Legation of the United States,
Pekin
,
December 23,
1896
. (Received Feb. 12.)
No. 2065.]
I now have the honor to inclose a translation of the Yamên’s
communication on that subject.
It will be seen that the application of the rules is limited to two
classes of vessels—men-of-war and merchant vessels of foreign type. The
native junk does not come within the operation of these rules. There are
many of these vessels plying between the northern and southern ports.
They are not within the jurisdiction of the inspector-general of
customs. I beg to be informed if it be your desire to endeavor to extend
the operation of the rules to this Class of vessels which may be over 20
tons tonnage.
[Inclosure in No. 2665.]
The Tsung-li Yamên to
Mr. Denby.
Pekin
,
December 22,
1896
.
No. 53.]
Your Excellency: In the matter of the rules
for the prevention of collisions at sea the princes and ministers
have received repeated communications from the minister of the
United States inquiring whether China would accept them or not, and
asking for an early reply in order that he might telegraph his
Government on the subject.
The Yamên communicated with the ministers superintendent of northern
and southern trade, as well as instructed the inspector-general of
customs to consider the rules and report on them.
Sir Robert Hart, inspector-general of customs, has now reported that
the rules for the prevention of collisions at sea were considered
and proposed at an international conference. The United States and
Great Britain made some slight alterations and amendments in them
and they have now been decided upon as the international rules to be
carried into effect.
[Page 87]
All the great powers have agreed to them, and China should act in
concert with them and also agree to them. The inspector-general
proposes, however, that China should agree to the rules now as being
applicable to two classes of vessels—men of war and merchant vessels
of foreign type—and they should be adopted at the date fixed. To
this end he requests that the Yamên instruct the ministers
superintendent of northern and southern trade to issue proclamations
so that due preparation may be made for giving effect to the rules
at the time named.
The inspector-general submits the above for the consideration of the
Yamên as to whether the rules should be adopted by China or not.
The princes and ministers would observe that the suggestions of the
inpector-general of customs are opportune, and as the rules have
been satisfactorily modified by the United States and Great Britain
and agreed to by those powers they will certainly prove advantageous
and beneficial to commerce. China is also willing and agrees to
adopt them.
The princes and ministers would further state that they have
addressed the ministers superintendent of northern and southern
trade to have the rules carried into effect at the date fixed and
instructed them to issue proclamations ordering Chinese war vessels
and merchant vessels of foreign type to comply with them.
In sending this’ reply the princes and ministers beg that the
minister of the United States will communicate the above for the
information of the honorable Secretary of State.
