[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.)
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[November 18.[
C.C.
3394
411
SECTION 29 JAN 08
[37827]
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received November 18.) (No. 200.) (Telegraphic.) P.
Peking, November 17, 1907. IN a telegram from Shanghae His Majesty's Consul-General states that a strong anti-railway agitation is reported by missionaries at Hangchow. Latter suggest that a gun-boat be sent to Chapu in view of possible emergency.
I have telegraphed to him in reply to the effect that the Central Government have communicated two strong Edicts to the province and that they are fully alive to the importance of repressing any disorders which may occur. I have added that no effective assistance could be rendered to foreigners at Hangchow by the presence of a gun-boat at Chapu, the two places being 50 miles apart, and that the provincials, whose quarrel is not with us but with the Central Government, would only be needlessly irritated by such action.
[2723 s—2]