364
I now enclose), I am satisfied that he intends negotiations to be conducted only with and through Tang-Shao-Yi; for his secretaries gave me clearly to understand that the Viceroy's desire was to shift responsibility on to Tang, who is a Cantonese, with the hope of involving him with the people of this province and thus saving the Viceroy the odium of having yielded to foreign pressure.
I beg to add that the Viceroy's two proposals were communicated by me to His Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong for transmission to you by telegraph.
I have, &c.,
Sir Ernest Satow, G.C.M.G.,
&c., &c.,
&c.,
His Majesty's Minister, Peking.
15308
No. 242.
JAMES SCOTT,
Consul-General.
363
Mr. Bland is at the moment in Shanghai, but will, in a few days, proceed to Hong Kong, where he will put himself in communication with the Governor before proceeding to Canton.
We are, &c., The British and Chinese Corporation, Limited,
Per W. KESWICK,
The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office.
20 3
Enclosure 2 in No. 242,
Chairman.
03
TELEGRAM to Sir E. SATOW.
(Foreign Office, No. 59, dated March 28, 1906.)
Your telegram, No. 53 (of March 20th, Canton-Kowloon Railway).
British and Chinese Corporation have instructed Mr. Bland to proceed to Hong Kong as their special representative to communicate with Governor before pro- ceeding to Canton.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received April 30, 1006.)
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 copy of the under-mentioned papers.
Foreign Office,
April 30, 1906.
REFERENCE TO PREVIOUS LETTER. Foreign Office, March 22, 1906.*
DESCRIPTION OF ENCLOSURES.
Name and Date,
Babject.
1. British and Chinese Corporation, March 23
Canton-Kowloon Railway.
2. To Sir E. Satow, Telegram, No. 59, of March 28
16737
VI
SOB,
No. 243.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received May 4, 1906.)
[Answered by No. 248.]
CROCI -
Foreign Office, May 2, 1906. WITH reference to previous correspondence I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to transmit herewith copy of a note from the Chinese Minister, enclosing translation of a telegram from the Viceroy of Canton, relative to the negotiations in regard to the Canton-Kowloon Railway.
Sir E. Grey proposes, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to inform Wang Tahsieh, in acknowledging his note with thanks, that His Majesty's Government can express no opinion on the proposals till they see them in extenso, and that it could, in any case, only cause confusion if an attempt were made to discuss the terms in London while the negotiations are being con- ducted at Canton.
I am, &c.,
F. A. CAMPBELL.
Enclosure in No. 243.
SIR
Enclosure 1 in No. 242.
The British and Chinese Corporation, Limited,
22, Abchurch Lane, London, E.C., March 23, 1906. Canton-Kowloon Railway.
WB beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of, and to thank you for, your letter, No. 9777, of yesterday's date, in which you are so good as to inform us, by direction of Sir Edward Grey, that in consequence of the pressure brought to bear at Peking, the Wai-Wu-Pu has instructed the Viceroy of l'anton to reopen negotiations with the British and Chinese Corporation and that the Viceroy has informed His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton of his having received instructions to appoint delegates and negotiate.
We are greatly obliged to Sir E. Grey for giving us these particulars, which are of great moment to us, and we beg to acquaint you, for the information of Sir E. Grey, that we have telegraphed to our agents in China to arrange with our special representative, Mr. J. O. P. Bland, to proceed to Canton.
• No. 227.
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
Chinese Legation, April 25, 1906.
I HAVE the honour to inform Your Excellency that I have received a telegram, a translation of which is herein enclosed, from His Excellency the Viceroy of Canton on the 23rd instant, relative to the negotiations of the Canton-Kowloon Railway.
Having studied it, I would observe that the construction of this railway is a question which greatly concerns the commercial interests of our two countries, and the sooner it is carried through, the better will it be for their development.
As the proposals which have been made by His Excellency the Viceroy of Canton are perfectly fair and tend to attain that end, I beg to commend them to Your Excellency's most favourable consideration, and trust that His Majesty's Government will also read them with satisfaction, and will be able to meet the wishes of the Viceroy of Canton in this matter.
The Right Honourable
Sir Edward Grey, Bart., P.C.,
&c., &c., &o.
I have, &o.,
WANG TAHSIEH
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
LTC.O. 882
6 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO