Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 8, 1908

File No. 788/138–139.

Chargé Fletcher to the Secretary of State.

American Legation,
Peking, January 10, 1908.

No. 809.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copy of the “Experimental regulations for the collection of duty on native and foreign goods shipped to the new ports in Manchuria,” which have been transmitted to the legation by the foreign office and which provide for the issuance of certificates exempting such goods imported at Tientsin, Newchwang, Antung, or Dalny from the payment of further duty, irrespective of mode of shipment.

Copies of the inclosed have been furnished to our consuls at Tientsin, Newchwang, Mukden, Antung, and Dalny.

I have, etc.,

Henry P. Fletcher.

[Inclosure.]

The Prince of Ch’ing to Chargé Fletcher.

Foreign Office,
Peking, November 19, 1907.

F. O. No. 371.]

Your Excellency: I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that on November 9 I received the following communication from the general superintendency of customs:

“In accordance with the arrangement made by this office, in conjunction with the viceroy of Chihli, foreign goods which have been paid the regular import duty at Newchwang, if shipped from that port by rail to any of the newly opened ports in Manchuria, are given a certificate exempting them from the payment of any further duties; then, if the goods in question arrive at the port mentioned within two months, the original certificate is stamped and returned for cancellation. Instructions to this effect have been issued and distributed, as the records show.

“It now appears that the ports of Tientsin, Antung, and Dalny should be classed with Newchwang in this respect; and also, that goods not forwarded by rail, if really being transshipped to an open port, are in no way different from those carried on the railway, and should not, therefore, be subject to different rules. Furthermore, native goods which have paid the coast trade duty and are transshipped to ports in Manchuria should also be exempt from further payments. It is only just that the same regulations which apply to foreign merchandise should cover native goods as well.

“This office accordingly communicated with the inspector general of customs, directing him to make some arrangement with reference to the above points, and in reply has received from him a copy of the rules which he has drawn up, and which will be put into effect as experimental regulations.

“We inclose herewith a copy of these rules for your inspection, respectfully requesting that you will forward copies of them to the various foreign ministers in Peking, asking them to direct their nationals to observe the same.”

It becomes my duty, therefore, to inclose herewith a copy of the rules above mentioned and to request that you will give directions for their observance.

A necessary dispatch.

[seal of the wai-wu pu.]

[Subinclosure.]

Experimental regulations for the collection of duty on native and foreign goods shipped to the new ports in Manchuria.

I. All foreign goods which have paid the regular import duty at Tientsin, Newchwang, Antung, or Dalny, as well as all native goods which have paid the coast trade half duty (except such as may be sent into the interior either under transit pass or by paying likin, as may still be done at the direction of the owner and under the old regulations) and which are intended for transshipment to any of the newly opened ports in Manchuria, will be given a special certificate exempting them from the payment of further duty, and this is irrespective of how such goods are to be transshipped to their destination. This special certificate will be stamped in accordance with regulations, and will be good for two months only.

Whenever such certificates are applied for a signed declaration must be presented showing to what port the goods are consigned and stating that in case evidence of the arrival of the goods in the port mentioned is not forthcoming within the two months’ limit, the applicant will be willing to forfeit three times the amount of the half duty. In order to avoid the trouble of preparing a guaranty on each occasion, however, it will be permissible to draw up a bond of a similar nature, which will hold for a year, and to deposit the same in the customhouse. Such bond, if presented by a foreigner, must be sealed by a consular officer, and if presented by a Chinese, must be sealed by the commissioner of customs. If a yearly bond is not furnished, then a signed declaration made for each shipment will suffice. The forms for these bonds and declarations shall be determined upon by the imperial maritime customs.

II. In all cases where goods are shipped to the newly opened ports under special certificate such goods must correspond exactly with the declaration.

In case of any discrepancy or of the shipment of any goods not on the declaration, not only will the customhouse where such declaration was made collect a fine amounting to three times the half duty levied upon the entire shipment, but the goods which have been shipped to the newly opened port will there be confiscated.