[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Goverment]
4196
192
2
Your
request of Messrs. T. Macgregor, a British firm, to lease land at Harbin. Excellency will not fail to notice that the Railway Company challenge the right of British subjects to be judged in their persons and property by courts of their own nationality a right which foreigners of all nationalities have always jealously asserted in China; and in so doing are assuming rights which are not even claimed by the British Government in British concessions at the treaty ports in China, where the principle of extraterritoriality is always carefully upheld. Sir J. Jordan also points out that it is not a fact, as seems to be implied in the aide-mémoire issued by the Russian Government, that foreigners are obliged to submit to "règlements et taxes existants in China, and adds that, on the contrary, China can impose no municipal taxation of any kind upon foreigners without the consent of their Government.
I am, &c.
">
E. GREY.
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[43854]
No. 1.
RECR
REG II FEB 10'
[November 30.]
SECTION 4.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 30.)
(No. 189.) (Telegraphic.) P.
CHINCHOW-AIGUN Railway.
Peking, November 30, 1909.
I have received your telegram No. 191 of yesterday's date.
I am told by Paulings' representative that Na-t'ung has recently memorialised the Throne suggesting a branch line from Taonaufu to Kuanch'engtzu, to connect the railway in question with the South Manchurian line. Lord ffrench considers that this concession is being proposed in order to obtain the good-will of the Japanese.
The negotiations are not being pressed at the moment, the Americans maintaining a passive attitude, and the Chinese showing no desire to bring the matter to a con- clusion.
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