This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
397
C.0.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[2609]
No. 1.
5944
[January 201
TRECE 18 FEB 09
SECTION 1,
Sir,
Mr. Whitelaw Reid to Sir Edward Grey-(Received January 20.)
American Embassy, London, January 15, 1908. WITH reference to the situation at Harbin, in Manchuria, concerning which I have had occasion to make representations to you at various times orally, and in my unofficial letter of the 13th June last and my official note of the same date, I venture to think that you may be interested in seeing confidentially the copies, which I am enclosing herewith, of despatches from Mr. Fisher, the American Consul at Harbin.* My Government has approved the attitude and views therein expressed. It has also said, in reply to representations from the Russian Ambassador in Washington, that the course of our Consul, Mr. Fisher, is entirely in accord with the views of the Govern- ment, and cannot be considered in any essential detrimental to the real interests or repugnaut to the well-known policy of the Imperial Russian Government.
My Government further told the Russian Ambassador that it learned with regret of the Russian Superintendent of the Railway Company being placed, even temporarily, in charge of the Russian Consulate-General in Harbin. His attention was invited to the possibility of establishing order through a Municipal Administration based Treaty rights of the foreign Powers, instead of on the unsupported claim of administration under the Concession of the Railway Company.
upon the
My Government feels sure that you will not fail to recognize the importance of the principle thus at issue in Northern Manchuria, and particularly that the Treaty rights of foreigners cannot be securely maintained as against the Railway Company under present conditions. At this moment, aside from the Japanese and American Repre- sentatives, the only non-Russian Consular officers at Harbin are either commercially connected with or in the employ of the Russian Railway Company.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
WHITELAW REID.
* For Inclosures see Sir J. Jordan's No. 419, Very Confidential, dated September 16, and Sir J. Jordan's
No. 501, Confidential, dated November 4, 1908.
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