtung.\n\nFrom further conversation I elicited that Wang considered that Shameen incident, which had caused great loss of life on Chinese side, including a number of schoolgirls, was chiefly responsible for revolutionary feeling, and he did not disguise the fact that his sympathies over this incident were with Canton, and, according to reports received from His Majesty's consul at Swatow, out-stations of local native customs (which are in the nature of li-kin barriers administered under 1901 protocol by Maritime Customs), had been seized by local Reds. Inspector-general informs me that this was done without authority of Canton Government, and head office of native customs at Swatow has not been interfered with.\n\n75\n\nas none of my colleagues here would take responsibility for expressing any definite opinion or of putting concrete proposals up to their Governments.\n\nI cannot tell what real grievances of Cantonese are, but it would certainly appear from reports recently about negotiations and from declarations of C. C. Wu and Sun Yat-sen's son and from general attitude of dominant Red faction that they are inspired with intense animosity against Great Britain and hope to use alleged economic grievances of strikers to force Hong Kong Government to deal direct with latter and to extract impossible and humiliating political concessions. So long as this faction, openly directed and abetted by Bolsheviks, remains predominant, I fear that all attempts at conciliation will be useless, and that neither offer of control of local customs revenues, which incidentally we have no right or power to make alone, nor generous allocation of Boxer indemnity funds for education or public utility schemes would have any effect. There are, however, signs of internal dissensions, and it is evident throughout whole of China, with the exception of Kuangtung, that Bolshevik prestige and influence have been severely shaken even in the eyes of Nationalist and student elements by high-handed action of Soviet Government in threatening to use force in connection with recent dispute on Chinese Eastern Railway and by failure of extremists to avail themselves of opportunity afforded by Chang's temporary eclipse to set up a Communist Government in Peking.\n\nI therefore adhere to view expressed in my telegram No. 39 that, while continuing local efforts to arrive at a settlement should emergence of a moderate party in Canton make this possible, we should await development of growing anti-Bolshevik feeling and formation of a coalition of friendly military leaders, who will probably, if and when they find themselves strong enough to do so, take action against Canton.\n\nIf you wish to justify this policy of apparent inaction before Parliament, I venture to suggest you might explain His Majesty's Government's policy as having been governed by principles of friendliness towards Chinese people and sympathy with their legitimate aspirations, as that outlined in your speech of 18th September and in instructions to British delegates at Tariff Conference. This policy of patient conciliation has borne abundant fruit in restoration to a great extent of friendship and goodwill between British and Chinese peoples and resumption of normal commercial relations throughout China except in a few areas, such as, notably, province of Kuangtung, which are controlled by external influences violently and openly hostile to Great Britain.\n\nYou will doubtless consider desirability of indicating whether our patience in dealing with these unreasonable and irreconcilable elements may not in the end become exhausted, and whether His Majesty's Government may not be forced reluctantly into a change of policy against them.\n\n(E.)\n\n(F.)\n\nSir R. Macleay to Sir Austen Chamberlain.-(Received February 1.)\n\n(No. 42.) (Telegraphic.)\n\nCANTON telegram No. 10. Your telegram No. 35.\n\nPeking, February 1, 1926.\n\nI think that I have shown in my telegram No. 39 grave dangers and objections to resorting to force at the present moment in the manner contemplated in paragraphs 1 and 2 (b) of your telegram.\n\nWhether or not strike boycott and refusal to trade can be held to be infringement of Washington or any other treaty, I much doubt whether other Powers not directly affected would agree that we would be justified in regarding this high-handed and unfriendly treatment of colonies and of our trade by Canton as a casus belli.\n\nEven if boycott of Japan mentioned by His Majesty's consul-general at Canton in his telegram No. 3 were to materialise, I doubt whether Japanese Government, judging by their supine attitude towards previous boycotts, would be willing to join us in use of force. France alone, who has nothing to lose, would probably be most ready to co-operate. In any case, should it be considered desirable to ascertain views of Powers either as to our acting alone or as to their willingness to take international action, the enquiries must be made in London or in respective capitals.\n\nConsul-General Jamieson to Sir Austen Chamberlain.—(Received February 2.) (No. 5) (Telegraphic.)\n\nCanton (vid Hong Kong), February 2, 1926. AS it is impossible in the given time to secure tripartite consultation by direction of His Majesty's Minister, I submit following comments on your telegram No. 35 to Peking:\n\n1. As war would leave a legacy of hatred and might unite rest of China, I deprecate it emphatically.\n\n2. Joint international action appears to me the sole solution. Independent action as indicated would be internationally impossible.\n\nBy rendering it impossible for us to trade, and arresting British subjects, Cantonese have completely broken the letter and the spirit of treaties, and Detention of Russian action under article 7 would certainly seem called for. steamships would be easy, but they do not carry essential commodities, such as coal and rice.\n\n3. I consider non-intervention should be adhered to, as present Government is the best Kuangtung has ever had, and introduction of others would lead to chaos. Chiang may before long, of his own volition, quarrel with Bolsheviks.\n\n4. I can offer no opinion.\n\n[14166]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 509243, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-502-6 China- general situation 7-1-1927 - 3-3-1927", "page_number": 168, "title": "CO129-502-6 China- general situation 7-1-1927 - 3-3-1927", "content_text": "## 5. In our previous Report (C.I.D. Paper No. 756-B) we have already set out the strength of the force which we consider is necessary for the defence of Shanghai, viz. :- \n\"To protect the Concessions at Shanghai by military means against Nationalist troops that might be brought against it in the near future, a force of at least 1 Division and one squadron of aeroplanes would be necessary, and would have to be despatched without delay. This should be an international force with a preponderance of Japanese, and commanded by a Japanese officer, in view of the fact that Japan alone can provide large forces at short notice. In the present circumstances we must, in fact, rely primarily on Japan to protect our interests in Shanghai. Owing to the magnitude of British interests, British participation on the scale of a mixed brigade, with a proportion of naval aircraft, although it may be late, is essential. These forces should be additional to those required to control the population.\"\n\nIt will be seen, therefore, that our estimate of one Division corresponds to the estimate of the Naval Commander-in-Chief in his telegram of the 12th January.\n\n## 6. \nWe emphasised in our last Report the importance of securing international co-operation in the defence of Shanghai, and we understand that conversations have been proceeding with the Japanese Staff in this connection, the results of which, however, are not yet available.