No. 140.
Mr. Denby
to Mr. Bayard.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, January 6, 1887.
(Received March 7.)
No. 281.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith the reply
of the yamên to my communication relating to the tax levied on sugar in
Formosa, of which a copy was sent to you with my dispatch No. 260, of
December 2, 1886.
It will be seen that the yamên relies on Rule 7 of the trade convention of
1858 with the United States. The yamên states that it has deputized
officials to consult and arrange the matter. I will communicate the
result.
I have to state in this connection that I have noticed in the public press
that the viceroy at Canton has levied a new tax on kerosene oil. When I
receive official notice from the consul, to whom I have written, I will
protest against this outrage of Chang Chi Tung. I shall thus largely avail
myself of your fine argument in your dispatch No. 116, of March 8, 1886.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 281.]
The Tsung-li yamên to Mr.
Denby.
Your Excellency: Some time ago the prince and
minister had the honor to receive a communication from your excellency
in relation to the levying of lekin in Formosa, wherein you stated that
it was important that the question be settled, etc.
At the time, the yamên sent instructions to Formosa, calling for a report
upon the subject, and also acknowledged your excellency’s dispatch. This
is a matter of record.
Now, it appears that the collection of lekin in the island of Formosa is
at present confined to one route [one road]. Whenever foreigners proceed
inland and purchase
[Page 179]
native
produce, and do not apply for transit passes (to cover the goods in transitu), or when they purchase native
produce at the treaty ports which have not paid lekin inland, in these
cases it is right that the exaction of lekin should be levied on the
goods. Since the collection of this tax is in lieu of the payment of the
harrier, or transit tax, it can not he regarded as the imposition of an
additional lekin tax from foreign merchants at the treaty ports.
The plan adopted in Formosa is not at variance with the provisions of
Article VII of the trade regulations between the United States and
China. Further, it is not altogether unlike the system governing the
collection of lekin in the other provinces, although there are in the
Formosa system slight points of difference. Instructions have already
been sent by the yamên to the authorities of Formosa, as well as to the
inspector-general of customs, to depute officers in Formosa to consult
and properly arrange the matter.
As in duty hound, the prince and minister send this communication in
reply for your excellency’s information.
A necessary communication, addressed to his excellency Charles Denby,
United States minister, Peking.
