451
2
under all circumstances, the contemplated improvements of the line in question, make it entirely proper for Japan, in taking independent action in the matter, to explain the situation which calls for such action.
The existing Antung Mukden military railway has a total length of 188 miles and a gauge of 2 feet 6 inches. To avoid the construction of tunnels and bridges, for which there was no time, the line was given many wide detours and steep gradients and short and sharp curves. In consequence of these defects there is naturally frequent danger of derailment. The bauling capacity of the engines is necessarily very small. Three or four small passenger or freight cars constitute a maximum train, and on some portions of the line where the grades are steep trains have to be divided into two or more separate hauls. The speed capacity of the engines is also necessarily very low, and as travel on the line by night is impracticable, the transit between Antung and Mukden requires two full days.
It was in order to provide for the removal of these imperfections, and to make the road not only available but efficient for the commercial requirements to which it was to be devoted after it had ceased to be necessary for military purposes that the improvement stipulation was inserted in the complementary arrangement of 1905.
By the opening of the Mukden-Antung-Fusan line another route will be established for inter-continental intercourse between Europe on the one hand and Japan and the Far East generally on the other. The new route will have the advantage of reducing the sea voyage to ten hours. But in order to make the route effective and useful it is necessary that it shall have the same gauge and efficiency as the Corean and South Manchurian railway systems, of which the route under consider- ation will be the connecting link. The improvements which are absolutely essential include the boring of tunnels, the building of bridges, the straightening and grading of the line, and the changing of the gauge to standard used in the connecting Corean and South Manchurian systems. With these improvements the distance will be shortened, the time of transit between Antung and Makden reduced from two full days to eight or nine hours, and the general efficiency of the line will be established. Without them the railway will remain as at present, entirely useless for commercial purposes.
Accordingly, private negotiations were at the outset carried on with China, with a view to make the Antung-Mukden Railway available as speedily as possible, as a connecting link between the Corean and South Manchurian systems in the great inter-continental trunk line. But this method of procedure having proved abortive, the Imperial Government in January last officially proposed to China that commissioners be dispatched to survey the line. This proposal having been agreed to, the Japanese and Chinese commissioners made and agreed upon a joint survey of the proposed route, with the exception of a small section, some 20 miles in length, between Mukden and Chen-hsiang-tun. This work was completed early in April, and steps were immediately taken to report the result to the Chinese Government.
As the route between Mukden and Chen-hsiang-tun remained to be discussed between the two Governments, the Imperial Government, in order to prevent unnecessary delay, proposed to commence work on that portion of the line east of Chen-hsiang-tun which had been duly surveyed, leaving Mukden-Chen-hsiang-tun section for subsequent examination and adjustment, and they announced their desire to begin the purchase of the land required for railway purposes.
But China, having recourse to her well-known policy of obstruction and procrasti- nation, evaded the just and reasonable demand of Japan, and raised collateral questions regarding the police authority in the railway zones and the withdrawal of railway guards. The Imperial Government, appealing to the principles of justice and right reason, repeatedly urged China to accede to their demands. Finally, on the 24th June last, China sent a reply which, if concurred in, would wholly nullify the provisions of the arrangement of 1905 on the subject of the Antung-Mukden line and utterly destroy the value of the railway. Disregarding the survey agreed to by the commissioners of the two Governments, that reply, besides reviving the question of police authority and railway guards, and raising other immaterial issues which would appropriately lend themselves to separate and independent negotiations, declares that the work of improvement must be confined to the existing track, and that no broadening of the gauge can be permitted.
The Imperial Government, reluctant to take measures tending to impair the good relations between the two countries, have up to this time limited their action to an endeavour to induce China to reconsider her untenable position, and to adopt a course consistent with the manifest intention of the parties to the engagement of 1905.
3
Already more than a month has elapsed since the note of the 24th June was received, and China still maintains an unyielding and unaccommodating attitude, which gives no promise of anything but vain and unprofitable negotiations.
In this situation the Imperial Government are compelled to take independent action, and without waiting for the co-operation of the Chinese authorities, to proceed to carry out the necessary works of reconstruction and improvement according to their treaty rights and in harmony with survey of the commissioners of the two Govern- ments.