\n\n## 7. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.\n\nOur Conclusions and Recommendations in regard to the defence of Shanghai in the present circumstances may be summarised as follows:-\n\n(a) If Shanghai is to be secured, it is of the first importance that the troops for this purpose should be despatched at once, otherwise they may arrive on the scene too late. Any delay in this connection is dangerous.\n\n(b) The following British troops should be despatched to Shanghai at once:-\n| Item | Troops |\n| --- | --- |\n| (i) | One mixed Brigade from India. |\n| (ii) | 1,000 Marines. |\n| (iii) | The First Cruiser Squadron (which can supply a landing-party of 1,000 rifles). |\n\n(e) That recommendation (b) is on the understanding that the remainder of the units required to complete the Division which is necessary for the defence of Shanghai will be provided by other nationalities. If other nationalities are not prepared to provide the remainder of the Division we shall have to provide a complete Division ourselves.\n\n## 8. \nWe understand that arrangements are being made for the supply of such necessities as barbed wire, ammunition, &c.\n\n## 9. \nProvided that authority is given to-day to carry out the moves recommended in paragraph 7 above, it is estimated that the troops concerned will be available for action at Shanghai in 30 to 32 days from this date. Our latest information is to the effect that the earliest date on which the Chinese Nationalist Forces can arrive at Shanghai is 30 days from to-day. It will be seen, therefore, that in order to ensure effective intervention on our part the necessary orders for the move of our troops must be given to-day.\n\n## USE OF TEAR GAS IN CHINA.\n\n## 10. \nIn addition to the matters dealt with above we also considered the Memorandum by the Naval Staff on the possible use of Tear Gas in China (C.I.D. Paper No. 760-B). In his Memorandum dated the 20th December, 1926 (C.I.D. Paper No. 754-B), the Secretary of State for War described the widespread activities of Soviet Russia in connection with the production of war gases. In view of the close connection known to exist between the Chinese Nationalists and Soviet Russia, the use of gas by the former in any conflict that may arise between them and ourselves would therefore be a contingency that must be regarded as probable. It also appears unlikely that any decision by us to refrain from using gas would be taken into consideration by the Chinese if they had stocks of gas available for use.\n\nThe question for more immediate consideration, however, is whether the use of tear gas should be permitted against mobs. We are definitely of opinion that it is more humane and, under most circumstances, just as effective as the use of lethal weapons.\n\nIn the Washington Agreement and the recent Geneva Protocol on the subject gas it is laid down that gas is not to be used in war; tear gas is included in this prohibition. That this prohibition does not apply in peace time is, however, apparently the view of certain nations as authentic information of its use by France and the United States in quelling civil disturbances has been received.\n\nWe recognise, nevertheless, that a distinction must be drawn between the use by a Government of gas against its own nationals and against those of another Power.\n\nTear gas of a suitable kind could be obtained either at home or in the open market in America without undue delay, and, if its use were sanctioned, we are informed that arrangements could be made without difficulty for sending a special gas unit to China.\n\nAfter taking into consideration the many factors affecting its use, we unanimously recommend that authority should be given for gas to be used in China against the mob, subject to the issue of very definite instructions as to the circumstances under which it may be employed.\n\n2. Whitehall Gardens, S.W, 1, \nJanuary 17, 1927.\n\n(Signed) \n**BEATTY.** \n**H. TRENCHARD.** \n**G. F. MILNE.**\n\n## APPENDIX.\n\nDecypher Telegram from Commander-in-Chief, China, to Admiralty, No. 728, dated January 12, 1927, \n`H.M.S. Hawkins.`\n\n**ADRESSED** Admiralty (No. 728); repeated to `H.M.S. Hawkins` repeat message to Governor, Hong Kong.\n\nMy appreciation of position in Shanghai, by which mean the foreign occupied areas and the harbour from Shanghai to Wusung, is as follows: The conditions since fall of Hankow and Kiukiang, referred to in my No. 725, have materially altered all previous appreciations. At the present time there is nothing to stop an advance in force of the Cantonese army. I look on their reverse in Chekiang in the last two days merely as incidents and their ultimate advance on Shanghai as an absolute certainty. The volunteer force of Shanghai is entirely inadequate for defence purposes, and unless it is very materially increased the corrupt group of Shanghai is inevitable and will take place in practically the same manner as that of Hankow and Kiukiang. I consider a fully-equipped division, repeat division, is urgently required for the defence of Shanghai, and that, moreover, it should be despatched with the least possible delay. Urgency of situation calls for immediate action, and delay disastrous. Under the present conditions the Cantonese army can arrive in the vicinity of Shanghai within thirty days. The defence of Shanghai will be purely a military operation; the naval landing parties and volunteer corps will be used for maintaining order inside the settlement. I would point out that should this division be forthcoming, in addition to disposing of present menace to Shanghai, it would lead to eventual restoration of concessions at Hankow and Kiukiang and, above all, to the re-establishment of British prestige. Moreover, the presence of a strong British force in Shanghai would without doubt encourage our wavering allies to follow suit and thus afford them the opportunity to join with us in dealing with situation, which at present they are inclined to avoid as being mess of our own making. The alternatives to this proposal are: (i) peaceful evacuation of concession at an early date; (ii) evacuation under similar or worse conditions than existed at Hankow and possibly under fire. I have consulted Consul-General, Shanghai, in this matter, and he is in entire agreement, though he adheres to his previously expressed opinion that evacuation would prove physically impossible in practice. In the meantime, I concur that the battalion now in readiness at Hong Kong should be sent forthwith and accommodated ashore.\n\nMinister at Peking is being similarly informed.\n\nPage 185", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-502-6 China- general situation 7-1-1927 - 3-3-1927.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 509378, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-502-7 China- general situation 4-3-1927 - 26-4-1927", "page_number": 69, "title": "CO129-502-7 China- general situation 4-3-1927 - 26-4-1927", "content_text": "# APPENDIX (A)\n\nCopy of a Minute from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the Secretary, Committee of Imperial Defence.\n\n**Sir M. Hankey**\n\nI beg that you will at once lay before the Chiefs of Staff Committee -\n\n1. The attached memorandum on Sir Miles Lampson's telegram No. 642.\n2. Draft telegram to Sir M. Lampson.\n3. Draft telegram to Tokyo and Washington.\n\nThere is a certain inconsistency between the wording of 2 and 3 which can be adjusted when policy is finally decided, and when we know exactly what share we can contribute to an effective defence of Tientsin.