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Consular letter about prohibition of rice exports from China to Macau

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Resource type
Document
Title
Consular letter about prohibition of rice exports from China to Macau
Abstract
This is a diplomatic dispatch from the Portuguese Consulate in Canton, dated 11 January 1898, addressed to the Portuguese Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The document details measures taken by the Viceroy of Canton to prohibit the export of rice from China to foreign destinations, directly affecting the Portuguese colony of Macau. With local supplies limited to only several days’ consumption, the Governor of Macau responded by halting re-exports to preserve subsistence levels. Following diplomatic representations made by the Consul in accordance with instructions from the Governor of Macau, the Viceroy permitted the resumption of rice exports specifically to Macau, while maintaining restrictions on shipments to other foreign ports. The correspondence highlights the critical reliance of Macau on Chinese rice supplies and underscores the efficacy of colonial intercession in mitigating food security crises. A supplementary note from De S. So commends the Governor’s prompt and effective intervention during this episode, particularly in relation to provisioning the vessel *Sever*, attributing successful resolution to diplomatic diligence. The dispatch illustrates the operation of late-nineteenth-century colonial diplomacy within the broader context of Qing administrative policy and regional trade regulation. This document serves as a primary source for the study of Sino-Portuguese relations, colonial governance, and food supply logistics in late Qing China and its adjacent territories.
Date
Janeiro, 1898
Language
Portuguese
Short Title
About prohibition of rice exports from China
URL
https://bdm-files.usj.edu.mo/f/1436523
Archive
Portugal. Arquivo Diplomático e Biblioteca do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros
Loc. in Archive
Caixa 574
Call Number
S16.E24.P12.-87279
Notes

Transcription

Page 1

1898
Consulado em
Cantaõ
Direcçã Polícia

Page 2

CONSULADO
DE
PORTUGAL
EM
CANTÃO
Nº 1
B.

Cantão 11 de janeiro de 1898.
24

[UNCLEAR: best interpretation]
[UNCLEAR: best interpretation]

prohibição da exportação
do arroz da China para Macau.

[ILLEGIBLE: ~5 chars]

[UNCERTAIN: guess]

[UNREADABLE]

Tenho a honra de informar a V.Ex.ª
que durante o trimestre findo não houve, no
serviço deste consulado, além do expediente do
dinheiro, cousa alguma digna da atenção de
V.Ex.ª, a não ser o seguinte:

S.E.ª o Vice-Rei de Cantão proibiu a ex-
portação do arroz desta Província para o es-
trangeiro, e por consequência para Macau, onde
a falta d'aquelle artigo de primeira necessidade
para a população chinesa levou S.E.ª o Gover-
nador a proibir a re-exportação do arroz,
pois na nossa Colónia só o havia para con-
sumo de poucos dias; até que S.E.ª o Vice-Rei
cedendo às instâncias foram feitos em
harmonia com as instruções que recebi
de S.E.ª o Governador, permitiu que o
arroz pudesse ser exportado da China para
Macau, embora a proibição da exportação
subsista ainda para os outros portos estran-
geiros.

Como S.E.ª o Governador, no seu ofício

Page 3

No. 1. De S. So corrente me diz:

"... Por esta ocasião, devo dizer a V. que

"na comunicação deste assumpto (o arroz)

"ao Governo de Sua Majestade terei Mui

"ta satisfação em fazer notar o zelo e

"inteligência com que V. me ouvidora

"no empenho muito natural que no

"equipamento do meu Sever, eu

"manifestei, de assegurar aos habitantes

"desta Colónia o abastecimento do grano

"mais necessário para a sua alimentação,

"taçã, a qual se ia tornando difícil

"em consequência das injustificadas

"medidas prohibitivas da autoridade

"Superior dos Dois Kwanjos."

Parece-me desnecessário fatigar a atenção

"de V. S.ª com a narração minuciosa dos

"fatos, pois que S. S. o Governador ficou na

"tarefa, e tão bom resultado obtido. Deve ter

"sido conhecimento a V. S.ª com a S. S. o Ministro

"da Marinha.

D. O A R A

Page 4

Deus Grande a V. S.

Ilmo. Sr. D. Ministro e Secretário d'Estado dos Negócios Estrangeiros.

João Belisário Caelo Crest
consul geral

Translation

Page 1

--- TRANSLATION ---
PORTUGUESE CONSULATE IN CANTON
No. 1 B. Canton, 11 January 1898.

[UNCLEAR: best interpretation] [UNCLEAR: best interpretation] Prohibition on the export of rice from China to Macau.

[ILLEGIBLE: ~5 characters] [UNCERTAIN: guess] [UNREADABLE]

I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that during the past quarter, apart from routine financial matters, nothing has occurred in the affairs of this consulate deserving of Your Excellency’s attention, except the following:

His Excellency the Viceroy of Canton prohibited the exportation of rice from this province to foreign destinations, and consequently to Macau. The resulting shortage of this staple commodity—essential for the subsistence of the Chinese population—prompted His Excellency the Governor of Macau to prohibit the re-exportation of rice, as supplies within our colony were sufficient for only a few days’ consumption. Subsequently, however, upon representations made in accordance with the instructions I had received from His Excellency the Governor, His Excellency the Viceroy relented and permitted the exportation of rice from China to Macau, although the prohibition on exports to other foreign ports remains in force. As His Excellency...

Page 2

--- TRANSLATION ---
No. 1. De S. So writes to me as follows: “At this juncture, I must inform Your Excellency that, in communicating this matter (concerning rice) to His Majesty’s Government, I shall take great satisfaction in noting the zeal and intelligence with which Your Excellency attended to me at the time of my very natural concern—during the outfitting of my vessel *Sever*—regarding securing for the inhabitants of this Colony the supply of the grain most essential to their sustenance, *taçã*, which was becoming increasingly difficult owing to the unjustified prohibitive measures imposed by the Superior Authority of the Two Kwanjos.”

It seems unnecessary to weary Your Lordship’s attention with a detailed account of these events, given that His Excellency the Governor has already undertaken this task and achieved such a favourable outcome. This matter should already be known to Your Lordship through His Excellency the Minister of the Navy. D.

Page 3

God grant you great health, Your Most Illustrious Lordship, Sir Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

Citation
Consular letter about prohibition of rice exports from China to Macau (Caixa 574). (1898). Portugal. Arquivo Diplomático e Biblioteca do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros. https://bdm-files.usj.edu.mo/f/1436523
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Link to this record
https://bdm-biblio.usj.edu.mo/bibliography/ZGDDP379