[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
146
C O
23921
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
[June 26.]
HELP
CONFIDENTIAL.
22 W I
SECTION 6,
[24735]
(No. 237.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received June 26.)
Peking, June 5, 1911. I HAVE the honour to forward herewith a useful report submitted by Mr. Acting Consul Sly, of Harbin, relative to Hunchun and Chientao, a region of consider- able political importance at the present time. I attach thereto the map mentioned in the last paragraph of his report.*
As regards the term "Chientao," it is necessary to state that no one seems able to define exactly the geographical limits of the region vaguely so termed, but it may be said in a general way that it is the region that lies to the west of the Tumen River, from about opposite to Hui Ning in the south to about Pai Ts'ao Kou in the north, viz., the districts of Ho Lung Hsien, Liu Tao Kou, Tou Tao Kou, Yen Chi Fu, &c.
Lieutenant-Colonel Willoughby, military attaché to this legation, who travelled through the region last autumn, has furnished me with the memorandum of which I have the honour to enclose a copy.
I have, &c.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 20. Confidential.) Sir,
Acting Consul Sly to Sir J. Jordan.
Harbin, May 18, 1911. REFERRING to my despatch No. 27 of the 13th September last, I have the honour to furnish you with further particulars in regard to the districts of Hunchun and Chientao. The information has been given me by a gentleman who has recently returned from these localities, with which he is well acquainted.
The Japanese company which took in hand and commenced the construction of the trolley-way from Hsi Shui La to Lung Hsien has failed, and goods are transported by cart from Ungi to Hsia P'ing and other places along the Tiumen, which are connected with the main route between Ungi and Îlsia P'ing by branch roads. At these places goods are shipped by small junks, the largest of which, according to measurements made by the Imperial Maritime Customs, have a net capacity of 18 tons, to Hok'ou, the point of junction of the Hung Chi River with the Tiumen. If wind and water are favourable, merchandise destined for Hunchun, which is situated on the Hung Ch'i Ho about 30 li above Hok'ou, can ascend the Hung Ch'i as far as Tung An Tzu, a distance of, roughly, 12 li, otherwise the whole journey from Hok'ou to Hunchun must be done by cart. Above Hok'ou the Tinmen is navigable for some 80 l by small craft, that is, large sampans. There is a bar at the mouth of the Tiumen, which makes navigation dangerous for river craft, hence the cut by road from Ungi to places situated on the river proper.
Ungi has now become the chief port of import for the Hunchun and Chientao districts, and the Japanese would wish to make it the principal port of export also. The natural trade route and that which is still followed by exports is by way of Novo Kievsk and Possiet; but at the latter, like at Vladivostock, importers are subjected to delays and various inconveniences, and imports have been largely diverted to Ungi. The chief wealth of Chientao is its mineral products, the principal of which are said to be gold, copper, silver, and iron. The neighbourhood also produces beans and millet, and a little wheat. In the Hunchuu district the chief product beans; and bean-cake and bean oil are exported to Japan viâ Vladivostock. Imports into both districts mainly
* Not reproduced.
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