\n\nFor the information of the Chiefs of Staff I should say that I fully recognise that I must cut my cloak according to the cloth available, and that I cannot pursue a policy to which our forces are unequal. But I share to the full Sir Miles Lampson's apprehensions as to the results of a policy of evacuation. Its adoption may well -\n\n(a) precipitate the very crisis which we dread and\n(b) lead directly to the overthrow of Chang Tso-lin and the Bolshevisation of all China.\n\nIt must -\n\n(c) gravely affect our prestige in the East,\n(d) do irreparable injury to material British interests.\n\nIn these circumstances I feel bound to ask -\n\n(i.) what is the maximum contribution which we can make to the defence of the Legations and/or Tientsin,\n(ii) upon what conditions as regards the co-operation of other Powers we can make it.\n\nIt will then be for the Cabinet to decide whether it is willing to make this effort on the prescribed terms.\n\n(Initialled)\nApril 10, 1927.\n\n## Enclosure No. 1 to Appendix (A)\n\n**Memorandum**\n\nA. C.\n\nWhen the question of Tientsin was first examined by the Chiefs of Staff in January last, their view was that the troops at present there were sufficient only for the maintenance of order in times of popular disturbance and would be in a position of grave danger if exposed to attack by a large organised Chinese force; it was doubtful if they could keep open communication with the Peking Legation in any grave circumstances; and in the event of serious trouble threatening, reinforcements could only be obtained from Japan; our naval forces could not co-operate, as Tientsin cannot be reached by water.\n\nThese views were put to Sir M. Lampson in our telegram No. 25 of the 13th January.\n\nAccordingly, when we announced to Sir M. Lampson in our telegram No. 39 of the 17th January, that His Majesty's Government had decided that Shanghai must be held at any cost, we added that Tientsin must be primarily Japan's care.\n\nAbout the end of March Sir M. Lampson began to become uneasy about the possible reaction at Tientsin if the Southern successes continued, and he summoned the Colonel Commandant from Tientsin to discuss the question. After seeing the Colonel Commandant, he reported in his telegram No. 542 of the 28th March that he thought one more battalion at Tientsin was immediately necessary, from which 150 men could be detached to strengthen the Legation guard, which would also be provided in addition with a junior officer and twenty gunners.\n\nTo this telegram we replied in our telegram No. 226 of the 30th March that the considered opinion of our military advisers was that the despatch of a single additional British battalion to Tientsin would not suffice to meet any serious eventuality. We also instructed Sir M. Lampson to explain the situation to his Japanese colleague and say that we relied on the Japanese Government for the provision of adequate protection for the foreign interests at Tientsin and to ask him to urge his Government to take whatever additional measures were necessary to that end.\n\nIn his telegram No. 597 of the 1st April Sir M. Lampson reported the views of the Japanese Government as follows:-\n\nThe Japanese were strengthening their troops at Tientsin by three or four companies in May next. This they considered to be quite sufficient to cope with mob violence. The Japanese Minister thought it quite inadequate, and was accordingly recommending his Government to be prepared to send down troops at once from Manchuria if serious trouble arose.\n\nOn the 3rd April Sir John Tilley reported the Minister for Foreign Affairs as saying that the Japanese were in a position to reinforce Tientsin if necessary, but that he refused to be nervous about either Tientsin or Peking.\n\nSir M. Lampson already, in his telegram No. 591 of the 1st April, stated his strong opinion that, whatever the Japanese reply might be, we should not bank on Japan; unless His Majesty's Government were prepared themselves to take precautions in advance and if necessary alone, he requested authority to warn British nationals accordingly so that those who wished might get out before the crisis arose; he recommended that one infantry brigade should be at once despatched to Tientsin and that the Legation guard should be doubled and gunners provided.\n\nHe added that the situation threatened to become similar to that of 1900, and that if the arrangements made under the 1901 protocol for the defence of the Legation were not carried out the question of the withdrawal of the Legation might arise at short notice.\n\nIt was in these circumstances that the Chiefs of Staff again considered the question of Tientsin, and after discussion by the Cabinet our telegram to Peking No. 237 of the 4th April was sent. It is that telegram which has drawn from Sir M. Lampson the telegram now under consideration (No. 634 of 7th April).\n\nSir M. Lampson's telegram No. 591 caused us some alarm and the question he raised was considered on the assumption that the worst which he thought might happen, would happen, namely, that a situation similar to that of 1900 might arise. (\"We are faced with a situation and anti-foreign movement that threatens to become very similar to that of 1900.\") The conclusion which His Majesty's Government reached and which was communicated to Sir M. Lampson in our telegram No. 237 was briefly (a) that the defence of Peking and even the defence of Tientsin and its communications would demand more troops than we alone could supply; (b), this being so, he must be prepared to evacuate both Peking and Tientsin if the worst happened, and he was given discretion to issue any warnings and to take any steps that he might think necessary without any further reference home.\n\nThis telegram of ours has somewhat alarmed Sir M. Lampson, and he seems to be somewhat surprised that we have taken him at his word and have considered the situation on the assumption that the worst will happen. He is obviously most reluctant to take the responsibility either of ordering the evacuation of Peking or the evacuation of British subjects from Tientsin.\n\nThere are several contingencies involved. These are: (a) the evacuation of British subjects from Peking and district; (b) the evacuation of the British Legation from Peking; (c) the evacuation of British subjects from Tientsin, both from within and from without the Concession; (d) the question whether such evacuation shall be carried out by us independently or as part of a general evacuation of all or most foreigners.\n\nIt would be best to take Sir M. Lampson's points seriatim. He very rightly asks us to look at the question in all its bearings as part of our general policy in China.\n\n1. Sir M. Lampson's description of the desired object of His Majesty's Government in paragraph 2 of his telegram is accurate.\n\n2. Failing the achievement of the desired object in the manner proposed, he sees three possible alternatives, namely, (a) coercion of the south; (b) total abandonment of our own interests in China or in whatever part of China the southern party...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-502-7 China- general situation 4-3-1927 - 26-4-1927.