September 22, 1900.]
were then, also that, owing to the opening of Weihaiwei and a decided increase in the Northern mails, Hongkong is in a worse posi tion than before with the penny postage, which in itself is a source of reduced revenue. To save time, a letter has been drafted by the Secretary in reply to the Government, which I will read, and which I think embodies all the arguments that can be given as supplemental to our former letter.
The letter was then read, unanimously ap- proved, and it was decided to send it in at once.
THE CRISIS IN PEKING.
The CHAIRMAN said-Hongkong, and I may say the Far East generally, receives hardly any official intimation of what is proceeding in the North. We have therefore to rely upon what is published by Reuter and other unofficial sources of information. These have pointed to & decided attempt by Russia and other Powers to persuade the Allies to retire from Peking, now that the Legations have been rescued, and to conduct negotiations for peace and future arrangements from Tientsin. It is unnecessary to enlarge upon the probable effect that such a course would have throughout the length and breadth of China, as it would be at once construed into a sign of weakness on the part of foreigners. It is hardly probable that the British Government would acquiesce in such a retrograde movement, but it seems a time when all interested in China and the China trade should raise their voices in protest against such a palpable error. We have, therefore, as you are aware, wired a message to the London Chamber of Commerce and also forwarded a covering letter, which I will now read to you. I may add that a copy of the telegram was communicated to the Government, and a reply has been sent to Mr. E. W. Mitchell, who had addressed a letter to the Committee, asking if they intended protesting against the proposed withdrawal of the troops from Peking.
The following is the telegram referred to, sent on the 6th Sept., to the London Chamber
of Commerce
"Please communicate Foreign Office as fol- lows:-Hongkong Chamber Commerce earnest- ly advocates maintaining Allied Forces Peking until proper Government established and guilty officials punished. Earlier withdrawal most disastrous foreign prestige throughout China."
ESTABLISHMENT OF AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT MANILA.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. ↑
295
From Vladivostock on 17th May, 1900:- follows-Hongkong Chamber of Commerce "Please advise Kenric Murray (Secretary) earnestly advocates maintaining Allied Forces London Chamber of Commerce and Congress, Peking until proper Government established detained Tientsin, Peking, by press of business, and guilty officials punished. Earlier with will most likely arrive too late to attend meet drawal most disastrous foreign prestige through ing Congress." I will telegraph from Moscow out China. reasons supporting Hongkong Chamber's re- solutions."
From Irkutsk on 15th June, 1900:-
Chairman."
The Committee are in hopes that the East Refer telegram from Vladivostook on 17th lend a cordial support to this representation, India and China Sections of your Chamber will May, please advise Congress Chambers and which has been despatched in consequence of Thomas Jackson: telegraph subventions create continuous public telegrams stating that some monopoly, enable companies impose exces of the Powers contemplated ending the cam- sive onerous rates Europe Asia. Com- panies' aggregate undivulged earnings con- Peking residents.
paign with the relief of the Ministers and clusive proof and justify demand for reasonable tariff.
The proposal, which it appears was first Latterly Imperieuse dis-mooted by Russia, for the Allied Forces to evac- covered uncharted rock Amoy Harbour, uste Peking before any satisfaction has been life entailed through the action of the Chinese obtained or reparation offered for the loss of Government in directing the efforts of the Boxers to secure the extermination of all the Foreigners in China, seems to my Committee likely to be fraught with the most disastrous consequences if adopted.
Bonaventure struck uncharted rock off Cores, Namoa total loss off uncharted rock Haitan Straits, Chingtu grounded off un- charted shoal North Australia, frequent dis- covery uncharted dangers, increasing steamers tonnage, etc. Eastern Seas require resurvey Trade impossible until complete tariff under Chinese inland water navigation definitely negotiated and collection thereof guaranteed by formation separate branch foreign customs. Urge this and demand new workable rules in the interests of domestic and consequent increase of Foreign trade.”
A
From Penza on 22nd June, 1900:- "Irkutsk telegram of 15th June, please read telegraph subventions, concessions, privileges, &c., create monopoly; opening Chinese Inland waterways concession completely worthless, refer Consul Hosie's Woochow 1899 report.”
"
And from Moscow, 25th June, 1900:-
Greatly regret too late attend meeting Congress. Inform Kenric Murray and Sir Thomas Jackson. Please telegraph whether Irkutsk Penza telegrams understood."
