Coll 29/86 'Diplomatic and consular expenditure: incidence; revision; general' [‎270v] (540/561)

THE CHINA CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS.
(page 93.)
The East India Company bore the -whole expense of diplomatic
and consular intercourse with China as long as it enjoyed a
monopoly of British trade with China. In 1834 that monopoly
ceased, and it was decided that Great Britain should thence
forth pay two-thirds and India one-third of the
cost of the superintendents of trade, who were to represent
diplomatic and consular interests in China. India paid in
consequence one-third of the charge from 1834 to 1875, subject
to some deductions 0 The opening up of China and increase of
trade led to an increase of the diplomatic and consular
establishments, and., apparently* one-third of the divisible
charges would now amount to about £20,000 a year. In 1876
the arrangement was revised, and from that year to 1889
India paid a fixed contribution of £15,000 a year. The
Indian Government, however, considered this contribution
excessive, and they desired to reduce it to £10,000. The
Treasury maintained, on the other hand, that £15,000 was a
fair contribution. The question was referred to the
"Foreign Office Conference" in 1891* and the Conference
split the difference, reducing the contribution to £12,500,
a rate which was to continue in force until 1899-1900.
Thus the interest of India in the China trade has
always been officially acknowledged, and it must be borne in
mind that India depends for a considerable proportion of her
revenue on the opium trade with China. She has so far a
special concern in efficient representation at the ports in
China where opium is imported. It is impossible to apportion
such interests between Great Britain and India with mathematical
accuracy. We think that the decision of the Foreign Office
Conference should be maintained, that the contribution should
be fixed for a certain period, say, ten years. If the
conditions of trade should in the meantime change, and if there
should arise in consequence a difference of opinion between
the two Governments, the point, when the date of revision
arrives, should be submitted to the arbitration which we
suggest in another section of our report. The present
arrangement might be allowed to remain in force for a period
of five or six years.
THE JEDDAH CONS ULATE. (page 95.)
The Indian Government agreed, in consideration of the number
of Indian pilgrims passing through Jeddah to Mecca, to pay
half the charge of the Consulate at Jeddah. The contribution
varies from about £400 to £700 a year, and no question arises
upon it. We may observe that India does not actually pay half
the charge, as she declines to include in the account various
consular charges, such as travelling, leave, and outfit
allowance s.
THE CHIENGMAI CONSULA TE. (page 95.)
The consulate was created in 1883 for the protection of British
Indians in Northern Siam. It used to be wholly maintained
from Indian Funds. It was transferred, in 1891, for convenience
sake, to the British Consular estimates, on condition that India
should bear the cost. It appears, however, that in actual fact
she does not bear the whole cost. No question is raised by
India upon this charge.