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 512506, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-507-1 Proposal to dispose of Boxer Indemnity funds- claim by Hong Kong university 21-12-1927 - 24-7-1928", "page_number": 140, "title": "CO129-507-1 Proposal to dispose of Boxer Indemnity funds- claim by Hong Kong university 21-12-1927 - 24-7-1928", "content_text": "settlement, in accordance with the arrangement made between the two Governments in April 1925 (p. 123). The instalments are in practice paid over by the Inspector-General of Customs to the Banque de l'Indo-Chine, as the French custodian bank, in Shanghai, and the usual indemnity receipt obtained. The amount in question is then handed back in the form of a gold dollar draft to the Commissioner of Customs at Shanghai, who gives a formal receipt for it, and he in turn hands it on to the Banque de Commerce et l'Industrie, the successor to the Banque Industrielle de Chine, or franco-chinoise pour l'Industrie, against their receipt. The money is then used for the service of the 4 per Cent Gold Dollar Loan raised in 1925, redeemable in twenty-three years, the bonds of which were handed to the Far Eastern creditors of the Banque industrielle in exchange for the \"bons de répartition\" issued to them by the bank when it closed its doors (p. 123). The ostensible object of this arrangement was to set the bank on its feet again under a new name, and it would be only natural to suppose that, once the bank was in a position to resume profit-making activities, at least a portion of such profits should be used to replace the funds thus borrowed from the indemnity. It is, however, doubtful if this was ever the serious intention of the French Government, and what the understanding between the Government and the bank really amounted to. As above stated, it is, at any rate, not known that any part of the indemnity instalments, at present released under the 1925 arrangement, is being used for educational or philanthropic purposes.\n\nBelgium.\n\n6. The existing state of affairs in regard to the Belgian indemnity payments was fully described in my despatch No. 2215 of the 15th December last. It was shown in that despatch that the Sino-Belgian Indemnity Commission (p. 125) had not yet been formed, but that an agreement had very recently been reached between the Belgian and Chinese Governments stipulating, it was understood, for the establishment of such a commission, and for the employment of 25 per cent of the indemnity funds available for educational objects, while the remainder was to be used for the purchase of Belgian railway material.\n\nItaly.\n\n7. The arrangement with Italy, resulting from the gold franc controversy, was much the same as that made with Belgium (pp. 125-6), namely, that China had to pay Italy in a lump sum the balance of the principal of the Italian portion of the indemnity outstanding on the 1st December, 1927, in paper francs, and this amount was advanced by the Italian Bank for China at the end of 1925, on the condition that repayment should be made from the monthly instalments of the resumed indemnity payments as from the 1st January, 1926. As, however, Italy agreed to take the deferred payments at the close of the indemnity term, i.e., from 1941 to 1948, and did not insist on payment being made concurrently with the usual monthly instalments from January 1926, as Belgium had done, this advance is taking longer to refund. As soon as it is repaid to the bank, the monthly instalments will be paid over to a Sino-Italian Indemnity Commission to be used for philanthropic objects and for works of public utility, for which latter it was stipulated that Italian materials and a fixed proportion, 50 per cent, of Italian engineers should be employed. Nothing has yet been heard of the appointment of this commission, but it will presumably come into being when funds are available for it to distribute.\n\nRussia.\n\n8. Political events have rendered the disposal of the Russian share of the indemnity, by far the largest individual national portion, the most complicated part of this long story. To understand the present position, it is necessary to retrace very roughly the course of events in this connexion since 1917. In that year, when the various Powers agreed to defer for a period of five years the payment of their shares of the indemnity as the result of China's entry into the war, Russia only consented to a partial deferment, namely, that of her total share of 29 per cent of the whole indemnity, she would defer roughly a portion representing 10 per cent, while she retained for her own use an amount roughly equivalent to the remaining 19 per cent of the whole (p. 111). These titles \"deferred\" and \"retained\" have been used to indicate these separate payments ever since.\n\nPage 142\n\nPage 143\n\n5\n\n2\n\n17\n\n3\n\narrangement, the retained portion was payable to the Russian Treasury through the Russo-Asiatic Bank. The revolution supervened almost immediately, however, with the result that it was for some three years paid through the same bank to the Russian authorities of the old régime in Peking for the upkeep of their Legations and consulates, although at moments during this period the Chinese Government decided to withhold the payments, which were lodged temporarily in special accounts in the Bank of China and the Bank of Communications. In 1920, this arrangement was finally cancelled, and the Chinese Government began using the money for its own so-called special purposes. It was agreed, on the suggestion of the Inspector-General, that it should be used from January 1922 for the service of the third and fourth year domestic loans (see Appendix 5, p. 223), while under the Consolidated Debt Regulations, sanctioned by presidential mandate of the 13th March, 1921 (p. 113), it was arranged that this retained portion should, on the retirement of these two loans, be similarly used for the redemption (only) of the fifth and seventh year long-term loans. The drawing of the bonds of the third and fourth year loans is now completed, and provision for their payment in full has been made from these retained indemnity funds; that of the fifth year loan will be finished next year, when the seventh year loan redemption payments begin and will continue till 1937. There will thus be little money available from this source for some time to come.\n\n9. The situation is, however, different in regard to the deferred portion of the Russian indemnity. This portion was first of all used, with all the other deferred indemnities (p. 113), for the service of the seventh year short-term bond issue, and on the retirement of that issue in November 1922, when the five-year deferment period ended, it was pledged as security for other loans, i.e., the eleventh year short-term loan (to run from November 1922 to November 1927), a Treasury note issue for 5 million dollars in 1923 for the upkeep of Chinese Legations and consulates abroad, and for a similar issue in 1924 for 1 million dollars for the eight higher Government institutions in Peking. The money was thus pledged on China's initiative alone, before any negotiations between the Chinese and Soviet Governments on the subject had begun. By the Declaration V, however, attached to the Sino-Soviet Agreement of the 31st May, 1924, the Soviet Government agreed to renounce Russia's share of the indemnity, and recognised the validity of these various dispositions of that share. It was also agreed thereby to appoint a special commission, consisting of one Russian and two Chinese, to administer for educational purposes the funds available from the waived indemnity after these various prior obligations had been satisfied. The balances available from the deferred portion, after the two Treasury note issues above mentioned have been provided for, are consequently paid to this commission. In addition to payments amounting to 750,000 dollars received on this account in 1926 (p. 224), the commission in that year raised a loan from Chinese banks on the security of these instalments of the deferred indemnity for 1 million dollars for the upkeep of Government institutions in Peking, and the Inspector-General guaranteed to turn over the instalments as they fall due to these banks to repay this loan, which will in this way be paid off in 1928. When the two Treasury note issues are also paid off in 1930 (it may not be till 1932, owing to the action taken by the Ministry of Finance in issuing bonds carrying coupons up to 1932, in contradiction to the original arrangement for redemption in 1930, as described at the bottom of p. 153), the whole of the