575
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government. CO.
12
Inclosure 16 in No. 1.
Japanese Newspaper Extracts.
(1.)
Summary of Rules regarding the Reorganization of Kwangtung Administration.
(Translation.)
1. IN negotiations regarding police matters with local Chinese officials, Japanese Consular officers shall act under the direction of the Governor-General of Kwangtung.
2. Consular officers shall also serve as administrative officials of the Kwangtung Government General, and as such shall be intrusted with the administration of police matters within the lands belonging to the railway.
3. There shall be added to the Departments of the Kwangtung Government General a Directorate of Foreign Affairs, the head of which, acting under the direction of the Governor-General, shall exercise all diplomatic rights pertaining to his jurisdiction vis-à-vis Consular officers. He shall also facilitate in every possible way the transaction of business between the Governor-General and Consular officers.
4. The position of Consular police shall be abolished, and the duties connected therewith shall be transferred to the Kwangtung Government police, who shall act outside as well as inside the railway zone.
*(2.)
Settlement of the Question of the Distribution of Japanese Diplomatic Powers in Manchuria. (Translation.)
The negotiations which have recently been going on between the Japanese Foreign Office and the Kwangtung Government regarding the extent of the diplomatic powers of the Governor-General have now been concluded. As a result, full diplomatic powers have now been delegated to the Governor-General in reference to all questions arising within the railway zone and adjoining lands. Consular officials in Manchuria will be subjected to his direction in such matters. All Japanese Consulates in Manchuria will have a representative of the Governor-General attached to them, and thus effective co-operation will be secured.
The exercise of police powers both in the railway zone and in the Consular Settlements have also been intrusted to the Governor-General.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[15470]
No. 1.
18960
Received [April 27.]
28 MAY 08
SECTION 4.
Question asked in the House of Commons, April 27, 1908.
Mr. Bellairs,-To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the estimated loss to the British taxpayer of £62,590 on the Pacific cable for 1908-9 is mainly due to the faulty route selected to the barren rock called Fanning Island; and whether it is practicable, and, if so, will the question be considered in conjunction with the Colonial Governments, to underrun and relay the cables to the shipping port of Honolulu, where the American cables land, so as to benefit British shipping, afford alternative routes by the American cables, and gain a fresh route to the Far East.
Answer.
The estimated loss on the Pacific cable for the year 1908-9 is £69,000, of which only five-eighteenths, or under £14,000, will fall on the British taxpayer. The route via Fanning Island was adopted in accordance with the desire of the Colonial Governments concerned that the route should touch only British territory. In the absence of any suggestion from those Governments, His Majesty's Government do not propose to consider the question of relaying the line so as to touch at Honolulu.
[2921 dd---4]
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