26132
No.
18885--244
12
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received July 18, 1906.)
[Copy to Governor, July 27, 1906, Confidential. L.P.]
[Answered by No. ...]
Foreign Office, July 17, 1906.
SIR,
I AM directed by Secretary Sir Edward Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant* respecting the negotiations for the Canton-Kowloon Railway.
With regard to your statement in the above-mentioned letter that the Chinese authorities were pressing forward a scheme for the construction of a railway to Swatow and Amoy, I am to inform you that, in reply to enquiries, His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking reports that he has received no official answer from the Chinese Government to the representations mentioned in your letter as regards the projected Whampoa line, but that Tang Shao-Yi had stated privately that the Tai-wu-pu knew nothing officially of this project.
Sir Edward Grey informed Mr. Carnegie, in reply, that Tang's statement as to there being no official information about the Whampoa line was unsatisfactory, and instructed him at the same time to express the hope that enquiry would be made concerning this line, and that the Provincial authorities would be warned against breaking the engagements of the Chinese Government under the Canton-Kowloon Preliminary Agreement.
With regard to the appointment of a negotiator for the Canton-Kowloon Railway negotiations, Mr. Carnegie reports that there are hopes of a favourable reply shortly, and I am to inform you that Sir Edward Grey has approved his refusal to refer the Canton-Kowloon negotiations back to Canton.
Copies of the correspondence with Mr. Carnegie which has been summarized in this letter have been forwarded to your Department in a communication which crossed your letter now under reply.
* No. 21611.
I am, &c.,
ERIC BARRINGTON.
† No. 24800.
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