1
2
that it had no particular importance. In talking to me, however, the Russian Ambassador said that this line was not to be extended through a poor country for nothing, and that its strategic importance to Japan was very considerable. I had already heard from another colleague that M. Malewsky was perturbed by this clause of the first agreement, as given in the press.
I have forwarded a copy of this despatch to His Majesty's Minister at Peking.
I have, &c.
HORACE RUMBOLD.
738
C. O.
34965
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Governmen
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
k
CONFIDENTIAL.
[36692]
No. 1.
RESP (REG: 25 OCT 09
[October 4.]
SECTION 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 4.) (No. 334. Confidential.) Sir,
Peking, September 16, 1909. IN my telegram No. 96 of the 28th May last I stated that the Russian Minister would have no objection to the proposed communication to the Wai-wu Pu, which I subsequently made on the 23rd June, pointing out that the detailed regulations for the municipal government of Harbin must receive the approval of the treaty Powers before they could be made applicable to foreign subjects, and suggesting that these regulations should be drawn up in consultation with the consular authorities of the Powers concerned.
M. Korostovetz is fully alive to the fact that other Powers besides Russia and China will expect to have a voice in the framing of the regulations in question, but, as I have already pointed out in previous despatches, the moderate attitude of the Russian Legation here is often placed at a disadvantage vis-à-vis the more uncompromising policy pursued by the Russian railway authorities, whose influence at Harbin appears hitherto to have outweighed that of the Russian consulate-general.
In this connection, a visit paid me a few days ago by the Russian Minister is of interest. M. Korostovetz, who was accompanied by M. Poppe, the newly appointed consul-general at Harbin, discussed the situation at some length, and assured me that M. Poppe would support to the best of his ability the proposal for international co-operation in the matter of the municipal regulations. His Excellency then pro- ceeded to explain the difficulty of his position as between his Foreign Office and the Finance Department, which controls the Railway Administration, and intimated that any action which could be taken by His Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburgh to strengthen the hands of the Russian Legation here would be very welcome. M. Korostovetz enquired whether it would not be possible for the Russian Foreign Office to be furnished with a statement of the views of His Majesty's Government with regard to the drafting of the Harbin municipal regulations similar to that contained in my note of the 23rd June last to the Wai-wu Pa (enclosed in my despatch No. 247 of the 7th July).
I replied that I would submit his request confidentially to you for such action as you may think proper in the matter.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
[2462 d-1]