106
The Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.] O.
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[24079]
No. 1.
24419
[June 28.10
REGR 22 JUL 09, SECTION 1.
(No. 174.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey,- (Received June 28.)
Peking, May 10, 1909. MY despatches No. 563 of the 31st December last and No. 148 of the 9th ultimo will have informed you of the serious danger which threatens the port of Newehwang, owing to the condition of its main waterway into the interior, and the accompanying despatch from His Majesty's consul at Newchwang describes the steps which the consular authorities and the foreign community at the port have recently taken to induce the Provincial Government to recognise its duty in the matter.
The amelioration of the Liao River seems to be a matter of urgent necessity if the existence of Newchwang as a treaty port is to be maintained, and so far the repeated representations which have been made on the subject have not produced much practical result.
I took advantage of the presence here of Hsi Liang, the new Viceroy of Manchuria, to press the matter upon his Excellency's attention at an interview which I had with him on the 6th instant. The present state of the river was fully explained to him, and stress was laid upon the unwisdom, in China's own interests, of allowing trade to be diverted to Dalny which would, in the natural course of things, go to Newchwang. The Chinese customs revenue and the Chinese railway administration both suffered from the neglect of the Liao River, and the short-sighted fiscal system which prevailed in Manchuria.
His Excellency, who had never been in Manchuria and had no previous knowledge of the question, listened attentively to all that I urged, and asked some pertinent questions with regard to the proposed conservancy measures, their probable cost, and the effect the closing of the Shuang Tui Tzu Canal was likely to have on the water supply of the people.
He promised to give the matter his careful attention on his arrival in Mukden, and I have instructed His Majesty's consul-general at that place and the consul at Newch wang to continue their efforts to secure some improvement in the river.
I also suggested to the Viceroy the expediency of opening Chin Chow and Ssu Ping Chich to foreign trade, and he promised to bear the suggestion in mind. The former would serve as a winter port to Newchwang, and the question of opening the latter was brought to my notice by Mr. Scott, of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire, who pointed out that there was no trade mart in the long stretch of country between Tiehling and Kuan Cheng Tzu and indicated Ssu Ping Chieh as the most suitable place for the purpose.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 5.) Sir,
Inclosure in No. 1.
Consul Wilkinson to Sir J. Jordan.
Newchwang, April 30, 1909. I HAVE the honour to report to you on the question of the conservancy of the Liao River.
Reference has been made to this subject in several of my predecessors' despatches to His Majesty's legation and also by Sir Alexander Hosie in his report on his visit in the autumn of 1907 to the principal trade centres of Manchuria. More recently His Majesty's consul-general at Mukden communicated to you a summary of the recommendations for the improvement of the river made by Mr. Hughes, the British civil engineer in the employment of the Manchurian Government, and mentioned that authority had been given for the construction of a weir at the entrance to the Shuang Tai Tzu Caual on the immediate necessity of which special stress had been laid by Mr. Hughes.
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Ni M.