Annexes 2 and 3
Exchange of Notes Between the Japanese and Chinese Commissioners for Treaty Revision Regarding the Inland Waters Navigation of the Japanese Steamers
From Japanese Commissioners to Chinese Commissioners
October 8, 1903
Gentlemen,
According to Article III of the present Treaty the Chinese Government agree that any Japanese steamer capable of
navigating Inland Waterways, upon reporting at the Imperial Maritime Customs, may proceed for the purpose of trade from a treaty port to places inland, so reported, on complying with the Original and Supplementary Regulations for Steam Navigation Inland.
It is understood that all classes of Japanese steamers, whatever their size, provided they are capable of navigating the Inland Waterways, may on complying with the Regulations receive an Inland Waters Certificate and carry on trade with inland places, and the Chinese Government will in no case raise difficulties and stop such steamers from plying to and from inland places.
We have the honour, in order to prevent future misunderstandings, to address this despatch to Your Excellencies and to request that instructions be sent to the Inspector General of Maritime Customs to act in accordance with this understanding. We have further the honour to request a reply from Your Excellencies.
We have the honour to be, etc.
From Chinese Commissioners to Japanese Commissioners
Shanghai, August 29, 1903 (Chinese Calendar)
Gentlemen,
We have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellencies' despatch of this date, written with a view to preventing future misunderstandings, to the effect that, in accordance with the provisions of Article III of the present Treaty, all classes of Japanese steamers, whatever their size, provided they are capable of navigating the Inland Waterways, may on complying with the Regulations receive an Inland Waters Certificate and ply to and from inland places, and that the Chinese Government will in no case raise difficulties and stop them.
During the negotiations of this Article, we received a list from Your Excellencies of the Japanese steamers viz., Sanyo Maru, Setagawa Maru, Hiuga Maru, Urato Maru, Neisei Maru, Heian Maru, Taiko Maru, Yoshino Maru, Meiko Maru, Fukuju Maru, Hijikawa Maru, Nagata Maru, Kyodo Maru, Horai Maru, Kwanko Maru, Keiko Maru, Kinriu Maru, Zensho Maru and Kohei Maru, ranging from one hundred and twenty-one tons to four hundred and ten tons register—plying from Chefoo to inland places in Manchuria, under Inland Waters Certificate and in accordance with the Regulations for Steam Navigation Inland, which vessels have not been prevented from doing so on account of their class.
At that time we instructed the Deputy Inspector General of Customs to make inquiries into the records of the Custom Houses, and he reported that the circumstances were in accordance with Your Excellencies' statement.
In consequence of the receipt of Your Excellencies' despatch we shall communicate with the Wai-wu Pu and request that instructions be sent to the Inspector General of Customs to take these circumstances into consideration and to act accordingly, and we have the honour to write this despatch for purposes of record.
We have the honour to be, etc.