On 29th ultimo I received at St. Petersburg a reply from the Chartered Bank, London, intimating that my telegram had been received in an intelligible form and that the China speech had been well received.
rank as a confession of Western weakness and It would be regarded by the Chinese of every of the superiority of Chinese arms, and anti- foreign literature inciting to renewed violence and insults would quickly be in circulation throughout the eighteen Provinces, where, counts will be given by the officials. under any circumstances, the most garbled ac-
dents in China that the present orisis has It is the conviction of the Foreign Resi- been brought on by the deliberate mala fides of the Empress Dowager and her creatures and unless a blow be now dealt at those in high places, and a demonstration be made of the strength and determination of the Allied Powers, there will soon be a fresh and more formidable, foreigners from the Chinese Empire. because better organised, effort made to sweep
this well considered conclusion to the Noble Trusting that your Chamber will represent Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign
dear Sir, Yours faithfully,
Affairs.
I
am,
I again beg to express my great regret at having been unavoidably prevented from at- tending the Congress as one of the Hongkong Chamber's Delegates. I endeavoured to do all that was possible under the unfortunate cir-K. W. MURRAY, Esq.,
cumstances.
I am,
Read letter, dated 28th August, from Secre-
Your most obedient servant, tary, announcing the organisation of an Ameri-
T. H. WHITEHEAD. can Chamber of Commerce at Manila, and ex-
R. C. WILCOX, Esq., pressing readiness to correspond if it could Secretary, Hongkong General Chamber of be of use to members of the Hongkong Cham-Commerce, Hongkong.
ber.
QUARANTINE AGAINST HONGKONG. The Committee then discussed the continu. ance of quarantine restrictions against vessels arriving from Hongkong at Singapore and other ports now that the Bubonic Plague has ceased to be epidemic and cases have dwindled to 3 or 4 in a week. It was decided to address the
Government on the subject and urge the issue of a clean bill of health as soon as practicable. This was all the business before the meeting.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hongkong, 22nd August, 1900. Dear Sir,
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 13th ult., expressing your regret that unforeseen circumstances prevented your arrival in England in time to attend the fourth Congress of Chambers of Commerce of the Em- pire, held in London on 26th-29th June, an giving copies of the telegrams you despatched respectively from Vladivostock, Irkutsk, Penza, and Moscow, announcing probable inability to The following is some of the correspondence be present, and summarising your arguments in favour of the resolutions you had agreed, as one of the Delegates for this Chamber, to pro- рове.
referred to under the various heads :-
THE CONGRESS OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.
Chartered Bank of India, Australia
and China, Threadneedle Street,
London, E. C., 13th July, 1900.
Dear Sir,
I very sincerely regret to report that anavoidable untoward circumstances prevented my arriving in this country in time (I did not reach London until the evening of Saturday, 7th inst.) to attend the meeting of the Fourth Congress of the Chambers of the Empire, held in London on 26th to 29th ultimo, and propose the resolutions entrusted to me as one of the Chamber's delegates, bearing on the reduction of telegraph rates and fresh marine surveys in Eastern Seas, and to support the Chamber's other resolution in connection with the open- ing of the inland waters of China to steam navigation. Business detained me after my departare from Hongkong on 14th April last, at Shanghai, Tientsin, and Peking, and fearing that I might not arrive in time to at- tend the Congress I despatched the following telegrams to the Chartered Bank in London :--
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretary.
Secretary, London Chamber of Commerce.
SIR,
THE EASTERN MAIL SUBSIDY.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
30th August, 1900.
With reference to your letter of the 5th lonial contribution to the subsidy for the Eas- June, 1897, regarding the question of the Co-
tern Mail Service, I am directed to transmit for the information of the Chamber the enclosed copy of correspondence between the Colonial Office and the Treasury, and a copy of an award which was given by the Earl of Morley as Ar- bitrator upon the questions which arose as to the proportion of the cost of the Service to be done by the Government of India.
lay these papers before the Chamber at an early 2. I am to request you to be good enough to date in order that they may, if they desire, sup- plement the remarks made in your letter above mentioned.
I have the honour to be, sir,
Your most obedient servant,
F. H. MAY, Acting Colonial Secretary.
I am instructed by the Committee to say, in reply, that they fully appreciate the earnest desire they know you had to fulfil the duty you The SECRETARY, undertook, and thank you for the efforts you made to carry it out, so far as was possible, under the conditions.
I am, dear sir,
Yours faithfully, R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretary.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD,
London.
THE CRISIS IN PEKING. -
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, "Hongkong, 7th September, 1900.
Sir,
Yesterday under instructions from my Committee, I despatched to your Chamber the following message by wire :----
Chamber of Commerce.
Downing Street,
19th December, 1898.
SIR,
I am directed by Mr. Secretary Cham- berlain to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 16834/98 of the 18th. ultimo, re- specting the apportionment of the cost of the Eastern Mail Service, and to request that you will move the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury to cause this Department to be furnished with the accounts which, as stated in paragraph 2 of your letter, the Postmaster. General has been requested to furnish, as soon as they are ready.
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS,
"Chamber of Commerce, London.
Please communicate Foreign Office sa The SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY,
44
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