[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[4354]
No. 1.
Foreign Office to Admiralty.
17 Feb 08 [February 17.]
SECTION 1.
Sir,
Foreign Office, February 17, 1908.
I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to transmit to you, to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, for any observations which their Lordships may wish to make, copies of two despatches on the subject of the dredging of the Woosung Bar, which have been received from His Majesty's Minister at Peking.
Sir J. Jordan reports that the project which is being carried out under the direction of the Dutch Engineer-in-chief of the Huang-pu Conservancy is encountering adverse criticism on the part of the German community at Shanghae, whose views are endorsed by the German Consul-General there and the German Minister at Peking.
The German contention is that the surmises on which the present scheme was based have not been verified, and that its execution is now attended with serious risk to the navigation of the river.
The Dutch Engineer-in-chief, M. de Rijke, whose appointment received the approval of the Foreign Representatives at Peking, has answered the German objections, and the correspondence will be found inclosed in Sir J. Jordan's despatches. No information has yet reached this Department as to what further action has been taken in the matter, but it is felt that in view of the technical nature of the points at issue, an expert opinion might be useful to Sir J. Jordan for his guidance in any steps he may be called upon to take.
I am, &c.
(Signed) F. A. CAMPBELL.
* Sir J. Jordan, No. 584, December 20, 1907 (4854); ditto, No. 6, January 4, 1908 (3388).
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