deferred Russian indemnity will be at the disposal of the Sino-Soviet Commission. This will mean in practice a release of some £365,000 to the commission in the year 1931 and subsequently during the years 1941 to 1945, while from 1932 to 1940, it will be as much as £527,000 owing to the fact that under the protocol indemnity table, the instalments payable to Russia were increased during the concluding years of the indemnity term as the result of the extinction of the Anglo-French Loan of 1895 (the 1941-45 payments are of course deferred payments only, see Appendix 4, p. 218). Next year, it is estimated that the Sino-Soviet Commission will receive as much as 14 million dollars for educational purposes after the other obligations above described have been met, payments being in pounds sterling and the present exchange being low. The commission originally consisted of two Chinese, Hsu Ch'ien and Li Shih-tseng, well known at that time for their Communist tendencies, and a Russian named Dr. Pergament. Later, the two former ran away to the South, and have now been replaced by the present commissioners, Chu Yu-chi and Lin Hsiu-tse, while the latter was replaced by M. Spilvanek as the Soviet member. Hsü Ch'ien incidentally made great efforts to retain control of the funds after his flight to Hankow. At a recent meeting in Peking of the commission, which was reorganised in its present form last summer, the Soviet member, referring to the support given to Chinese higher\n\nPage 140\n\nPage 141\n\n144", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-507-1 Proposal to dispose of Boxer Indemnity funds- claim by Hong Kong university 21-12-1927 - 24-7-1928.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 522270, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930", "page_number": 431, "title": "CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930", "content_text": "439\n\nEstablishment of Custom stations on new frontier.\n\n(12)\n\nexported from the Colony into China. The attitude of the merchants, both in Hongkong and in London, was uncompromising, and might fairly be summed up as a strong desire to see the Chinese Customs cleared bag and baggage out of the Colony and of Colonial waters.†\n\n§ 10. The Inspector General's proposals were not accepted. The New Territory was handed over to the Hongkong Government in April 1899 by virtue of the Convention for the Extension of Hongkong, signed at Peking on 9th June 1898, and the Chinese Customs stations were closed on the 4th October that year. New duty-collecting stations were established at Taishan (A) and Liutin (B), in the estuary of the Canton River, to replace Capsuimoon, and at Shaichung (C) and Samun (D), to the east of Mirs Bay, to replace Fotochow. Shumchun(E) was opened as a collecting station on 1st March 1900, and on 19th February of the following year Shatowkok (F) was raised from the position of a frontier post to that of a collecting station. In addition, frontier guard posts, some of which have on occasion served also as collecting stations, had to be established along the land boundary. The number of these frontier posts has varied from time to time, but it includes, or has included, the following: Chekwan (G), Kwaimiao (H), Shatau (I), Lungtsunhu (龜津虂), Lofong (羅坊), Lowu (飔門), Lintong (華場), Shatowkok (沙头角), Yimtin (J), Kaichung (K), Tipfuk (L), Hasha (M), and Namo (N). This elongation of the land frontier was a great advantage to smugglers. Prior to 1899 the frontier was only about 2 miles in length and was protected by a stout bamboo fence, some 8 feet high, along the entire line. This fence was pierced by six gates, and an armed patrol both by night and by day saw to it that only legitimate trade passed through these gates. After 1899 the frontier ran for some 60 miles through rough and hilly country from Chekwan on the west to Mirs Greatly increased Point on the east. To add to the difficulty of controlling this greatly extended line the waters of the Shumchun River were declared to be British, while the boundary along the shores of Deep Bay and Mirs Bay was delimited at the high-water mark. This enabled smugglers to lie protected in British waters within a yard or so of Chinese territory and as it was manifestly impossible for the Chinese Government to provide preventive officers to guard every junk to slip their goods ashore practically when and where they pleased. The Chinese Customs office, however, in the city of Victoria, for the convenience of the trading public, was allowed to remain where it was, but on the old status of sufferance only. Revenue cruisers and cruising launches continued to patrol Chinese waters and to make use of Hongkong harbour as ships of war, but the sea-line now to be patrolled was perforce extended from a little over 20 to some 80 miles, a fact which also rejoiced the hearts of the smuggling fraternity.\n\nDifficulties of control.\n\n§ 11. Relations between the Colony and the Chinese Customs remained practically in this position for the next 10 years, but the decade was marked by a characteristic incident. In 1902 negotiations were proceeding between Great Britain and China for a new commercial treaty. This treaty, inter alia, was to provide for a revision of the import tariff to bring the rates up to an effective 5 per cent. duty—the first actual revision of China's import tariff for over 40 years—and to arrange for other tariff changes, especially in regard to the levy of likin. The Colony became apprehensive that its growing trade might be adversely affected by such changes. In the years preceding the Opium Agreement of 1886, as we have seen, Hongkong merchants and officials were indignant that the Chinese authorities levied higher duties on junk-borne cargoes to and from Hongkong—a foreign place—than they did on such cargoes to and from Macao, at that time Chinese territory.* China, although within her rights in making such levies, had removed the grievance by granting the wished-for concession in the Agreement of 1886, and Hongkong trade had benefited accordingly. Now, however, the Hongkong merchants, having reaped the advantage of the lowered junk rates, were fearful lest these lower rates should affect adversely the carrying trade in foreign steamers between Hongkong and the treaty ports in the province of Canton, when a higher import tariff on foreign goods going into China, and possible alterations in the likin procedure, were about to be put into force. Accordingly, an article was inserted in the so-called Mackay Treaty, signed at Shanghai on 5th September 1902, to the effect that \"duties and likin combined levied on goods carried by junks from Hongkong to the Treaty Ports in the Canton Province and vice versa, shall together not be less than the duties charged by the Imperial Maritime Customs on similar goods carried by steamer.\" This article, although designed for a specific purpose, was in effect a recognition of the principle that the amount of taxation to be levied on goods should not vary with the mode of conveyance, a principle which, in these days of greatly increased Maritime Customs tariff rates, has a wider significance than probably was intended by the framers of the article. Another event happening in this decade, which was destined to affect vitally the relations between the Colony and the Chinese Customs, was the Imperial Edict of 20th September 1906 ordering gradual cessation of opium trade.