}
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
659
[July 15.]
SECTION 6.
C.0.
: 29968
RECE
REG 21 AUG 07/
[23396]
(No. 264.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 15.)
Peking, May 30, 1907. IN my despatch No. 236 of the 15th instant I had the honour to report on the position at that date of the Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze Railway question.
My German colleague was unable to extract any further information from the Wai-wu Pu in an interview which he had on the 21st instant; but on the 28th, when I again joined him in seeking a reply to our protest against the transfer of these negotiations, we were shown by the Grand Secretary, Na Tung, the text of a further Imperial Decree to the effect that Liang Tun Yen should "join with" the two Viceroys, Yuan and Chang, in conducting the negotiations, and commanding the Wai-wu Pu to take note.
Liang Ta-jên, as you are aware, is the Minister designate to America, and was concerned in the negotiations with Messrs. Bland and Cordes during the time that he was Customs Taotai at Tien-tsin.
The wording of the Decree did not make it clear that this fresh appointment would necessarily facilitate matters, nor was the Grand Secretary in a position to explain its effect. He understood it to mean that the negotiations would be carried on by Liang Ta-jên either at Tien-tsin or Peking, but was unable to define the scope of Mr. Liang's instructions. Count Rex and I therefore decided that we would not return any reply signifying either acceptance or rejection of this measure, but that we would first inform Mr. Cordes, and direct him to ascertain from Liang Ta-jên what his powers were to be.
A meeting has now been arranged between Mr. Cordes and Liang Ta-jên, but I have not yet received any information as to the result of their conversation.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
[2571 p-6]