London, Feb. 25, 1886 Transmitting the following three letters:
My, K. Murray to the Marquis of Salisbury, "London Chamber of Commerce, 84 King William St., Londo", February 5, 1886.
My Lord,—Tho Executive Committee of the London Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of its East India and Chins Trade our to address your of British subjects engaged in tra foreign country commerce in that enjoy the privi A vantage of being supported in their trade negotiations by the Ministers of their several countries.
It has long been the rule of H.MM. Foreign Office to decline to 7 support being given by British Ministers at Foreign Courts, or by. British Consuls, to the merchants and traders of Grest Britain in respect of matters of trade b tween them and the Governments or jects of those countries in which they are reside Executive Committee beg howe')hip's attention to a gra aken place during recent years in the foreign trade of other evuntries partly owing to the opening of the Suez Canal, in the matter of competition in our Eastern Trade by the merchants of the Continent, and to the undoubted fact thet these merchania ara auiated in their under+ takings by the moral, and frequently by th active personal, support of their minister "At a time when the Chinese Goveruproviding annamer every known market, we are grateful, and may tlemen; but T fail to portion of their duty to con the quality of our goods. One of th officials sends rec native makes from C!
port with the rubbish sent there from Lancs The Marquis of Salisbury to Mr. Plunkett, Foreign Office, Aug. 2, 1885.
In cases where foreign Representatives interfere to the detriment of British Com-much expense eatabli China, that they should have port nud assistance of Her presentative at Peking. If th rom them, there is great risk of one of our most valuable trades, at a time of a acti riy into the bunds of Germ: and the Executive Com-more jure our tradi such remark and am well acquainted \d varied productions, and ion to say that these remarks are both uncalled for and untrue, © The Lancashire cotton trade never produced better goods than now, never a greater jetty, and our powers wera never more It is quite true that low and are produced as well tinea hat, by far the largest being in hate at loss than half that price, made to look nearly as well and to serve the purpose required.
It must also be remembered that a very large portion of cotton fabrics are made otherwise than for clothing, Considerable jen are used in the East in lieu of these jot th variety in quality as well as Ido-not want to enlarge, but I think I have. said sufficient to point out that these The Marquis of Salisbury to Mr. U'Conor.
Foreign Office, Jan, 26, 1886, Sir,—I have to a sentations have bes made to Her Majesty's Governm between is country and China to the effect that ish interests are at present placed in a advantageous positi hin quence of the diplomatic support the efforte of foreign merchant contracts for th hero fore sent you a telegram this day authorising you to give sour support to British commercial interests where the interference of the Represi tives of Foreign Powers is exercised to their detriment.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.