This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
Rec[ieved] December 20 FEB 08
SECTION 2.
[40442]
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 9.)
(No. 213.) (Telegraphic.) P.
SOOCHOW-NINGPO Railway.
Peking, December 9, 1907.
In reply to your telegram No. 133 of the 6th instant, I have the honour to state that I have received frequent assurances from the Chinese Government that they will fulfil their undertaking to us, if given time to reason with the Province of Chekiang. The veiled threats made to you by the Chinese Minister regarding possibilities of boycott of British trade are not consistent with assurances of Chinese Government. I can only suppose that Prince Ching, whose position is difficult owing to his connection with the Decree of 1905, has privately authorized him to see what can be done in London. I shall continue to closely watch this aspect of the case, but reports from Shanghae do not indicate any likelihood of such a boycott.
I am of opinion that great caution should be used in treating overtures of Chinese Minister. Yuan Shih Kai is doing his utmost to maintain national control over railways, and professes to recognize that, if the Central Government fails to carry out their international obligations, they are incurring grave dangers.
Other provinces will follow example of Chekiang if latter gains its point, and as the Chinese Minister can testify from the experiment made in his own province, complete failure has so far attended the attempts at provincial railway construction.
I think that we should continue to insist with firmness and patience on the engagement to us being fulfilled. We might, however, in order to relieve the present tension, now proceed with the signature of the Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze Agreement. Opinion of Wai-wu Pu is that salutary effect upon Chekiang opinion will be caused by its publication. While I am rather sceptical as to such a result, yet, if you approve, I would endeavour to arrange with the Wai-wu Pu for its signature, on the understanding that the signature of the Soochow-Ningpo Agreement is to follow within a reasonable limit of time. Such action would meet wishes of Wai-wu Pu as well as those of my German colleague, who has shown considerable patience.
[2768 i-2]
Page 510
Page 511