SIR,
(No. 15.)
344
Enclosure 3 in No. 223.
CONSUL-GENERAL, Canton, to GOVERNOR, Hong Kong.
His Majesty's Consulate-General, Canton, January 17, 1906.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of Your Excellency's despatch of the 15th instant, enclosing memorandum from Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Com- pany on behalf of the British and Chinese Corporation, in respect to the Canton- Kowloon Railway.
68
As regards the question of the translation of the last Article of the Agreement, the word "
arrangements" in the phrase "necessary arrangements" if rendered amendments," leaving the rest of the English text as it stands, would be more in strict accord with the Chinese text. But no matter which word is used, the idea and sense is practically the same, namely, it refers only to minor details of local conditions.
There is no justification for the Viceroy putting a forced construction on the text, authorising him to annul the Agreement, as he now proposes. Besides, the Agreement, whether "preliminary" or "draft" has been duly sanctioned by the Chinese Government as also by Imperial Edict.
I propose taking an early opportunity, after the Chinese holidays are over, and the Official Seals re-opened, to address the Viceroy in the above sense. But I know, from my past experience of his attitude, that His Excellency will not be amenable to either argument or reason.
I have, &c.,
JAMES SCOTT,
Consul-General.
345
Enclosure 5 in No. 223.
From GOVERNOR, Hong Kong, to HIS MAJESTY'S CONSUL-GENERAL, Canton. SIR,
Government House, January 24, 1906. REFERRING to your letter, No. 19, dated the 18th instant, enclosing in con- nection with the Canton-Kowloon Railway a Memorandum of request by Messrs. Wai and Wen on behalf of the Viceroy "for the English and Chinese texts of the Loan Agreement in connection with the Tientsin and Shan Hai Kwan Railway, I have the honour to enclose a copy of the English text of that Agreement. I am obtaining from Peking a copy of the Chinese text, but if any serious intention is at the bottom of the Viceroy's desire to become acquainted with the nature of this Agreement, His Excellency will, without waiting for that version, be able to obtain from a translation of the English version the information required.
I regret that in view of what has gone before I find it difficult to derive any evidence of friendly feeling on the part of His Excellency in this request for informa- tion, which has no direct bearing on the Canton-Kowloon Railway preliminary Agree- ment entered into by the Government of China in 1899. It appears to me rather indicative of a desire to further postpone giving effect to that agreement, and I am so informing His Majesty's Minister.
James Scott, Esq., I.S.O.,
His Britannic Majesty's Consul General,
Canton.
I have, &o.,
MATTHEW NATHAN,
Governor.
His Excellency
Sir Matthew Nathan, K.C.M.G., Hong Kong.
SIR,
Enclosure 4 in No. 223.
CONSUL-GENERAL, Canton, to GOVERNOR, Hong Kong.
His Majesty's Consulate-General, Canton, January 18, 1906.
I HAVE the honour to inform Your Excellency that the Viceroy sent his two Secretaries to see me this afternoon in connection with the Canton-Kowloon Railway question.
After a short discussion the Deputies agreed upon the enclosed memorandum as giving in exact language the Viceroy's request. I understand that the Viceroy himself is telegraphing to Tientsin to obtain copies of the documents; but he would be glad if Your Excellency would assist him on your part.
His Excellency
I have, &c.,
JAMES SCOTT,
Consul-General.
Enclosure 6 in No. 223.
PARAPHRASE OF TELEGRAPHIC CORRESPONDENCE.
V.
GOVERNOR, Hong Kong, to His BRITANNIC MAJESTY's Consul-GENERAL, Canton. (Despatched 3.35 p.m., January 19, 1906.)
Your letter, No. 19, of the 18th of January, the English text is included in Rookhill's Treaties.-NATHAN.
VI.
GOVERNOR, Hong Kong, to HIS BRITANNIC Majesty's ConbUL-GENERAL, Canton. (Despatched 11.40 a.m., January 20, 1906.)
Your letter, No. 19, does the assistance requested in the last sentence refer te obtaining copies of agreement mentioned in the Memorandum or to negotiations on the lines of that Agreement? My telegram of the 19th was on the assumption that the former was intended.-Nathan.
Sir Matthew Nathan, K.C.M.G.,
&c., &c.,
&c.
MEMORANDUM of request by Messrs. Wai and Wen on behalf of Viceroy. Viceroy desires to obtain from Tientsin the English and Chinese texts of the Loan Agreement in connection with the Tientsin and Shan Hai Kwan Railway running through the Great Wah to Sin Ming Tung.
The Viceroy is anxious to see this Agreement; and if he finds it satisfactory, he intends opening negotiations on similar lines.
JAMES SCOTT,
Consul-General.
VII.
GOVERNOR, Hong Kong, to HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S MINISTER, Peking. (Despatched 11.45 a.m., January 24, 1906.)
The Viceroy has asked for the English and Chinese texts of the Northern Rail- ways Loan Agreement, and has stated that should he find it satisfactory he intends to open negotiations for the Canton-Kowloon Railway on the lines of that agres- ment. I am sending through the Consul-General the English text at the same time letting the Viceroy know that I believe his request is only made to cause delay. This is Mr. Scott's view. Please send me the Chinese text as early as possible.—NATHAN.
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