C.0.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government1392
IREC
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
Pret 5 NOV 09! [October 9.]
10
SECTION 3.
[37363]
(No. 263.) Sir,
No. 1.
Mr. Rumbold to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 9.)
Tokyo, September 11, 1909. WITH reference to my despatch No. 261, Confidential, of the 6th instant, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith an interesting summary, prepared by E. M. Hobart-Hampden, acting Japanese secretary, of the views of the principal organs of the Japanese press with reference to the two Sino-Japanese agreements, sigued at Peking on the 4th instant.
I have, &c.
HORACE RUMBOLD.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Memorandum by Mr. Hampden on Japanese Press Comments on Agreements signed at Peking, September 4, 1909.
THE two agreements relating to the Manchurian and Chientao outstanding questions, signed on the 4th instant, were published as an extra of the "Official Gazette on the Sth, but without the accompanying map which would have rendered the position in Chientao more readily intelligible. Prior to publication the Japanese press, which was not very fully or accurately informed locally, had chiefly to rely on the version issued by a Peking newspaper, but many of the Tokyo papers made their comments without awaiting the text, criticism being for the moment partially swallowed Satisfaction has indeed up in satisfaction at the mere conclusion of the conventions.
been general, only here and there leaving room for the reflection that there are still some minor questions outstanding, such as the policing of the South Manchurian Railway, the Tatsumaru and Pratas Island cases, and that these agreements themselves postpone certain points, for instance the date of opening work in the Kirin-Hairyong extension, for future arrangement.
The "Japan Times holds that the new conventions dispose of all pending questions and open a new era of cordiality and co-operation between Japan and China. The equitable character of the present compromise is illustrated from the case of Chientão, where China's territorial claim is admitted in return for a guarantee of free residence and fair treatment for Coreans in that district.
The "Asahi," which had deprecated recourse to independent action in connection with the Antung-Mukden railway, is reassured by the signature of the present agree- ments, which are heartily welcomed as affording proof of restored harmony between China and Japan. Some questions indeed still await settlement, and they may perhaps be embodied in a later agreement. While the Prince-Regent is to be congratulated on his amenability, it is hoped that the strict censorship of the Chinese press may now be relaxed, so that we may learn the views of the Chinese people, imperfectly represented, so far, by the ignorant comments of the students in Tokyo." The "Asahi" particularly approves of the opening of the Chientao region to civilization (or, as he puts it, its transformation from a realm of hobgoblins to a land of human habitation), thus eliminating a source of dissension between Corea and China. The completion of the line from Changchun viâ Kirin to Hairyong and the Corean coast is urged even at the cost of the temporary postponement of the Seoul-Gensan railway, and a yielding attitude is counselled on the question of the policing of the Antung-Mukden railway
zone.
The "Chugai," a trade journal, while welcoming the prospective construction of the 200 miles of rail through Chientao as affording an outlet to the Japan Sea of the products of the rich Sungari basin and with the projected Seoul-Gensan line, forming a complete railway circle through Corea and Manchuria, would have preferred that Japan should undertake this enterprise single-handed, thus saving time and discussion.
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