2
No. 869/012 of the 8th November, 1906). It would certainly tend towards the main- tenance of friendly relations with the Chinese Government, and I think that there is little doubt but that if we refuse to receive them a similar request will be made to the German or Japanese authorities.
4. I would add that while serving in His Majesty's ships the Chinese midshipmen have shown themselves diligent and anxious to learn, and their conduct has been all that could be desired.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
A. W. MOORE,
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
Hin
99970
[February 97
SECTION 19 MAR 07/
460
CHINA RAILWAYS.
[4394]
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey (Received February 9, 1907.)
(No. 540.) Sir,
Peking, December 23, 1906, WITH reference to your despatches Nos. 9, 18, and 30 of the 12th and 24th January of this year, I have the honour to state that towards the end of October Mr. Bland, the representative of the British and Chinese Corporation, mentioned to me that, according to his information, the Viceroy of Wuchang would be prepared to consider proposals for a construction loan for the Canton-Hankow Railway on the basis of the Canton-Kowloon Final Loan Agreement, the terms of which were at the time practically agreed upon.
It appeared to me that, in view of the nature of the engagement contained in the Viceroy's letter of the 9th September, 1905, on which Mr. Bland was relying, it was at least doubtful whether the open intervention of a French representative at this stage might not be used by the Viceroy as a pretext for evading our claims. Though. M. Casenave's co-operation vis-à-vis the Chinese would be mainly for financial purposes, I felt that neither the Chinese Government nor the Viceroy, who are suspicious of foreign Company methods, would wholly credit this, and after consulta- tion with His Majesty's Consul-General at Hankow, I told Mr. Bland that it was, in my opinion, premature to move in the matter, but that if he still thought it useful to interview the Viceroy he should do so alone. He represented that he was bound by his instructions to listen to M. Casenave, who was bent on a joint interview, but he left Peking hurriedly for Tien-tsin and Shanghae without giving me to understand that he intended to take any immediate steps.
I heard unofficially, and through third parties, carly in this month, that M. Casenave had left Peking for Hankow, where he would meet Mr. Bland for the purpose of seeing the Viceroy with regard to a construction loan for the Cantou-Hankow Railway. I warned His Majesty's Consul-General of this by telegram on the 10th December, and stated that my views as to the inexpediency of a joint interview remained unaltered. Mr. Fraser's private letter of the 12th December and despatch of the 13th December, copies of which are inclosed herewith, will sufficiently explain the course of events at Hankow which ended in a fruitless interview between the Viceroy, Mr. Fraser, and Mr. Bland on the 12th December. I think that it is clear that, but for Mr. Fraser's judicious handling of this matter, some prejudice to our claims under the engagement of the 9th September, 1905, might have resulted from the action of the French Consul and M. Casenave, and it would seem to be desirable that, the Company represented by Mr. Bland and M. Casenave being British, its agents should, as far as possible, be authorized to approach the Chinese authorities only through this Legation or His Majesty's Consuls.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. N. JORDAN,
(No. 27. Confidential.) (Telegraphic.) P.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Consul-General Fraser.
HANKOW-CANTON Railway.
Peking, October 30, 1906.
I learn from Bland that he has reason to think that the Viceroy Ch'ang may now be ready to consider proposals for a loan for the construction of this railway based on the terms of the Canton-Kowloon Final Loan Agreement, which are now practically settled.
Bland and Casenave, representing the English and French groups of the Central Chinese Railways, intend to ask the Viceroy for an interview at an early date to discuss the matter.
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