485 C.O. 33035
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government:
2
There is a round-house for six engines and coaling-station at Ta-shih-ch'iao. There is another brick bridge, 250 yards long, under construction, half-a-mile south of Hai-ch'êng, which will replace the old bridge.
A bridge, 100 feet long, 1 mile to the south of An-shan-chan is a quarter completed. Half-a-mile north of Li-shan-chan there is a double brick pier bridge, about 200 yards long, under construction. There is a double brick pier bridge, about half-a-mile long, with 14 spans, over the Tai-tzu Ho, just north of Liao-yang. The big bridge over the Hun Ho (south of Mukden) will not have a double track for the present.
It is expected that the line will be completed by November 1908, when the double track will be finished, and first-class carriages, with dining-cars attached, will be put on the line.
The new engines for the broad gauge line are partly Baldwin and partly from the Pittsburg works, whilst the new passenger corridor carriages are also from America. The latter have no mark on the outside to denote the class. At present carriages with small wooden benches are used for the second class, whilst the third class have to be content with the floor. The cheapest types of carriages have been bought, and the general impression is that they will soon be shaken to pieces; the wood is not seasoned, and the fittings generally are very cheap and bad. As an American engineer remarked: "The Japanese wanted to get nothing for nothing," and they have certainly got it.
The new time-tables came into force on the 1st June, 1908. As a result of numerous complaints, the Japanese railway employés have now become civil. A passenger between Dalny and Mukden told me that that part of the line was now very well managed, but this was not my experience on the part between Mukden and K'uan-ch'êng-tzu; and interminable delays occur over the registration of baggage or in securing it on arrival. Each station has a superfluous crowd of Japanese inspectors, who loaf about and do nothing. Insufficient accommodation is provided for the Chinese third-class passengers, nearly every one of whom travels with a large bundle of bedding from which he always refuses to be parted.
The Japanese, following the precedent of the Russians (who only take roubles on their section north of Kuan-ch'eng-tzu), will only accept Japanese gold yen, so that on arrival at a station it is necessary to have recourse to some local harpy in the shape of a money-changer.
A second-class ticket from Ch'ang-t'u Fu to K'uan-ch'êng-tzu, a distance of 104 miles, costs 590 yen, or at the local rate of exchange, 842 dollars. Putting the dollar at 1s. 10d., this would be 148. 74d., or at a rate of over 3 d. a-mile.
Passengers going by the Siberian mail go through to Erh-tao-kou (called by the Japanese K'uan-ch'êng-tsu Station, where they change into the Russian train. This station is about 24 miles north-north-west of K'uan-ch'êng-tzu.
Passengers for that city used to get out at Hsi-k'uan-ch'êng-tzu Station, about half-a-mile south of Erh-tao-kou. The new branch line has now been opened, and passengers now change carriages at Meng-chia-t'un, about 7 miles south of Hsi-k'uan-ch'êng-tzu, and, leaving the old line about 6 miles further on, make a bend round to the new station at Ch'ang-ch'un Fu, three-quarters of a mile north-north-west of that city and alongside of the Japanese Settlement. No work has yet been begun on the line which is to run from this station to Kirin.
The Japanese have thrown up an embankment to connect Erh-tao-kou with this new station, and one of the subjects of discussion, I believe, at the recent Conference in St. Petersburgh was with reference to the Russians using this new embankment and the Japanese taking up the old piece of line south of Erh-tao-kou.
The country west of K'uan-ch'eng-tzu is slightly undulating with deep nullahs, and abominable roads lead across it from the city to the Russian and old Japanese stations.
There is a Decauville line for push cars from Chang-t'u Fu (further south) to Ch'ang-t'u Fu Station, a distance of 7 miles over the downs; fare, 40 cents. It was put down by the Japanese during the war, and is said to be still owned by them.
At Mukden there is a horse tram-line from the station to the city. It is jointly owned by the Japanese and Chinese, but I was informed that it was running at a loss.
I have, &c. (Signed) G. PEREIRA, Lieutenant-Colonel, Grenadier Guards, Military Attaché.
Tien-tsin, June 26, 1908.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[29328]
REC? [August 24
SECTION 1,
9 REF 08
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received August 24.)
(No. 297.) Sir,
Peking, July 6, 1908. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copies of despatches from His Majesty's Consuls-General at Tien-tsin and Mukden on the subject of recent judicial reforms inaugurated by the Chinese Provincial authorities.
The measures which have been taken towards the introduction of a better judicial system, both at Tien-tsin and in Manchuria, are no doubt due to the influence of enlightened officials, such as Yuan Shih-k'ai and Tong Shoa-yi, who wish by these means to raise the standard of Chinese justice and thus prepare the way for the eventual abolition of extra-territoriality. But it is to be observed that at Shanghae, which would be the most fitting place to provide an object lesson in reforms of this description, little or nothing has been attempted.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 32.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Ker to Sir J. Jordan.
Tien-tsin, June 25, 1908. I HAVE the honour to submit, for your consideration, copies of the following correspondence that has passed between the Customs Taotai and the Consular Body at Tien-tsin on the subject of the Shen Pan Ting, the Chinese District Court for the decision of civil cases in which foreigners are plaintiffs :-
1. Copy and translation of despatch from Customs Taotai to Mr. Hopkins, as senior Consul, dated the 16th January, 1908, announcing the establishment of the Court and transmitting the Regulations;
2. Copy and translation of the Regulations inclosed in above;
3. Copy (in English and Chinese) of despatch from Mr. Hopkins to Customs Taotai, dated the 27th March, 1908, communicating certain suggestions made by the Consular Body on the proposed Regulations;
4. Copy and précis of despatch from Customs Taotai to Mr. Hopkins dated the 16th May, 1908, communicating the reply and explanations offered by the Shen P'an Ting in regard to the above suggestions.
The Consular Body has now drafted (Inclosure 5) a reply which it is proposed that Mr. E. T. Williams, as Senior Consul, shall send to the Customs Taotai, agreeing to accept the regulations in question, subject to the approval of the foreign Representatives in Peking, on condition that certain further slight amendments are made.
At a meeting of the Consular Body held on the 19th instant it was decided that before sending in this conditional assent to the regulations, the whole matter should be submitted by the Consuls to their respective Ministers, and the approval of the Diplomatic Body obtained.
I have the honour accordingly to request your instructions as to joining in the proposed action of the Consular Body.
I may say that although I have not been long enough in Tien-tsin to watch the working of this Court, Mr. Hopkins before he left expressed to me the opinion that on the whole it was working satisfactorily, and that there was nothing particular in the regulations to which objection should be taken.
I have, &c. (Signed) W. P. KER.
[1905 aa-1]