[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
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CHINA RAILWAYS,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[3768]
No. 1.
6486
[February 1.] THECT SECTIONRIC 4 MAR 10,
Sir A. Nicolson to Sir Edward Grey,-(Received February 1.) (No. 36.) (Telegraphic.) P.
St. Petersburgh, February 1, 1910. THE Russian Government have sent rue a memorandum in reply to your note of the 3rd January to the Russian Ambassador in London (copy of which was enclosed in your despatch No. 2 of the 3rd ultimo) on the subject of the Chenchow-Aigun Railway. The 1899 agreement is discussed in the first portion of this document, and the economic and strategic importauce of the line and the manner in which Russian interests and security would be affected by its construction are explained in the second portion. The matter is summed up to the following effect in the last two paragraphs:
In the event of the realisation of the proposed construction the Imperial Government would be compelled to consider seriously measures for the defence of their possessions in the basin of the River Amur, and of a radical alteration of their friendly and confiding policy as regards China. British capitalists are evidently only seeking an advantageous investment of their money, and cannot be interested in co-operating with unfriendly intrigues of China with reference to Russia, The Imperial Government are therefore convinced that the British Government in the question of the Aigun Railway will take Russian interests into consideration, and will find it possible to exchange views with Russia on this matter."
I will send a translation of the memorandum by post.
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