This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
C. O.
14955
390
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[11445]
No. 1.
Z: WPP 08
[April 4.]
SECTION 3.
1
£
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received April 4.)
Peking, February 17, 1908.
(No. 79.) Sir,
I HAVE the honour to forward to you herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Vice-Consul at Antung, reporting the announcement by the Railway Bureau of the Residency-General at Seoul of alterations of passenger fares and transportation rates which are likely to prove of great importance.
The connection which is being established between the railway systems of Japan and those of Corea and Manchuria, and which will become even closer so soon as the question of bridging the Yalu at Antung is definitely settled, can scarcely fail to bring about an important development of Japanese trade, not only, as Mr. Russell points out, at the port of Antung, but also in the markets generally of Corea and Manchuria.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Vice-Consul Russell to Sir J. Jordan.
(No. 6.) Sir,
Antung, February 10, 1908. I HAVE the honour to report that a Circular was issued on the 25th ultimo by the Railway Bureau of the Residency-General at Seoul, announcing alterations of passenger fares and transportation rates to come into force on the 1st April of this year.
The charge for the carriage of goods is very materially reduced, and the tariff is on a sliding scale, by which freight for long distances is proportionately less than that for short distances.
Thus the ton-mile rates are:
Up to 20 miles 5 sen. From 21 to 50 miles 4 sen. 51 to 100 3 sen. 101 to 200 2 sen. ... ... 301 miles and over 1 sen.There is a similar discount in favour of long-distance journeys for passengers. Third class rates per mile are:
To 50 miles 3 sen. From 51 to 100 miles 2 sen. 101 to 200 2 sen. 201 to 300 1.5 sen. 301 miles and over 1 sen.Second class and first class tickets will be sold at 175 per cent. and 250 per cent. respectively of the third class fares.
It is further announced that negotiations are now pending with the object of opening, on and after the 1st April next, a through service between any two of the principal stations of the Seoul-New Wiju and Masan line on the Corean side, and of the Tokaido, Hokuriku, Kwansai, Sanyo, and Kyushu lines on the Japanese side.
The action of the Railway Bureau in thus cheapening the freight on the trunk line from Masanpo to Hsin Wiju is likely to have an important effect on the trend of the trade at this port.
It is designed that the market here and the markets of the neighbouring open ports of Manchuria should be supplied more easily and more cheaply with all kinds of Japanese goods, and thus the commercial position of Japan in South-Eastern Manchuria will be greatly strengthened.
[2934 d-3]