C.O. 22375
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Goverment
RECR Reco
[June 14.]
JUL 09
8
SECTION 3.
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[22178]
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received June 14.)
(No. 198.) Sir,
have the
Peking, May 27, 1909. IN continuation of my despatch No. 174 of the 10th instant honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a joint note to Prince Ching, in which my American, German, and Japanese colleagues and myself draw his Highness's attention to the urgent need for carrying out the conservancy works on the River Liao in the interests of the trade of Newchwang.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Joint Note to Prince Ch'ing.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
Your Imperial Highness,
May 19, 1909. FOR several years past the high local authorities in the three eastern provinces have been aware of the rapidly increasing difficulties of navigation on the Liao River, through causes which could readily be remedied if prompt action were taken. They have also been advised of the imminent danger to the city of Newchwang from the diversion of the waters of the river to another channel, which threatens to leave the city at no distant date standing some 3 miles back from the river. Should such a catastrophe occur, as seems probable if works are not at once undertaken to avert it, the injury resulting to the trade of this enterprising and fetofore prosperous port would be incalculable. The present harbour would silt up, all the present wharfage would be rendered useless, and large vested interests, both Chinese and foreign, would lose most of their value. Trade would be utterly demoralised, and would seek other channels; and as years would be required before a new channel would assume permanent shape, permitting of new wharves being constructed and perfecting the other requirements to meet the changed conditions, the trade of the port having been diverted to other and possibly more rapid channels would probably never return. Already the junks employed on the river have fallen in number from 25,000 to 5,000 in the last five years, and this appalling diminution may to a great extent be accounted for by the ever increasing difficulties encountered in navigating the Liao River.
Up to this time, however, nothing has been done to avert the impending calamity to Newchwang, though the most urgent works would not, in the opinion of thoroughly competent authorities who have carefully examined the river at Newchwang, require, if undertaken at once, more than an inconsiderable outlay, probably 200,000 dollars in all. The local authorities at Newchwang, with whom our consular representatives have more than once discussed the question, have shown considerable interest in it, and have, it is believed, submitted the matter to the Viceroy at Mukden, but no definite plan for raising the funds necessary for carrying out even the first works has been devised. In the meanwhile the danger becomes more imminent, the outlay, which must inevitably be made some day, is increasing, and the future of Newchwang becomes more dismal.
In view of the above considerations and of the magnitude of the commercial interests of our nationals at Newchwang, interests which are, like those of the city itself, so largely dependent on the immediate improvement of the water communica- tions with the interior of Manchuria and the sea, we have felt it our duty to call the earnest attention of your Imperial Highness to this matter, in the hope that prompt means may be adopted this summer to avert the most imminent danger, and a plan decided upon at an early date for carrying out the other conservancy works needed for the improvement of the Liao River and the preservation of Newchwang trade.
We avail, &c.
W. W. ROCKHILL, American Minister.
J. N. JORDAN, British Minister.
REX, German Minister.
H. INJUIN, Japanese Minister.
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