No. 161.
Mr. Seward
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, April 7, 1880.
(Received June 8.)
No. 654.]
Sir: Recurring to my dispatch No. 643, in regard to
the proposed tax on cargo-boats, I have now the honor to inform you that the
subject was considered at a meeting of the diplomatic body held yesterday,
and that the several officers present agreed to write to the Yamên, in terms
of the note which I inclose herewith.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure in No. 654.]
Mr. Seward to
Prince Kung.
Peking, April 8,
1880.
Unofficial.]
Your Imperial Highness:
Sir Thomas Wade has communicated to me the note which their excellencies
the ministers of the Yamên did him the honor to address to him upon the
subject of imposing tonnage dues upon cargo-boats.
In the note referred to, their excellencies appear to imply that boats
attending on sea-going foreign vessels for the purpose of landing and
shipping cargo within the port are liable to tonnage dues.
The writer has consulted his colleagues, and it has been agreed between
them that they should at once inform the Yamên of their inability to
admit the claim of the Chinese Government to levy tonnage dues upon
boats engaged simply in shipping, landing, or transshipping cargo.
The writer and his colleagues will, of course, be most willing to
consider any rule regarding the registration of cargo-boats that the
ministers of the Yamên may communicate to them.
