71615-1921-Commercial-relations-between-Great-Britain-and-Esthonia — Page 1

92

THE HONGKO

VERNMENT GAZETTE, MARCH 18, 1921.

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

No. 100.

CIRCULAR.

COLONIAL OFFICE,

7th January, 1921.

The accompanying amended copy of the note from His Majesty's Government to the Esthonian Government respecting Commercial Relations is transmitted to be substituted for the copy which formed Enclosure 1 in Secretary of State's Circular despatch of 21st September, 1920.

I have, &c.,

W. CHURCHILL.

The Officer Administering the Government of

SIR,

HONGKONG.

[Enclosure 1 in Circular despatch of 21st September, 1920.]

FOREIGN OFFICE,

July 20th, 1920.

1. It being the desire of our respective Governments to establish close commercial relations between the United Kingdom and Esthonia, I have the honour to inform you that, on condition of reciprocity, Esthonian nationals and goods, the produce or manufacture of the territories of Esthonia, will enjoy unconditionally in the territories of His Britannic Majesty treatment at least as favourable in all respects as that accorded to the nationals and goods, the produce or manufacture of the most favoured foreign country. This treatment shall be accorded in all matters of commerce and navigation as regards importation, exportation and transit, and, in general, in all that concerns. customs duties and formalities and commercial operations; the establishment of Esthonian subjects in the territories of His Britannic Majesty, the exercise of commerce, industries and professions and the payment of taxes.

2. Esthonian vessels will enjoy in the ports, rivers, and territorial waters of the territories of His Britannic Majesty treatment not less favourable than that accorded to British vessels, or to vessels of the most favoured foreign country; subject, however, to the right of the British Government to reserve the coasting trade to British vessels.

3. His Majesty's Government further undertake, on condition of reciprocity, to accord freedom of transit to persons, goods, vessels, aircraft, carriages, wagons and mails in transit to or from Esthonia over the territories of His Britannic Majesty, including territorial waters, and to treat them at least as favourably as British persons, goods, vessels, aircraft, carriages, wagons and mails, respectively, or those of any other more favoured nationality, origin, importation or ownership, as regards facilities, charges, restrictions and all other matters.

4. The foregoing stipulations will not be applicable to India, or to any of His Britannic Majesty's Dominions, Colonies, Possessions or Protectorates beyond the seas, unless notice of accession to this arrangement shall have been given on behalf of India or any such Dominion, Colony, Possession or Protectorate by His Britannic Majesty's representative at Reval before the expiration of twelve months from this date. Never- theless, goods, the produce or manufacture of India or of any of His Britannic Majesty's Dominions, Colonies, Possessions and Protectorates, will enjoy in Esthonia complete and unconditional Most Favoured Nation treatment so long as India or such Dominion, Colony, Possession or Protectorate accords to goods, the produce or manufacture of Esthonia, treatment as favourable as that accorded to the produce of the soil or industry of any other foreign country.

2