This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[659]
No. 1.
457
APR 10J [January 6.]
SECTION 2.
!
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 6.) (No. 5.) (Telegraphic.) P.
Peking, January 6, 1910. PLEASE see my telegram No. 206 of the 27th ultimo, with regard to railways in Manchuria.
I have received a copy of a note respecting the Chinchow-Aigun line, which was addressed by the United States chargé d'affaires to the Chinese Government on the 31st ultimo,
The note begins by a statement of the proposal for the general internationalisation of railways as contained in the American memorandum given to the Wai-wu Pu on the 20th December. Mr. Fletcher then proceeds to say that, in the opinion of his Government, the projected Chinchow-Aigun railway is an important part of the
scheme.
He explains that the more comprehensive American scheme may possibly be found to be too large a conception for practical adoption at the present moment, at any rate, in its entirety. In that case, the agreement already concluded for the construction of the Chinchow-Aigun railway would, if carried out, offer a means of attaining the desired goal to a certain extent. Under this agreement it would be possible to invite the participation of such Powers as were desirous to bring about an effective neutralisation of all the railways, such participation to include not only the construction and financing of this particular line, but also a share in any future railways which the development of Manchuria might render necessary. The arrangement might further provide for the supply of funds to enable the Chinese Government to purchase any of the railways already existing that might be put up for sale in the future.
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