File No. 4277/1–3.
Minister Rockhill
to the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Peking,January 9,
1907.
No. 501.]
Sir: In continuation of my numbers 332,a 352,b and 482,c of June 26, July 16, and
December 18, respectively, in reference to the selection
[Page 219]
of suitable localities to be set apart for
international use and occupation at Mukden and Antung, I have the honor
to inclose herewith a copy of Mr. Coolidge’s instructions to the
consul-general at Mukden, of November 5, in which he expresses the
readiness of the legation to take up again the question of the
establishment of settlements at the above ports, which, as reported to
you in my No. 352, had been temporarily dropped.
I also have the honor to inclose a copy of my No. 1054, of the 8th
instant, to the consul-general at Mukden, the inclosures to which were
forwarded to the department in my No. 483, of December 16 last.a
I have requested Mr. Straight to close for the time being the discussion
of the question, which will now be taken up by the legation with the
Wai-wu Pu.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Chargé Coolidge
to Consul-General Straight.
American Legation,
Peking,November 5,
1906.
Sir: I have received your No. 40, of
October 30, informing me that Mr. Oliver, of the Chinese Imperial
Maritime Customs, has gone north to investigate conditions in
connection with the opening of Fakumen, Tung-chaikou (T’ung-chiang
tzu?), and Tiehling to foreign settlement and trade. You also ask
for an expression of our policy in case negotiations are renewed
with regard to the establishment of foreign settlements at Mukden
and Antung.
The archives of the consulate at Niuchwang, with which you are
familiar, contain records of all that has been done so far. The
previous negotiations were discontinued because in the view of the
Chinese Government the time had not yet arrived for a final
settlement. Everything was still in so uncertain a condition that it
was not possible at that time to make any definite arrangements. We
acquiesced in this opinion, but are ready now or at any time to take
up the question again. The settlement of this matter will devolve
upon you, but everything which you do is subject to the approval of
the Government. The underlying principle to be borne in mind
constantly is that the United States considers that under the treaty
of October 8, 1903, the cities of Mukden and Antung are opened
themselves as ports. It is for the advantage of both foreigners and
Chinese that there should be foreign settlements where foreigners
may congregate and, as far as possible, regulate their own affairs,
but these foreign settlements do not constitute the treaty ports.
Their establishment does not deprive the American consular
authorities of the right to fix their residence within the cities of
Mukden and Antung, nor does residence within their boundaries
deprive American merchants of their right to trade within these
cities themselves.
With regard to the location and regulation of these settlements, you
must be guided by previous instructions. The main thing to remember
in the selection of the location is that it should be healthful and
that it should be advantageously situated from a commercial point of
view. As for regulations, the more self-government granted the
better. Do not at the outset attempt to frame an elaborate system.
Make the rules as few and simple as possible. Try to meet the views
of the Chinese representative whenever you can, but do not let him
forget that under the treaty the consent of the United States is
indispensable to any arrangement.
(Signed)
John Gardner
Coolidge
.
[Inclosure 2.]
Minister Rockhill to Consul-General Straight.
American Legation,
Peking, January 8,
1907.
No. 1053.]
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of
your dispatch No. 69, of December 31, inclosing the reply of the
tartar-general to the identic note which you and your colleagues
sent him on the 22d of December in reference to the observance by
foreigners of the regulations for general taxation in the province
of Fengt’ien issued by his order.
This identic note was approved in my No. 1036, of December 31.
The draft reply to the tartar-general’s note of December 29, which
you inclose in your dispatch under acknowledgment for the approval
of this legation, is in accordance with the instructions heretofore
sent Mr. Sammons (see my No. 773, of June 28, 1906), which have
received the entire approval of the Secretary of State. As the
question of “consumption tax” is now being discussed by this
legation with the Wai-wu Pu, as I have already informed you in my
No. 1034, of December 29 of last year, I would omit from your note
to the tartar-general all reference to it. On page 2 of your draft
you should therefore strike out from line 4 the portion of the
phrase after the words “opened in this province,” to the end of the
paragraph.
With this answer sent the tartar-general, I think you should let this
question rest, as it is one which can not be settled locally but
must be discussed with the Chinese Government here. The
tartar-general’s views as shown in his note are of interest as his
personal interpretation of the terms of Article XVI of our treaty of
1903 concerning Mukden and Antung, but they do not necessarily
represent the views of the Imperial Government, which has not yet
replied to the note which I sent the Prince of Ch’ing on the 28th of
April of last year stating the interpretation by our Government of
the provisions of the treaty concerning the opening of Mukden and
Antung.
The legation agrees with your views as expressed in your dispatch
under acknowledgment as to the problematic future of a special
foreign settlement at Mukden, which, as you remark, like all the
other inland marts opened or to be opened in Manchuria will be
virtually a distributing point and depot for the collection of
native produce destined for transshipment to the coast, where the
headquarters of the foreign firms will remain located. If this is to
be the commercial role of these places, the contention of the
tartar-general that the rights of foreign trade at them should be
restricted to a small area in proximity to each of these marts,
would, if acceded to, deprive them of all value whatsoever. You will
please send the legation at once a copy of the Chinese text of the
viceroy’s note of December 28 and also of your reply when sent. All
important papers received from or sent to the Chinese authorities
should be sent to the legation in Chinese as well as in
translation.
I am, etc.,
