The following is the correspondence on this subject.
Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, Shanghei, 22nd November, 1887.
Sm,—I have the honour to hand you herewith copy of a letter from this Chim-Ver to the Doyen of the Diplomatic Body at Peking, on the subject of the alleged Convention between the existing Cable panies and the Chinese Government.
T shall be glad if your Chamber will aid us with their support, in objecting to an arrangement which, if carried out, would be prejudicial to the interests of the Mercantile Community of China.
T have the honour to be, Your obedient ser E. H. Lavens, Chairman.
To the Chairman, Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, Hongkong.
Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, hanghai, 2ist November, 1887.
Sin,—The attention of the Committee of this Chamber has been drawn to announcements in the local Press to the effect that a convention is in tion between the existing European Telegraph Companies and the Chinese authorities which in their opinion, if carried out, will seriously affect the Mercantile communities at the various Treaty Ports, and although the Chamber is not int possession of any oficial information the subject there is good reason to Delieve that there is sufficient ground for the statements to warrant our addressing vote on the matter and asking you to bring it to the notice of your colleagues before matters have reached their maturity.
It is understood that the Convention in its essence is a mutual agreement between the Foreign Telegraph Companies and the Chinese, that there shall be no lowering of rates between this and Europe, and this in itself is an interference with the freedom of trade which should not be under the coercive control of any one Company or Syndicate of Companies.
Further than this it must be pointed out that if this Convention come into force it will be a precedent applying to all Chinese lines, and the hopes of the establishment of anew and cheaper route by the South and through Burma will have to be abandoned.
It is not at present necessary to go into details to the treatment which the East has recs ed from the Telegraph Companies in former years, but one notable instance may be nientioned, viz, the adoption of the word system, which while affecting to be a boon to the public was in reality i creasing the cost of each word by 60 por cent. as the Telegraph agents previously did the work for $1.20, whereas the Telegraph lines under the new arrangement charged $2.00, and it appears to give the existing Companies the power by a coalition to prevent a reversion to the lower tes which competition might bring about is a step which should be very gravely considered, affecting as it does the whole of the foreign Community in the East.
In these days the use of the Telegraph has become n necessity in all business and the present charges are a tax, while much of the business.
nade the old reglue would allow of of lines has now to be abandoned, cost is greater than the operation can bear, I should be glad therefore if you will use your influence to prevent the carrying out, of any such arrangement, which the Chamber is of opinion would prove a serious obstacle to trade and an injury to. the Foreign Communities generally.
have the honour to be, Your obedient servant, H. Lavens, Chairman.
I. von Brandt, H.LG.M.'s Envoy extraordinary and M 1 Plenipo-y and Doyen of the Diplomatic Hongkong General Chamber ut Commerce, Hongkong, 9th December, 1887.
Sin,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 22nd ultimo, inviting this Chamber's ce in. support of the communication a dressed by the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce to the Doyt: Diploma. tic Body at Peking, alleged contemplated convention betw the existing Foreign Telegraph Compani and the Chinese Government, The Com tee of this Chamber have fully considered the observations pnt forward in your letter, and a clearly of opinion that an earnest' protest should be made avy the carrying out of any such combination which is likely to prove injurious to cun merce in the East, and, in reply to your letter, I am desired to furnish you with the following copy of a resolution unanimously passed at a ig of the Committee held on the 3rd instant, to consider this subject. Resolved—* That this Committee view wit considerable alarm the rumoured negotiations that are said io be pending, for the combined working of the several Foreign Telegsaph lines with the Chinese Telegraph Service, the object being tu prevent the healthy competition between these various undertakings which is very essential to commerce, more particularly as the arrangement, should it come into force, will form a most stringent monopoly. For the right of landing cables on Chinese territory being within the control of the Government of China, the right will be exercised to prevent the competition of any opposing enterprise, which, under ordinary circumstances, probably would be started to neutralise the effects of what might be termed a simple monopoly. That this Committee respectfully urge upon H.B.M.'s Minister at Peking the necessity that exists to prevent, by every possible means that may Ko in his power, the consummation of " Convention that is said to be pending."
I may add that a copy of the above reso lation will be forwarded to H.B.M.'s Ministet at Poking and to the Executive of this colony.
P. Ryrie, Chairman, Lavers, Esq. Chairman, Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, Hongkong, 7th December.
Su,—The Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce has forwarded to this Chamber, copy of a communication addressed to the Doyen of the Diplomatic Body at Peking relating to an alleged contemplated conven= tion between the Government and the existing Foreign Telegraph Companies, matter which it is hardly necessary to remind your Excellency is of vital importance to the mercantile communities in the Far East. vention have not been made belle, there Although the terms of the proposed cott-
are grounds for apprehending that the openition of the uew arrangement would be attended with injurious results and especially would press very seriously on the commercin) public, who are the largest contributors to telegraphic trottie. Therefore, in the opinion of the Committee of this Chamber any attempt, direct or indirect, to increase the burdens on trade should be met with the strongest remonstrance, and T am desired by the Committee who now all themselves of the renewed privilege uted the Chamber of corresponding rect with H.B.M.'s Representative at Peking, to invite your earnest attention, to the resolution passed at a recent meeting held to consider this subject, and the Committee respectfully urge that Your Excellency may be pleased to exert your powerful influence to check the consunuation of a scheme embracing restrictions detrimental to the general public, The following resolution was passed uns animously Resolved—That Thave the honour to be, Your Excelleney's most obedient servant, Ryire, Chairman, His Excellency Sir John Walsham, H.B.M.s Minister, Poking, Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, Shanghai, 2ist November, 1887, Sim,—I have the honour to hand you herewith a communication from this Chum ber to His Excellency M. Von Brandt, H.G.M. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, Doyen of the Diplomatic Body at Peking on the subject of the new convention stated to be in progress between the existing Cable Companies and the Chinese authorities in comection with the Native Telegraph Lines, and I shall, be ed if you will forward it to its destina-after perusal. I enclose a copy for your information.
T have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, E. H. Lavens, Chairman, P. J. Hecnes, Esq., H.B.M. Consul-General, Doyen of the Consular Body, Shanghai.
Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, Shanghai, 20th Deecember, 1887.
St,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of 9th
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.