C.0.
30185
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.)
RECR
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[37364]
No. 1.
(REG: 3 NOVOS
[October 9.]
785
SECTION 1.
Mr. Rumbold to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 9.)
(No. 264.) Sir,
Tokyo, September 13, 1909. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch, No. 38 of the 1st instant, which has been addressed to me by the acting British vice-consul at Dairen on the subject of the berthage accommodation at that port. Mr. Gordon has been informed by the South Manchuria Railway Company that special arrangements will be made for such steamers as make Dairen a regular port of call, and suggests that this information should be conveyed to British firms interested in the Manchurian trade.
I have, &c.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
HORACE RUMBOLD.
(No. 38.) Sir,
Vice-Consul Gordon to Mr. Rumbold.
Dairen, September 1, 1909. ON the 30th ultimo Mr. D. Landale, the manager of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co. at Shanghac, called on me, and in the course of conversation, stated that the British steam-ship companies trading regularly to the Far East, such as the P. and O. Steam Navigation Company, the Shire Line, &c., were desirous of making Dairen a regular port of call, principally in order to obtain a share of the bean trade here. added that the only doubt that existed in the minds of the management of these companies was the fear of delay to their vessels owing to the want of sufficient berthage accommodation during the height of the season.
He
Acting on this knowledge, I called yesterday on the South Manchuria Railway Company, and, in the absence of the director in charge of traffic arrangements, was received by Mr. Inuzuka, who readily perceived the advantages accruing should Dairen become a regular port of call. He said that vessels calling at this port would, for purposes of berthage accommodation, be divided into three classes, namely, mail boats, regular steamers, and irregular steamers or tramps, and that the vessels belonging to companies making Dairen a regular port of call would have the next preference to the mail boats.
I have the honour to enclose copy of a letter which I have since received from the South Manchuria Railway Company confirming the above, and am sending a similar copy to the local agents of the various British steam-ship companies.
It appears to me that the proposed move would be to the advantage of British trade in Manchuria generally, as this port would be then in direct communication with Europe, and the transhipment charges at Shanghae or in Japan will be thereby saved, and should have a considerable effect on the import trade. I venture to suggest that this promise of the railway company might be communicated to all interested in the Manchurian trade at home.
I have, &c.
E. L. 8. GORDON.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Sir,
South Manchuria Railway Company to Vice-Consul Gordon.
Dairen, August 31, 1909. REFERRING to our conversation of this morning on the subject of the allotting of loading berths at the Dairen wharves, I have pleasure in confirming that, whenever practicable, we will give such steamers as will make this port a regular port of call a preference over tramp steamers.
Yours truly,
N. INUZUKA,
Director.
[2462 i-1]