2
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C. O.
207
Inclosure in No. 1.
Mr. Bland to Chinese Central Railways, London.
(Telegraphic.)
Shanghae, April 5, 1907. IMPERIAL Edict issued transferring Tien-tsin-Yangtze Railway negotiations for final Agreement to Chang Chih Tung, Viceroy of Wuchang, Yuen Shih Kai, Viceroy of Chihli and Superintendent of Trade. Advise you strongly to urge protest, insist on negotiations Peking or Yuan Shih Kai, with full authority.
19974
CHINA RAILWAYS.
RECS
REG 5 JUN 07
CONFIDENTIAL.
[April 10.]
SECTION 2.
[11357]
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan,
(No. 38.) (Telegraphic.) P.
Foreign Office, April 10, 1907. TIEN-TSIN-CHINKIANG and Suchow-Ningpo railway negotiations. Please refer to your telegrams Nos. 50, 51, 54, and 56 of the 18th and 23rd ultimo and the 4th and 5th instant.
After consulting the Chinese Central Railways Syndicate and the British and Chinese Corporation, I consider that the Suchow-Ningpo negotiations should be given precedence.
As regards the Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze negotiations, which the Syndicate propose to continue independently, you should accord your German colleague as much support as you can without detriment to the Suchow-Ningpo negotiations.
As it is obvious that negotiations with two principals so far apart as Tien-tsin and Wuchang are impossible, you must use your discretion as to insisting upon the transfer of the Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze negotiations to the Board of Communications at Peking or to the Viceroy of Chihli alone.
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