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.