† This led to domestic coercive measures on the part of the Chinese Government for the suppression of the production and use of the home-grown article and to an agreement with the British Government for the gradual reduction and eventual extinction of the import of the drug from India. Such an arrangement could not but have an adverse reaction on the Colony's revenue. Happily, thanks largely to the genial personality of Mr. W. R. McD. Parr, who was Commissioner of Customs for the Kowloon district from November 1904 to September 1908, the relations between the Chinese Customs and the Hongkong Government had lost much of their former official stiffness, so that when the Colonial Government decided to tax alcohol and spirits§ in order, if possible, to make good the revenue that was being forfeited by the cessation of the opium trade it was felt to be natural that the Colony should seek China's assistance in the matter. Hongkong's necessity, in fact, became\n\n(13)\n\n1902.\n\nDuties on goods carried by steamer.\n\nMackay Treaty.\n\nImperial Edict of September 1906.\n\n...\n\n* British Parliamentary Papers: China No. 1 (1899), p. 297.\n† Vide \"Hongkong Daily Press,\" 9th, 10th, and 15th September 1898; also Customs publications: Office Series, No. 62. \"Kowloon Customs\" (Shanghai, 1899).\n‡ Hertalet, op. cit., Vol. I, pp. 120, 121.\n§ Vide Map, facing p. 1.\n* Macao was never officially recognised by China as Portuguese territory till the signing of the Protocol of Lisbon of 1887, the articles of which were confirmed by the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Portugal and China, signed 1st December 1887 (vide Chinese Customs publications: \"Treaties, Conventions, etc., between China and Foreign States,\" Second Edition (2 vols., Shanghai, 1917), Vol. II, pp. 273, 275).\n† British Parliamentary Papers: China No. 1 (1908), p. 1.\n‡ Ibid., pp. 14, 17, 21, 29, 45, 47, 48. MacMurray, J. V. A.: \"Treaties and Agreements with and concerning China\" (2 vols., New York, 1921), Vol. I, 861-866.\n$ Hongkong Ordinances No. 27 of 1909 and No. 9 of 1911.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-521-13 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 27-8-1930 - 16-10-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 526982, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-529-4 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931", "page_number": 69, "title": "CO129-529-4 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931", "content_text": "## 69 \n\n3. difficulties in working of arrangements to be now made and may pretend, if no agreement for modification is reached, that clauses must be held to have lapsed. Wording should be sufficiently explicit to exclude the latter possibility.\n\n## 1224 \n\n4. My telegram No.55 contains a draft of an article in the treaty which should replace paragraph (1) of the Protocol. The gist of paragraph (2) of the Protocol will be incorporated in the ratification clause, so that the drafts of the preamble and whole Protocol now disappear.\n\nThe ratification clause and instructions with regard to personal status will be telegraphed as soon as possible.\n\nRepeated to Peking No.112.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-529-4 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 572447, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-588-22 China- British territorial rights; negotiations with China 28-12-1942 - 10-11-1943", "page_number": 28, "title": "CO129-588-22 China- British territorial rights; negotiations with China 28-12-1942 - 10-11-1943", "content_text": "# TREATY BETWEEN HIS MAJESTY IN RESPECT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND INDIA AND HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA FOR THE RELINQUISHMENT OF EXTRA-TERRITORIAL RIGHTS IN CHINA AND THE REGULATION OF RELATED MATTERS EXCHANGE OF NOTES AND AGREED MINUTE)\n\nChungking, January 11, 1943.\n\n[Ratifications exchanged at Chungking, May 20, 1943.]\n\nHis Majesty The King of Great Britain, Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, and His Excellency the President of the National Government of the Republic of China;\n\nBeing desirous of defining more clearly in spirit of friendship the general relations between them, and for this purpose to settle certain matters relating to jurisdiction in China;\n\nHave decided to conclude a Treaty for this purpose and to that end have appointed as their Plenipotentiaries:\n\nHis Majesty The King of Great Britain, Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India (hereinafter referred to as His Majesty The King):\n\nFor the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:\n\nHis Excellency Sir Horace James Seymour, K.C.M.G., C.V.O., His Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of China;\n\nFor India:\n\nHugh Edward Richardson Esquire, an officer of the Indian Political Service;\n\nHis Excellency the President of the National Government of the Republic of China:\n\nHis Excellency Dr. Tse Vung Soong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China;\n\nWho, having communicated to each other their full powers, found to be in good and due form, have agreed as follows:-\n\n## ARTICLE 1\n\n(i) The territories of the High Contracting Parties to which the present Treaty applies are, on the part of His Majesty The King, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, India, all colonies, overseas territories, protectorates of His Majesty, all territories under his protection or suzerainty and all mandated territories in respect of which the mandate is exercised by his Government in the United Kingdom; and on the part of His Excellency the President of the National Government of the Republic of China, all the territories of the Republic of China. Any reference in subsequent Articles of the present Treaty to the territories of one or the other High Contracting Party shall be deemed to relate to those territories of that High Contracting Party to which the present Treaty applies.\n\n(ii) In the present Treaty, the term \"nationals of the one (or of the other) High Contracting Party\" shall in relation to His Majesty The King mean all British subjects and all British-protected persons belonging to the territories to which the present Treaty applies; and in relation to the Republic of China, all nationals of the Republic of China.\n\n(iii) The expression \"companies of the one (or of the other) High Contracting Party\" shall for the purpose of the present Treaty be interpreted as meaning limited liability and other companies, partnerships and associations constituted under the law of the territories of that High Contracting Party to which the present Treaty applies.\n\n## ARTICLE 2\n\nThose provisions of treaties or agreements in force between His Majesty The King and His Excellency the President of the National Government of the Republic of China which authorise His Majesty or his representatives to exercise jurisdiction over nationals or companies of His Majesty in the territory of the Republic of China are hereby abrogated. The nationals and companies of His Majesty The King shall be subject in the territory of the Republic of China to the jurisdiction of the Government of the Republic of China, in accordance with the principles of international law and practice.\n\n## ARTICLE 3\n\n(i) His Majesty The King considers that the Final Protocol concluded at Peking, on the 7th September, 1901[^1] between the Chinese Government and other Governments, including His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, should be terminated, and agrees that the rights accorded to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom under that Protocol and under the agreements supplementary thereto shall cease.\n\n(ii) His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will co-operate with the Government of the Republic of China for the reaching of any necessary agreements with the other Governments concerned for the transfer to the Government of the Republic of China of the administration and control of the diplomatic quarter at Peiping, including the official assets and the official obligations of the diplomatic quarter, it being mutually understood that the Government of the Republic of China, in taking over administration and control of the diplomatic quarter, will make provision for the assumption and discharge of the official obligations and liabilities of the diplomatic quarter and for the recognition and protection of all legitimate rights therein.