§ 4. Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that on the 12th instant a cargo of British goods of the value of $420,000 (Mexican) was detained at Lintsing, in the province of Shantung, whilst in transit from Tientsin on the pretext of the demand for the payment of a hitherto unknown likin; that the owner of the goods arranged for payment of the likin under protest, but that Chang Tsung, the Tupan of Shantung, over-ruled the arrangement 380 and confiscated the goods, and has given orders that they should be sold; and whether he will take steps to secure the release of the goods forthwith?
10. Mr. FOOT MITCHELLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the disregard of reasonable security for trade shown by some of the Northern Chinese leaders, and especially by the military governor of Shantung, in whose territory open confiscation of valuable British merchandise has recently occurred; and will he make representations on this matter?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINOn the 15th December, His Majesty's Minister at Peking reported that the Shantung authorities were threatening the confiscation of a consignment of goods valued at some $400,000 (£40,000) belonging to a British company. These goods were being conveyed in boats on the Grand Canal from Tientsin to Southern Chihli. The route took them through Lintsing, in a corner of Shantung, where they were held up for the enforcement of various irregular taxes. The company agreed to pay these taxes; in spite of this, orders were given for the confiscation of the goods. It is alleged that these orders emanated from Chang Tsung-chang, the Military Governor of Shantung. In any case, the action of the Shantung authorities appears to be pure robbery.
On the Minister's instructions His Majesty's Consul-General at Tsinanfu, the capital of Shantung, made protests locally; Sir M. Lampson also made the strongest possible verbal representations to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in Peking, who promised to do his best. He assured Sir M. Lampson that he had already, in response to a written communication from His Majesty's Legation, telegraphed to Shantung, and that he would now take up the matter with the Premier and with Marshal Chang Tsolin's headquarters. He confessed, however, that he himself had no authority in Shantung.
His Majesty's Government cannot overlook this gross violation of the elementary rights of British merchants, and they count on Marshal Chang Tso-lin, who claims to control the province of Shantung, to take steps to secure the release of these goods.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEOn the facts stated, may I ask what action the Government propose to take?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI have told the hon. Member what action we have taken. With regard to the future, I think that I had better say nothing.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it right to say that these are the antiNationalist forces in Northern China?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI hope my hon. and gallant Friend will not ask me to classify every faction in China.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs Chang Tsung-chang not one of those upon whom favours have been showered by the British Government?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI am not aware that any favours have been showered by the British Government.