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C. 0.
754
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government 1965
Arc 26 OCT 09.
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[36695]
No. 1.
[October 4.]
SECTION 2.
(No. 337.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 4.)
Peking, September 17, 1909. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch which I have received from His Majesty's consul at Nanking, and from which you will observe that the improvement in the state of affairs on the southern section of the Tien-tsin-Pukow Railway, reported in my despatch No. 302 of the 28th August, is being maintained, the bulk of the tenders for the supply of material having been allotted to British merchants in spite of the lower prices quoted by American and Belgian firms.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN,
Inclosure in No. 1.
(No. 25. Confidential.) Sir,
Consul Goffe to Sir J. Jordan.
Nanking, September 7, 1909. I AM glad to be able to report some improvement in the condition of affairs in regard to the southern section of the Tien-tsin-Pukow Railway.
In the first place, the bulk of the tenders for the supply of materials called for during the last few months have been allotted to British merchants. The orders for steel girders for bridges were all placed in England, and the eight locomotives, for which tenders were invited, are to be supplied by the North British Locomotive Works. It is true that two extra locomotives have been ordered from America, nominally for purposes of comparison; but I do not think that British merchants have much ground for complaint as regards this particular item, when it is borne in mind that Mr. Low had an adequate excuse for placing the whole order in America had he wished to indulge his somewhat natural predilection for American articles. The third tender Of these, 150 have been ordered called for was for the supply of 250 goods waggons. from the Metropolitan Carriage Works, the remainder being equally divided between American and Belgian firms, whose prices were considerably lower than Messrs. Jardine and Matheson are, I understand, those quoted by British firms. quite satisfied with Mr. Low's manner of dealing with all these tenders, and he would appear to have acted, on the whole, very fairly towards British merchants.
Another matter for congratulation is the marked improvement in the relatious between Mr. Low and Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co., which is entirely due to Mr. Landale's initiative. He has very wisely made concessions on one or two points in dispute between the managing director and his own firm, and has recoguised the advisability, not to say the necessity, of treating Mr. Low on a footing of friendly equality. Mr. Low is, I have reason to know, much pleased at this changed attitude on the part of Jardine's, and the firm have already reaped considerable benefit in the shape I cannot help thinking that this of increased orders being placed with them. circumstance, combined with the friendly relations now existing between Mr. Low and this consulate, have influenced the allotment of the recent tenders, and not been without their effect in counteracting his former bias towards America.
Mr. Tuckey, the engineer-in-chief, informed me recently that he thought that Mr. Low was now honestly trying to do his best for the railway, but that he was constitutionally incapable of making up his mind quickly. Mr. Low, however, in a private conversation with me, explained that he could not sanction any scheme until he had gone into the whole matter ab initio, and that he would not come to a decision on any point except after full and mature consideration. Mr. Tuckey has noticed an improvement in this rospect during the last month or so, and, in any case, the work is now approaching a stage in which there will be less occasion for interference on the part of the head office.
[2471 d-2]