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C.O.
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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
R.19 JUN 09
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[20114]
No. 1.
[May 29.]
SECTION 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.~(Received May 29.)
(No. 148.) Sir,
Peking, April 9, 1909. WITH reference to my despatch No. 583 of the 31st December last, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's consul- general at Mukden reporting that Mr. Hughes, the British civil engineer in the employment of the Manchurian Government, has recommended the construction of a weir at the entrance of the Shwang-tai-tze Canal on the Liao River, and that work will be begun as soon as possible.
The maintenance of the Liao River in a proper condition of navigability is, as you are aware, a matter of the highest importance to the port of Newchwang, to the commerce of Manchuria, and to British interests. Newchwang is the natural outlet for Manchurian produce, and unless steps are taken to improve the watercourse of the Liao, which has been allowed to fall into a condition quite unsuitable for the large junk traffic, it is probable that such traffic will cease in the near future and produce will be diverted to Dalny-a contingency which it is highly desirable to guard against, both in the interests of British enterprise, which has much at stake in Newchwang, and of Manchurian commerce, which can ill-alford to lose so valuable and cheap a mode of transport.
Mr. Hughes, in his survey of the Liao, found that the situation was more serious than had been anticipated. In his opinion the whole course of the river requires treatment, but in any case there are a few places at which it is urgent that something should be done, and of these the point of junction of the Liao and Shwang-tai-tze Rivers claims immediate attention. The two rivers were joined some eighteen years ago by a small cutting, and the Shwang-tai-tze has now grown to be a bigger river than the Liao itself. As this process of absorption is still going on, there is every reason to fear that the Liao in a short time will change its course to the bed of the Shwang-tai-tze, and Newchwang would then be quite cut off from inland navigation.
According to Mr. Hughes, the best remedy for this state of affairs would be to close the Shwang-tai-tze branch altogether; but its waters are necessary for the irriga- tion of the adjoining district, and he has therefore recommended the above-mentioned plan of building a weir which will contain the waters of the Liao until that river has sufficient for its own use.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 11.) Sir,
Inclosure in No. 1.
Consul-General Fulford to Sir J. Jordan.
Mukden, March 29, 1909. I HAVE the honour to inform you that Mr. W. R. Hughes, the British civil engineer alluded to by you in your despatch No. 41 of the 29th December last, has recently recommended the Manchurian Government to construct a weir at the entrance to the Shwang-tai-tze Canal in the Liao River.
Mr. Hughes more than supports the previously existing opinion of the disastrous effects to the Liao River caused by the diversion of a large proportion of the river water to this channel. He goes so far as to say that the lower Liao will probably be unnavigable by junks this year unless remedial measures be taken. A large shoal has apparently formed just below the canal entrance. He is of opinion that closing the canal altogether would be better and cheaper than constructing a weir, but in deference to local prejudices has put forward his present proposal.
The weir designed will prevent any water flowing down the canal till the Liao has sufficient for navigation requirements. The cost estimated is 54,531 dollars,
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