A farewell banquet was given on Thursday. at the Shanghai Club by the British Chamber of Commerce in honour of Sir Beilby Alston, who lift yesterday for his new post. in Buenos Aires and Admiral Sir Alexander Duff, whose commission as Commander-in-Chief of H. M. China Fleet is also ending.
The guests of the evening were: Sir Beilby Alston, CB., K.CM.G, Admiral Siy Alexander Duff, k.c.8., k.c.v.0., Commander Collins, D.s.0., Wr. H. H. Fox, c.m.¢., his Honour Judge Grain, Mr, C. F. Garstin, Major A. G. W. Grierson, F.M.L.I., Paymaster Commander Green, It. Commander Hooper, Mr. Sidney Barton, ou.G., H. M. Consul-General, Mr. H. J. Brett, Reav-Admiral McLachlan, ¢.B.,.N., and Capt. R. Eliot, coe. There were also. present:—Messrs. W. LIH. Trenchard Davis, C. G. Humphrys, F. R. Scott, G. H. Stitt, A. W. Burkill (Chairman), C. H. Arnhold, L. W. Hutton, H. W. Lester (Vice-Chairman), E. F. Mackay, ~C. GS. Mackie, P. W. Massey, and G. W. Sheppard. General Committee: Messrs. E, Lester Arnold, Chas. Beswick, W. H. Barham, A. W. Brankston, J. Bennett, R. Bailey, P. Campbell, A. 8. Camp-holl, H. J. Clark, E. E. Clark, C. Champkin, W. W. Cox, T. G. Drakeford, W. J. Davey, W. N. Donaldson, Perey Fowler, R. 1. Fearon, A. P. Finch, Bernard Firth, Gray, O. M. Green, H. H. Girardet, E. M. Gull, Hargreaves, W. J. Hawkings, P. L. Knight, W. B. Kennett, N. Lees-Smith, P. W. O. Liddell, R. M. Little, R. Calder Marshall, Marbles, A. V. Mon 9 Gillivray, P.O. Moore, Aloe Mor-foy, A. J. Morrison, F. W. Noel, C. G. Oakes, R. C. Phillippe, John Prentice, A. J. Percival, J. Quin, W. Ridler, F. Rayden, J. Ross Young, S. S, Selick. C.. Stresino, P.M. Scott, A. L. Shields, G. A. Turner, W. Turner, G. LIH. i Wright. T. B. Webster, and D. Wi cir Churchill.
After the toast of "the King" rad been honoured. Mr. A. W. Burkill, Chairman of the Chamber, <xpressed the regret they all felt in having to say farewell to their distinguished guest and the earnest hope that he would rapidly improve in health. He also thanked him sincerely for the great assist-arnee he had given, not only to the various chambers of Commerce in China, but also for the way he had supported British interests.
Sir BeiJby Alston said, in part:~- Taking leave of old friends, as I have had occasion to say more than once recently, is a trying ordeal and I de not propose to add to it by inflicting on you an inventory of the political situation or of the many complex problems with which we are faced in China to-day.
T will mention two matters in which I know you are especially terested. The Chinese import tariff has recently been revised in order to bring it up to an effective 5 per cent. ad valorem and, as you know, the Powers have given China this extra revenue unconditionally because they were under a treaty obligation to allow China. to collect import duties at this rate. At the forthcoming special conference in Peking, China has been promised a further increase of revenue—a very considerable one this time—in the shape of a 2} per cent. surcharge on the import d and in addition a luxury train articles. I believe there is some apprehension lest the Powers, following up the very generous attitude adopted towards China the Washington Conference, may agree to this surcharge without insisting on adequate guarantees to the manner in which this additional revenue ig to be expended. Well. Washington treaty distinct! s that the Conferen.e shall authorize the levy of this surcharge "for such purposes and subject to such conditions as may determine." ~T do not vot know what conditions His Maje: Government propose to attach to their acceptance of this surtax, but T think vou maw rest assured that steps will be taken to secure. that this money will be devoted to measures beneficial to trade and not be squandered on the upkeep of armies and the purchase of arms and ammunition. No decision will be taken until after a very careful examination of the whole question, and I think I can promise that our Chambers of Commerce wil] be given an opportunity of stating their views before the surtax is finally agreed to. The conference wil] also consider a further increase in the import duties in return for the abolition of Jitin and_ here again T think you may take it for granted that His Majesty's Government will in no circumstances agree to the levy of these new duties until they are satisfied that the Chinese Government are in a position to carry out their share of the bargain, which I agree with your committee in thinking should be the total abolition of all forms of inland taxation on merchandise.
EDUCATION OF CHINESE, The other matter I wish to mention is the question of education of Chinese on British lines, about which we have heard so mitch lately. It does seem to me that, while people at home have been talking, British merchants in China have been acting and I wish to take this opportunity of congratulating the {Associated Chambers on the. very practical mauner in which they have shown their interest in this important question by the establishment of their Education Fund. T am sorry to hear that, for reasons we all know, the fund has not ceived the support it deserves outside Shanghai and in England, but you have made a good beginning and I feel sure that, when better times come along, the fund will be given the wherewithal largely to increase its. usefulness. I have done what little I could to help by bringing the fund to the notice of His Majesty's Government and by urging that if part of the Boxer Indemnity ie to be remitted for educational purposes a grant should in the first instance be made to your fund. I have every hope that: my successor may bring out with Majesty's Government in this mat him the final decision of for: te is now under their immed-late consideration.
Gentlemen, it is a great pleasure to find myself associated on. my ae: path the Gommander-in-Chief. We ure, as I was on my arrival, all know what good work the Navy has done in China and I personally am under a debt of gratitude to His Excellency for the support and ce-operation which he has always afforded to me, I am also glad to have this opportunity of thanking our Commercial Counsellor for his unceasing labours in upholding British commercial interests in this-country. It will be a great advantage to my successor to have someone near him who will, sense, be a direct representative of the Chambers of Commerce.and of your interests. You are lucky to have such an able remplacant of Mr, Fox as Mr, Brot, who hae just. returned from home "like a giant refreshed and eager for the fray.
Let me. thank you once more for the most kind reception you have given mo this evening and for all your good wishes. On my part I would reciprocate by hoping that the Chinese may soon see the wisdom of composing their unhappy differences and that when peace and good order reign throughout the land there. may come a boom in trade the like of which has never before been. seen and that you gentlemen will then reap the reward which you have, by your prudence and your perseverance, so richly deserved.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.