Sir John Walsham replied that he thought a solution of this difficulty might
be reached by making the bonds for these drawbacks the equivalent of cash,
or by allowing them to be held as payable for any duties at an open port
custom-house.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 144.]
interview of the chamber of commerce committee
with sir john walsham, bart.
The following report has been courteously sent us by the committee of the
Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce:
Sir John Walsham, Her Britannic Majesty’s minister in China, having
arrived at Shanghai on his way to Peking, the committee of the general
chamber of commerce, deemed it desirable to take advantage of his
presence here, with the view of bringing to his notice several matters
of interest connected with the trade of this port, which have for a
longtime engaged the attention of the chamber, and regarding which the
chamber has from time to time addressed the representative of the
foreign powers at Peking.
In the hope, therefore, that, in concert with the other ministers, he
would use his best endeavors to bring to a speedy and satisfactory
conclusion these pending questions, the committee asked Sir John Walsham
to give them an opportunity before he left Shanghai, of placing him in
possession of the views of the foreign merchants, whom they represented,
and in order that he might be made acquainted with the steps which had
already been taken by the chamber in furtherance of those views, the
committee submitted to him copies of the correspondence that related to
some of the principal matters in question, viz:
The general conservancy of the rivers including the dredging of the
Woo-sung Bar.
The present unsatisfactory system of duty drawbacks.
The collection in the settlement of the tax on opium known as likin, in
connection with which the committee said they would be glad to receive
any information which Sir John Walsham might have it in his power to
give with regard to the probable operation of the Cheefoo agreement of
1876.
Her Britannic Majesty’s minister, in reply to the invitation of the
committee, informed them that it would afford him very great pleasure to
meet them, and named Saturday, the 22d instant, for the purpose, in case
this date should not be inconvenient to them.
The interview took place at Her Britannic Majesty’s consulate-general at
11 o’clock on that day, when the following members of the committee were
present: Messrs. J. G. Purdon (chairman), J. J. Keswick (vice-chairman),
W. Brand, F. E. Haskell, C. M. Dice, A. G. Wood, and George R. Corner
(secretary).
Having been introduced by Mr. Alabaster, her Britannic Majesty’s acting
consul-general, Mr. Purdon offered Sir John Walsham, who was accompanied
by Mr. Townley, a member of the legation at Peking, and his private
secretary, a cordial welcome to China, on behalf of the chamber of
commerce and the mercantile community
[Page 94]
of Shanghai, and expressed at the same time their
gratification at having an opportunity of meeting him on his way to
Peking.
Sir John expressed his sincere thanks for the heartiness of the welcome,
and begged to assure the committee that he was very sensible of the
great kindness which had been shown to him and his family since their
arrival. He was obliged to them, he added, for having furnished him with
an occasion for becoming personally acquainted with the representatives
of the chamber, and of learning their views and wishes in respect of
matters which affected the community, and he need scarcely assure them
that no effort would be spared on his part to assist in promoting and
furthering their interest.
Alluding to the points to which the committee had more especially called
his attention, he would first of all say a few words on the subject of
the Cheefoo agreement, and the desire of the committee to be informed as
to how the matter stood at present. As they were doubtless aware, the
coming into force of this agreement depended on the terms of an
additional article which had been signed by the two Governments, and
which modified in certain respects the terms of the original agreement,
the application of the tax on opium known as likins figuring amongst
such modifications. When he left London early last month he understood
that the negotiations between the two Governments were proceeding
satisfactorily, and he should not therefore have been surprised on
arriving at Shanghai to learn that an arrangement had been come to for
giving effect to the operation of the article. He had not, however,
received any further information on the subject other than the fact that
Her Britannic Majesty’s Government had agreed to allow the additional
article to be put into force at once, and possibly therefor, although he
did not pretend to say that such was the case, any delay that had
occurred might be due to the fact that the labors of the joint
commission which was to be appointed under the Cheefoo agreement had not
yet commenced.
As regards the dredging of the river, the foreign representatives at
Peking had, he believed, within a recent date, been interesting
themselves in the matter, and there was good reason for hoping that
dredging operations might shortly be undertaken.
With respect to drawbacks they were of three kinds, as pointed out in the
memorandum attached to the report of the chamber of commerce for 1884.
It appeared, however, that the complaints of the mercantile community
had reference chiefly to the hardship entailed by what were known as
coast-trade drawbacks, on the grounds:
- (1)
- That they must be applied for within twelve months after
arrival of the produce at the port of re-entry.
- (2)
- That they are not exchangeable for ready money as in the case
of drawbacks for import duty on foreign goods re-exported to a
foreign country or to another treaty port.
- (3)
- That they are available only for payment of other coast-trade
duties at the port of issue.
Sir John said that he concurred with the committee in considering that
the complaint of the mercantile community on this head was well founded,
and he would use his best efforts to aid in obtaining a remedy for what,
in the majority of instances, must cause not only serious inconvenience
to the exporter, but also no inconsiderable loss. Perhaps a solution of
the difficulty might be found by making the bonds for these drawbacks
the equivalent of cash, or by allowing them to be held as payable for
any duties at any open port custom-house.
The chairman replied that he thought this would be so.
The committee then thanked Sir John for their reception and withdrew.—Daily News.
