[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Governmen
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[3508]
***
No. 1.
255
4810
[January 31.
SECTION 18 FEB 10
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 31.)
(No. 11.) Sir,
Peking, January 9, 1910. WITH reference to my despatch No. 486 of the 27th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copies of correspondence between his Excellency Liang Shih-yi, Director-General of Railways, and the Peking agent of the British and Chinese Corporation, respecting the posts of engineer-in-chief and general manager on the Peking-Mukden Railway.
You will observe that the language of the director-general's communication is based upon the terms of the protocol and the loan agreement, of both of which instruments it takes due account. The director-general has also, I am glad to report, confirmed the assurances recorded in my above-mentioned despatch, and has expressed to Mr. Hillier his readiness to furnish Mr. Ricketts with a contract, free from the objectionable features which were embodied in the agreement with the late Mr. Bellingham.
I think, therefore, we may assume that the question of the appointment of Mr. Kinder's successor is at last within measurable distance of being satisfactorily arranged.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
Sir,
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Mr. Robertson to Liang Shih-yi.
December 30, 1909.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 15th of the 11th month (27th December, 1909), informing me that it is proposed to appoint Mr. D. P. Ricketts to the post of engineer-in-chief of the Peking-Mukden Railway, and requesting to know if this appointment has the concurrence of the British and Chinese Corporation in terms of article 6 of the Railway Loan Agreement.
In reply, I have the honour to state that having submitted this enquiry by telegram to the Board of the British and Chinese Corporation in Loudon, I am now authorised by then to inform your Excellency that the appointment of Mr. Ricketts to the post of engineer-in-chief has their approval.
I note from your Excellency's separate letter of the same date that Mr. Ricketts has been appointed to the post of general manager of the above railway.
I have, &c.
G. H. ROBERTSON.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Liang Shih-yi to Mr. Robertson.
December 27, 1909.
"IN the regulations for the restoration of the Shanhaikwan Railway, signed between the former director-general and the British representative on the 22nd day of the 3rd month of the 28th year of Kuang Hsü, it is provided that the general Board of Administration, under the director-general, shall appoint a general manager, who shall be an Englishman and shall have special control of the works, the Chinese and foreign workmen, inspection of foreign materials, and the like." The director-general now appoints district engineer Mr. Ricketts to the post of general manager to specially
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