[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
C. O.
33552
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[34010]
No. 1.
RECE (REG? 12 OCT 09
[September 11.]
589
SECTION 1.
Mr. Bryce to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 11.)
(No. 201.) Sir,
North-East Harbour, Maine, August 31, 1909. MR. CHARLES R. CRANE, who has just been appointed United States Minister to China, came to visit me here before his departure for Europe, being an old acquaintance of mine, and we had some talk upon questions of the Far East. He told me that he had recently been to see President Taft, and he confirmed the view I conveyed to you in a previous despatch that the President is warmly interested in the development of trade between the United States and China. It appears that when the question of the Hankow Railway loan arose, the New York bankers told the administration that they did not care to press their claim for a share, because it was only a 5 per cent. investment and they could do as well or better with their money at bome. The President, however, seconded by Mr. Knox, who has a keen eye for businesss, insisted that the bankers should go on, because by sharing in this loan they were establishing the principle that the United States was to participate hereafter in whatever might be going on in China, and were obtaining a better foundation for uny action the United States might desire to take. They had been the more wishful to do this because a new administration had come into power in China.
Mr. Crane observed that Russia had been finding her administration of Manchuria, which she holds, so costly that she had renounced all ideas of extending her borders. Japan, he had heard, was also disheartened with the result of her efforts both in Manchuria and in Korea, and indeed in Formosa also. In the view of the United States Government neither Japan nor Russia now anticipates any aggression from the other and they are in accord on the principle of each trying to keep for its own subjects as much as possible of the trade of such part of Manchuria as each controls.
In gathering the above from Mr. Rockhill, his departing predecessor, Mr. Crane appeared to have been also told that the latter thought the present rulers of China weak and wavering in their policy, and that there was no commanding personality among them.
Mr. Crane expressed a wish to call at the Foreign Office when he comes to London, and I told him he would be cordially received.
I have, &c.
JAMES BRYCE.
[24187-1]