\n\n(iii) The Government of the Republic of China shall accord to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom a continued right to use for official purposes the land which has been allocated to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom in the diplomatic quarter in Peiping, on parts of which are located buildings belonging to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.\n\n## ARTICLE 4\n\n(i) His Majesty The King considers that the International Settlements at Shanghai and Amoy should revert to the administration and control of the Government of the Republic of China and agrees that the rights accorded to His Majesty in relation to those Settlements shall cease.\n\n(ii) His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will co-operate with the Government of the Republic of China for the reaching of any necessary agreements with the other Governments concerned for the transfer to the Government of the Republic of China of the administration and control of the International Settlements at Shanghai and Amoy, including the official assets and the official obligations of those Settlements, it being mutually understood that the Government of the Republic of China, in taking over administration and control of those Settlements, will make[^1] `Treaty Series No. 17 (1902)`, \"Cd. 1390.\n\n28", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-588-22 China- British territorial rights; negotiations with China 28-12-1942 - 10-11-1943.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 572502, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-588-22 China- British territorial rights; negotiations with China 28-12-1942 - 10-11-1943", "page_number": 83, "title": "CO129-588-22 China- British territorial rights; negotiations with China 28-12-1942 - 10-11-1943", "content_text": "# TREATY BETWEEN HIS MAJESTY IN RESPECT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND INDIA AND HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA FOR THE RELINQUISHMENT OF EXTRA-TERRITORIAL RIGHTS IN CHINA AND THE REGULATION OF RELATED MATTERS (WITH EXCHANGE OF NOTES AND AGREED MINUTE)\n\nChungking, January 11, 1943.\n\nHis Majesty The King of Great Britain, Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, and His Excellency the President of the National Government of the Republic of China;\n\nBeing desirous of defining more clearly, in a spirit of friendship, the general relations between them and for this purpose to settle certain matters relating to jurisdiction in China;\n\nHave decided to conclude a treaty for this purpose and to that end have appointed as their plenipotentiaries:\n\nHis Majesty The King of Great Britain, Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India (hereinafter referred to as His Majesty The King):\n\nFor the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:\n\nHis Excellency Sir Horace James Seymour, K.C.M.G., C.V.O., His Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of China;\n\nFor India:\n\nHugh Edward Richardson, Esq., an officer of the Indian Political Service;\n\nHis Excellency the President of the National Government of the Republic of China:\n\nHis Excellency Dr. Tse Vung Soong, Minister for Foreign Affairs for the Republic of China;\n\nWho having communicated to each other their full powers, found to be in good and due form, have agreed as follows:\n\n## ARTICLE 1\n\n(i) The territories of the High Contracting Parties to which the present Treaty applies are, on the part of His Majesty The King, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, India, all colonies, overseas territories, protectorates of His Majesty, all territories under his protection or suzerainty and all mandated territories in respect of which the mandate is exercised by his Government in the United Kingdom; and, on the part of His Excellency the President of the National Government of the Republic of China, all the territories of the Republic of China. Any reference in subsequent Articles of the present Treaty to the territories of one or the other High Contracting Party shall be deemed to relate to those territories of that High Contracting Party to which the present Treaty applies.\n\n(ii) In the present Treaty, the term nationals of the one (or of the other) High Contracting Party shall in relation to His Majesty The King mean all British subjects and all British-protected persons belonging to the territories to which the present Treaty applies; and in relation to the Republic of China, all nationals of the Republic of China.\n\n(iii) The expression companies of the one (or of the other) High Contracting Party shall for the purpose of the present Treaty be interpreted as meaning limited liability and other companies, partnerships, associations constituted under the law of the territories of that High Contracting Party to which the present Treaty applies.\n\n## ARTICLE 2\n\nAll those provisions of treaties or agreements in force between His Majesty The King and His Excellency the President of the National Government of the Republic of China which authorise His Majesty or his representatives to exercise jurisdiction over nationals or companies of His Majesty in the territory of the Republic of China are hereby abrogated. The nationals and companies of His Majesty The King shall be subject in the territory of the Republic of China to the jurisdiction of the Government of the Republic of China, in accordance with the principles of international law and practice.\n\n## ARTICLE 3\n\n(i) His Majesty The King considers that the final protocol concluded at Peking, on the 7th September, 1901,(1) between the Chinese Government and other Governments, including His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, should be terminated, and agrees that the rights accorded to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom under that protocol and under the agreements supplementary thereto shall cease.\n\n(ii) His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will co-operate with the Government of the Republic of China for the reaching of any necessary agreements with the other Governments concerned for the transfer to the Government of the Republic of China of the administration and control of the diplomatic quarter at Peiping, including the official assets and the official obligations of the diplomatic quarter, it being mutually understood that the Government of the Republic of China, in taking over administration and control of the diplomatic quarter, will make provision for the assumption and discharge of the official obligations and liabilities of the diplomatic quarter and for the recognition and protection of all legitimate rights therein.\n\n(iii) The Government of the Republic of China shall accord to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom a continued right to use for official purposes the land which has been allocated to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom in the diplomatic quarter in Peiping, on parts of which are located buildings belonging to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.\n\n## ARTICLE 4\n\n(i) His Majesty The King considers that the International Settlements at Shanghai and Amoy should revert to the administration and control of the Government of the Republic of China and agrees that the rights accorded to His Majesty in relation to those settlements shall cease.