No. 47.
Mr. Denby to Mr. Bayard.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, September 21, 1887. (Received November
11.)
No. 458.]
Sir: Adverting to my dispatch No. 453, of
date the 15th instant, I have now the honor to inclose copy of reply
which I received from the foreign office, wherein you will observe
that the Chinese Government find it difficult to accept the
invitation of the Government of the United States, for the reasons
set forth therein, to cooperate with it in carrying out, upon a
reciprocal basis, the act of Congress approved June 19, 1886, having
relation to the abolition of tonnage dues and other charges on
navigation.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No.
458.Translation.]
The Foreign
Office to Mr. Denby.
Peking, September 19,
1887.
No. 15, 1887.]
Your Excellency: The Prince and
ministers had the honor to receive on the 15th instant a
communication from your excellency, by which you informed them
that, under a new act of Congress, a reduction or complete
abolition by reciprocal action of tonnage and all other charges
on navigation could be made between the United States and
foreign countries. Your excellency transmitted a translation of
four clauses of said act, and on behalf of your Government
invited China’s cooperation with it in making the reductions
specified by said act, etc.
It appears to the Yam6n that in western countries the carrying
trade is conducted by vessels of those countries, and hence, the
question of a reduction of tonnage dues, or the entire abolition
of such charges on navigation, could be reciprocally discussed;
but as a very few merchant vessels under the Chinese flag ever
go to foreign countries the circumstances are different, and for
that reason China finds it difficult to accept the invitation
extended by the United States.
As in duty bound, the Prince and ministers send this
communication in reply, with the request that your excellency
will communicate their decision upon this question to the
Government of the United States.
A necessary communication addressed to his excellency Charles
Denby.
