478
appears that the Canton-Amoy Railway has been decided on, at any rate as far as the section from Canton to Whampoa is concerned. As to the capital required I have been unable to obtain any, accurate information. A Chinese named Chang Chien-haun, who made money in the Straits, has, it is said, induced his countrymen there to subscribe $2,000,000. The line has been surveyed at Chang's expense and two foreigners have been engaged, one a Dane and the other an Englishman.
In spite of careful enquiries, I have found extraordinary difficulty in obtaining any reliable information about the projected line, its capital, or its management. From the Viceroy's Proclamation it would appear to be under official auspices.
↓
I have, &c.,
R. W. MANSFIELD,
Consul-General.
42195
479
No. 312.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received November 15, 1906.)
The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, and, by direction of the Secretary of State, transmits herewith paraphrases of the under-mentioned telegrams. Foreign Office,
*
November 15, 1906.
The Honourable L. D. Carnegie, M.V.O.,
&c., &c.,
&c.,
Peking.
REFERENCE TO PREVIOUS LETTER: Colonial Office, November 14.*
יונייני
1
YOUR HIGHNESS,
September 17, 1906.
WITH reference to the correspondence which has passed between Your High- ness and this Legation since May fast on the project of a railway from Canton to Whampoa, Mr. Carnegie informs me that at an interview on September 8th Your Highness stated that this was an old scheme, dating from the plague epidemic of 1896, the object being to relieve the congestion of Canton City, and, by means of a railway, to favour residence af Whampoa. Your Highness declined to admit that this short line interfered in any way with the Canton-Kowloon Railway. Though Mr. Carnegie pointed out that, according to his information, the trace as proposed must inevitably run along the route of the Canton-Kowloon Railway for a considerable distance, that in so far as it followed the same route it would be clearly a rival line, and that the British and Chinese Corporation were justly entitled under their agreements to object to it, his arguments had no effect, Your Highness insisting that the Whampoa scheme is a separate matter altogether from the Canton- Kowloon undertaking.
I have the honour to enclose a copy of an official Proclamation, issued by the Viceroy of Canton, which has lately been received by post from His Majesty's Consul- General at Canton, and from which it is evident that the scheme objected to is undoubtedly of wider significance than Your Highness thought when discussing it with Mr. Carnegie. This Proclamation states clearly that the Board of Commerce has sanctioned the formation of a company to construct a railway from Canton to Amoy, and that the trace to be followed proceeds from the east gate of Canton City to Whampoa, and thence passes through Tseng-Cheng, Shih-Lung, Po-Lo, Kuei-Shan, Hai-Feng, Lu-Feng, and other places, to Ch'ao-Chou and Amoy. From the accompanying map, which has been drawn specially for the purpose, Your High- ness will be able to see at a glance that the trace laid down must coincide with the route of the Canton-Kowloon Railway for a distance of 40 miles, to the neighbour- hood of Shih-Lung. To that extent there can be no doubt whatever that the pro- posed Canton-Amoy Railway is a rival line and that it contravenes the letter and spirit of the Corporation's agreements.
Under the instructions received from His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs it is my duty to request Your Highness to reconsider this matter in the light of the Proclamation and map enclosed, and either to move His Excel- lency the Viceroy to abandon the project sanctioned, by the Board of Commerce, or to accord me the favour of an interview at an early date for the purpose of stating the views of His Majesty's Government.
His Imperial Highness
Prince Ch'ing,
&c., &c., &c.
I avail myself, &c.,
JOHN N. JORDAN.
Name and Date.
DESCRIPTION OF ENCLOSURES.
Paraphrases of Telegrams.
To Sir J. Jordan, Peking, No. 192, November 12
Bir J. Jordan, Peking, No. 215, November 13
(No. 192.)
Subject.
Canton-Kowloon Railway Agreement.
Enclosure 1 in No. 312.
FOREIGN OFFICE to Sir J. JORDAN.
November 12, 1906.
.TELEGRAM.
Canton-Kowloon Railway.
I have received your telegram, No. 213, of November 10th, and congratulate you
on having settled the matter.
With regard to the Joint Working Agreement, we shall be glad to learn in due course what is proposed.
(No. 215.)
Enclosure 2 in No. 312.
Sir J. JORDAN to FOREIGN OFFICE.
November 13, 1906.
TELEGRAM.
On November 12th you enquired what was proposed as to Joint Working Agree- ment of Canton-Kowloon Railway (see your telegram 192 of that date),
The Agreement as signed reads as follows, Article 18:-
"The junction of the sections of the railway from Canton to the boundary of the Kowloon leased territory under British control, and from the
L.F. transmitting copy of No. 309.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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