William H. Seward to Prince Kung, October 26, 1877
Mr. Seward to Prince Kung.
Sir: In the month of April last, the consul of the United States at Hankow applied to the intendant on behalf of Mr. M. A. Jenkins, an American citizen, for the usual transit certificate under which to bring from Chung King, in Szchuen, certain white wax, raw silk, saffron, and rhubarb. The intendant responded that the application must be made at. Ichang, that port being open to trade and on the route between Chung King and Hankow. The consul then applied to the intendant at Ichang, and the latter after some time agreed to issue the required paper, the transit dues to be paid at Ichang, and the produce shipped under bond for Hankow. As there are no American merchants at Ichang, and until the present time no foreign vessels running between that port and Hankow, the plan proposed did not appear practicable, and the consul has asked my intercession to secure a continuance of the old system, under which passes were applied for at Hankow, and the transit dues paid there.
It would seem that there should be no difficulty in arranging a matter which is so simple in its character.
Whether transit dues are paid at Ichang or at Hankow is the same thing for the revenue, but for the merchant resident at Hankow the requirement to pay them at Ichang, and to give a bond under which the produce may be taken forward to Hankow is very oppressive, especially at the present moment when there is no consular official at Ichang, no foreign firms, and no regular communication with Hankow. Moreover, there is no requirement of the treaties that produce brought out under transit certificates shall be taken account of, or the dues paid at the port nearest to the place of production or purchase. It would seem optional, under the 7th rule of the supplementary treaty, for the merchant to elect the port of shipment, and this privilege has been freely conceded heretofore. Produce has been taken from near Chefoo and Tientsin to Chinkiang, and from ports north of Chinkiang, by that port to Shanghai. Doubtless, inquiry would show that a similar procedure has prevailed at other points.
I beg leave, therefore, to ask your imperial highness to give the subject careful attention. I feel sure that the interests of trade will be best consulted by an adherence to the system heretofore observed, and that no departure from it should be allowed without a thorough examination into all considerations involved.
I have, &c.,,