This Document is the Property of Is Britannic Majesty's Government.1
339
39126
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[34305]
No. 1.
[October 17-]
I
SACTIO16
6 NOV 07
Foreign Office to the Chinese Central Railways.
(Confidential.) Sir,
Foreign Office, October 17, 1907. MR. CARL MEYER and Mr. G. Jamieson called at this Office on the 14th instant and communicated a copy of a telegram received from Berlin by the Chinese Central Railways relative to the reported demand by His Majesty's Minister at Peking that the Soochow-Hangchow Railway Agreement should be signed by the Chinese Government simultaneously with that for the Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze Railway.
I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to inform you that it appears from telegraphic inquiry from Sir J. Jordan that the statement communicated by Mr. Meyer is to a certain extent correct, and the following is an explanation of the facts of the case :--
His Majesty's Government have from the outset always insisted that the Soochow- Ningpo Agreement should be signed before or simultaneously with the Tien-tsin- Yang-taze Agreement, and repeated assurances have been received from the Wai-wu Pu that this stipulation would be observed. It had in fact been agreed that the draft of the latter Agreement should, when finally settled, be copied out and form mutatis mutandis the text of the former.
It appears that the Chinese Government now plead a recrudescence of the opposition in Chekiang as a reason for delaying the signature of the Soochow-Ningpo Agreement.
Co-operation with Germany in the Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze negotiations was agreed to by His Majesty's Government on the understanding that the Soochow-Ningpo negotiations should have precedence; but Sir J. Jordan has reminded the German Minister at Peking of the fact, and has informed him that he cannot release the Chinese Government from their engagements. To do so would, in his opinion, indefinitely delay the conclusion of the Soochow-Ningpo Agreement, and revive all the difficulties previously experienced.
It is true that, as the Soochow-Ningpo negotiations had to await the arrival of Mr. Wang at Peking in July last, advantage of the delay was taken to press forward the negotiations for the Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze Agreement, but this action was in no way intended to indicate that the priority of the Soochow-Ningpo Agreement would be waived.
(2691 r-1]
I am, &c.
(Signed)
F. A. CAMPBELL.