This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[30917]
No. 1.
652
[August 16.]
SECTION 2.
Mr. Rumbold to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received August 16.)
(No. 42.)
(Telegraphic.) P.
ANTUNG-MUKDEN Railway.
Sir J. Jordan's telegram No. 132 to you.
Tokyo, August 16, 1909.
Information contained in above telegram is confirmed by Mr. Ishii. He does not think it likely that there will be any further developments, and gave the impression that he considered that a settlement of the question had been arrived at.
In regard to Chientao, his Excellency said that negotiations had not been reopened, but that great importance was apparently attached to this question by China. Japan, however, considered that there were other questions of equal import- ance to be settled, among which was that of the Fakumen Railway.
[30954]
(No. 43.)
No. 2.
Mr. Rumbold to Sir Edward Grey,--(Received August 16.)
(Telegraphic.) P.
MANCHURIAN Railways.
Tokyo, August 16, 1909.
Sir J. Jordan's telegram No. 135 of the 10th August in reply to your telegram No. 131 to Peking.
Mr. Ishii, in answer to general enquiries, described projected Cheng-chow- Taonan line as at present "only a rumour from Peking," and remarked that any opinion as to attitude of Japanese Government would be premature.
On being pressed, he said that, should this line ever be constructed, the interests of Japan and of the Southern Manchurian Railway would have to be safeguarded by some working arrangement.
Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs also stated that the extent of the competitive area as affecting the Southern Manchurian Railway had not yet been determined by Japan, and, in fact, it would be almost impossible for her to make any definition of such area.
As regards American railway activity in Manchuria, his Excellency asserted that he had not heard anything, and he seemed to be unwilling to be drawn into conversation on the subject.
No allusion was made during the conversation either to Paulings or to the correspondence with Sir J. Jordan, and Mr. Ishii's language was extremely reserved and vague.
[2389 q-2]