2
made by Prince Ch'ing to the British Minister that, failing Chinese capital, the line should be granted to a British Company. This is ample time to demonstrate the futility of expecting that Chinese capital will ever be forthcoming for this extensive work, and the period has arrived when the Chinese Government may be fairly called upon to fulfil its promises. Many changes no doubt have occurred since then, but though some of them may be against us, there is probably one in our favour, and that is that the Chinese Government must realize now the urgent necessity for constructing a trunk line into Szechuan without delay.
There is one other factor in the situation which the Board wish you to consider in conjunction with your colleague, Mr. Casenave, and that is whether we might not receive great assistance from the French Legation at the present moment. Complaints have been made, we understand, by the French Minister, of forays by Chinese troops into Tonquin, and redress demanded. The "Times" correspondent reported that a claim had been preferred for a Railway Concession from Taiyuanfu to the capital of Shensi province, and, though this was denied, it is possible that the French Minister may be in a position to ask for something of the kind as an evidence of good faith. If that should be the case the most natural claim to prefer would be that for the Szechuan railway, on behalf of the Anglo-French combination constituting the Chinese Central Railways. It would be no new claim on the part of the French Legation, as this line has been asked for again and again by the French Minister as well as by the British. It was, indeed, mainly for the purpose of putting an end to the rivalry and competing claims of the two nations in regard to this particular line that the combination was formed, a combination, it may be added, which has the full approval of our respective Governments.
Under all these circumstances the time seems propitious for taking up seriously the question of the Szechuan line, and my directors desire you to take such steps as may seem to you most appropriate for entering on this task. The starting-point might be, as above indicated, the Pukow-Sinyang negotiations, but in regard to that line you will of course use your utmost efforts to carry it through, only yielding if you meet with insuperable difficulties such as you anticipate, and in proportion as the prospects for the Szechuan line improve.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
THOMAS GILBERT
Office or Individual.
foreign
1908
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35737
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1 00: 08
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