The following report has been courteously sent us by the Committee of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce Sir John Walsham, H.B.ML's Minister China, having arrived at Shanghai oF his way to Peking, the Committee of the General Chamber of Commerce deemed it desirable to take advantage of his presence here, with the view of bringing to his notice jected with have fora long time euge Chamber, and regarding ber has from time to ti Representatives of Foreigi Powers at Poking.
In the hope therefore that, in concert with the otter Ministers, he would use his hest endeavours to bring to a speedy and ory conclusion these pend questions, the Committes saked Bie John Wa'sham' to give them an opportunity, possession Merchants whom they represented; a ight be made neq with the steps which had already been taken by the Chamber in furtherance of those views, the Committee subn him copies of the corres.
Inted e of the principal matters in The general conservancy of the river, including the dredging of the Woos Bar.
The present unsatisfactory system of Daty Drawbacks.
'The collection in the Settlement. of the tax on opium, known aa Leki cone nection with' which the Committee wald they would be glad to receive any informa. tion which Sir John Walsham 1 it in his power to give with re; probable operation of the Chefoo Agreoment of 1876. inter, in reply to the invitation of th tee, informed them that it would afford him very great pleasure to neet them, and named Saturday the 22nd inst, forthe purpore, in case this date should not be inconvenient to them.
The interview took place at H.B.M Consulate-General at eleven o'clock that day, when the following members of the Committee:—Mesers, Purdon (Chairman), J. J. Keswick (Vice-Chairman), W. Brand, F. E. Haskell, C.-M. Dyce, A. G, Wood and Geo. B. Corner (Secretary.)
Hi troduced by Mr. Alabaster, HBM, jul-General, Mr. Pur: don Walsham, who was accompanied by Mr. 'Townley, m member of the Leyation at Peking and' his private secretary, a cordial welcome to China on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce and the mercantile community of Shanghai, and expressed at t ime their gratification at having un op; ty of meeting him on his way to Peking.
expressed his sincere thanks for the hen of the welcome, berged to assur the Committes that he of the great kindness shown to him and his uily since their arrival. Ho was obliged to them, he added, for having furnished sim with an occasion for becoming person ally acquainted with the Representatives of the Chamber, and of learning their views and wishes in respect of matters which affected the community, and he need acwreely assure them that no effort would be spared on his part to assist in promoting and furth-ring their interest.
Alluding to the points to which the Committee had more especially called his attention he would first of all say a few words on the subject of the Chefoo Agreement, and the desire of the Committee to be informed as to how the matter stood at present. As they were doubtless aware, the coming into force of this Agreement depended on the terms of an additional article which had been signed by the two Goveruments, and which modified in certain respects the terms of the original Agreement; the application of the tax on opium known as lekin, figuring amongst such modify tions, When he left London early month he understood that the negotiations, between the two Governments were proceeding satisfactorily, and he should not therefore have been surprised on arriving at Shanghai to learn that an arrangement had been come to for giving effect to the operation of the Article. He had not however received any further information on the subject other than the fact that H.B.M.'s Government had agreed to allow thy additional article to be put into force atunee, and possibly therefore, although he didn't pretend to say that such was the case, any delay that had occurred might be duo to the fact that the Inboura of the joint-commission which was to be appointed under the Chefoo agreement: had not yet commenced.
As regards the dredging of the river, the foreign representatives at Peking had, he believed, within a recent date been me teresting themselves in the matter, and there was good reason for hoping' that Aredging operations might shortly With respect to drawbacks, they were of three kinds, as pointed out in the Momo-random attached to the Report of the Chamber of Commerce for 1884. It appeared, however, that the complaints of the mercal unity had reference chief entailed by what. were known as Coast Trade Drawhacka, on the geonnds 1.—That they must be applied for within twelve mouths after arrival of the produce ut the port of regutry, 2—That they are not exchangeable for ready money, ax in the case of Diawbucks for import duty on foreign goods redxported toa foreign country or to another Treaty Port.
3.—That they are available only for pay-went of other coast Trade Duties at the Sir John said that he concurred with the Committee in considering that the complaint of the Mercantile Community on this head was well founded, and he would use his best efforts to sid in obtaining remedy for what in the majority of instances must cause not only serious convenience to the exporter, but also no inconsiderable loss. Perhaps a solution of the difficulty might be found by making the bonds for these drawbacks the equivalent of cash, or by allowing them to be held ay payable for any duties at an Open Port Custom House, The Chairman replied that he thought this would be so.
The Committee then thanked Sie John or their reception, and withdrew.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.