\n\n(ii) His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will co-operate with the Government of the Republic of China for the reaching of any necessary agreements with the other Governments concerned for the transfer to the Government of the Republic of China of the administration and control of the International Settlements at Shanghai and Amoy, including the official assets and the official obligations of those settlements, it being mutually understood that the Government of the Republic of China, in taking over administration and control of those settlements, will make provision for the assumption and discharge of the official obligations and liabilities of those settlements and for the recognition and protection of all legitimate rights therein.\n\n(1)\"Treaty Series No. 17 (1902),\" Cd. 1390.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-588-22 China- British territorial rights; negotiations with China 28-12-1942 - 10-11-1943.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 573032, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-588-24 China- British extra-territorial rights- negotiations with China 23-11-1942 - 1-1-1943", "page_number": 167, "title": "CO129-588-24 China- British extra-territorial rights- negotiations with China 23-11-1942 - 1-1-1943", "content_text": "**STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL** \n\n168 \n\nThe original of this document was handed to Mr. Liu Chieh, Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy, by Mr. Hornbeck and Mr. George Atcheson, Jr., on November 27, 1942 \n\n(Communicated by United States Ambassador on 9th December) \n\n**TREATY WITH REGARD TO RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CHINA** \n\nThe United States of America and the Republic of China, in recognition of the friendly relations which have long prevailed between their two peoples and of their common desire as equal and sovereign States that the high principles in the regulation of human affairs to which they are committed shall be made increasingly effective, have resolved to conclude a treaty for the adjustment of certain matters in regard to jurisdiction in China and related questions, and have appointed as their Plenipotentiaries: \n\nThe President of the United States of America, \n\nThe President of the National Government of the Republic of China, \n\nand \n\nWho, having communicated to each other their full powers found to be in due form, have agreed upon the following articles: \n\n## ARTICLE I \n\nAll those provisions of treaties or agreements in force between the United States of America and the Republic of China which authorize the Government of the United States of America or its representatives to exercise jurisdiction over nationals of the United States of America in the territory of the Republic of China are hereby abrogated. Nationals of the United States of America in such territory shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Government of the Republic of China in accordance with the principles of international law and practice. \n\n## ARTICLE II \n\nThe Government of the United States of America considers that the Final Protocol concluded at Peking on September 7, 1901, between the Chinese Government and other governments, including the Government of the United States of America, should be terminated and agrees that the rights accorded to the Government of the United States of America under that protocol and under agreements supplementary thereto shall cease. \n\nThe Government of the United States of America will cooperate with the Government of the Republic of China for the reaching of any necessary agreements with other governments concerned for the transfer to the Government of the Republic of China of the administration and control of the Diplomatic Quarter at Peiping, including the official assets and the official obligations of the Diplomatic Quarter, it being mutually understood that the Government of the Republic of China in taking over", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-588-24 China- British extra-territorial rights- negotiations with China 23-11-1942 - 1-1-1943.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 589771, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-609-5 Future policy- Press accounts of Chinese unrest over Kowloon evictions 19-1-1948 - 16-3-1948", "page_number": 16, "title": "CO129-609-5 Future policy- Press accounts of Chinese unrest over Kowloon evictions 19-1-1948 - 16-3-1948", "content_text": "NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE OVER KOWLOON.\n\n16\n\nTa Kung Pao, Shanghai, 9th February.\n\nFrom our Special Correspondent in London, 8th February.\n\nThe reactions of British public opinion to the Chinese reply on the Kowloon case are worthy of study. From these reactions it can be seen to what a great extent prejudice, lack of contact and subjectivity can hinder international understanding.\n\nOf the whole of the national press, only the London Times and the Manchester Guardian reported the contents of the Chinese reply to the British public. Under the headline \"China's Sharp Reply to Great Britain\" the \"Times\" summed up the Chinese reply in one sentence as follows, \"The most recent Chinese Note maintains that jurisdiction over Kowloon City is clearly reserved to China in the Peking Protocol of 1898 and the action of the Paoan (Po-on) magistrate in looking into the matter was quite in order. The responsibility for the clash between the police and the people which followed rests with the Hong Kong Government.\"\n\nThe \"Times\" Diplomatic Correspondent further comments; \"The sharp tone of the reply has caused some surprise in London. It expresses no regret at the incidents which occurred and deals almost exclusively with the question of jurisdiction in this matter. The British Government hopes to reach an amicable settlement of the matter with the Chinese Government.\"\n\nThe Manchester Guardian's method of presenting the news was particularly surprising. Under the headline \"China does not Apologise Canton Riots\", it says, \"Yesterday evening the Chinese Embassy published the long Note on the recent Canton incident which the Chinese had sent to the British Government yesterday. The British Consulate General in Canton was burnt down in an anti-British demonstration, the cause of which was the arrest in Hong Kong of two Chinese. These two Chinese had broken the law by resisting the police who had attempted to make them evacuate houses unfit for habitation in Kowloon. This paper, like the Times, summed up the whole contents of the Note in one sentence and commented; –\n\n\"No matter what the rights and wrongs of the complicated question of jurisdiction may be, in the whole of this long Note China made no expression of regret whatsoever regarding the burning of the British Consulate General in Canton.\"\n\nThe Chinese in London are surprised that two important English newspapers should distort the facts to this extent. We all remember the Chinese Government's proposal to the British Government that the Kowloon and Shameen Incidents should be discussed at the same time but the British Government refused and insisted that the two matters should be dealt with separately. This is on record and may be investigated. The Note sent by the British to the Chinese Embassy on the 20th January mentioned only the Kowloon incident and in the whole text there was not one word about Shameen. The Chinese reply was an answer to the British Note just mentioned. In order to meet the British request that the two matters should be discussed separately, the Chinese Ambassador did not bring up Shameen in his Note on the Kowloon incident.\n\nChinese circles...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-609-5 Future policy- Press accounts of Chinese unrest over Kowloon evictions 19-1-1948 - 16-3-1948.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 } ]