CO882-(6-8) — Page 20

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

404

His Majesty's Government view with concern the attitude of the Viceroy with regard to the suggested arrangement for the joint working of the Chinese and Hong Kong sections of the line. They understand that the negotiations have already been transferred to Peking, where they trust that a satisfactory settlement may be arrived at.

You will no doubt concur with His Majesty's Government in thinking that while negotiations are proceeding at Peking discussion in this country in regard to the terms of the Agreement would be highly inconvenient, as such a course could only lead to confusion and further delay.

I have, &c.,

23285

No. 204.

EDWARD Grey.

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received June 28, 1906.)

[Copy to Governor, July 6, 1906. Confidential. L.F.]

(Confidential.)

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,

June 27, 1906.

REFERENCE TO PREVIOUS LETTER :

Foreign Office, June 8, 1906.*

DESCRIPTION OF ENCLOSURES.

Name and Da e

Subject.

To British and Chinese Corporation, June 11 ...)

To British and Chinese Corporation, June 15

Telegram, No. 123, of June 11 from Mr. Carnegie j

Canton-Kowloon and Soochow-Ningpo Railways.

Enclosure 1 in No. 264.

405

In regard to the Suchow line, Mr. Carnegie was shown an obstructive and uncompromising telegram just arrived from the Chekiang Railway Board, as a specimen of the communications daily received by the Wai-wu-pu, and he was begged to represent to His Majesty's Government the difficult position in which the Wai-wu-pu was placed by the strong popular feeling in the province. Mr. Carnegie replied that His Majesty's Government must expect the Chinese Government to secure the fulfilment of agreements in spite of local agitations, and Mr. Tang said that he would consult Prince Ching again on the matter, and see what could be done.

In the circumstances, it does not appear to Sir E. Grey to be unreasonable that the negotiations for the Canton-Kowloon line should be taken first, and unless Mr. Carnegie considers advisable to press for the immediate appointment of a negotiator for the Suchow-Ningpo line, as to which he has given no indication, Sir Edward thinks it will be better to give the Chinese Government time to persuade the Chekiang Board in the matter.

The Chairman,

SIR,

British and Chinese Corporation, Limited,

22, Abchurch Lane, E.C.

Enclosure 2 in No. 264.

I am, &c.,

F. A. CAMPBELL.

Foreign Office, June 15, 1906. WITH reference to the letter from this office of the 11th instant on the subject of the Canton-Kowloon and the Suchow-Ningpo Railway lines, I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to inform you that a further telegram has been received from His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires reporting a recent interview with the Wai-wu-pu.

Tang Shao Yi stated that Prince Ching was considering the appointment of a negotiator in the matter of the Kowloon line. Mr. Carnegie objected to the further delay which was taking place, and Tang promised to remind the Prince that the appointment was necessary.

As regards the Suchow line, Tang had consulted Prince Ching, who had nothing to add to previous statements he had made on the subject, but begged that His Majesty's Government would let the question rest until the Kowloon Railway matter was settled. In any case, His Highness was quite clear that the same negotiator could not undertake both lines, as the conditions were different and the lines were far apart.

Mr. Carnegie gives his opinion that it is better to deal with the Kowloon line first and to leave the Chinese Government time to overcome the undisguised opposi- tion of the Chekiang Board to the Suchow line.

The Chairman,

I am, &c.,

F. A. CAMPBELL.

6

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

(Confidential.)

SIR,

your

Foreign Office, June 11, 1906. I AM directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to acknowledge the receipt of letter of the 5th instant in regard to a telegram from your representative in Peking reporting that the Chinese Government intend to appoint a negotiator in the matter of the Canton-Kowloon Railway, but not in the case of the Suchow-Ningpo line. Acquiescence in the delay in appointing negotiators appears to Mr Bland to be likely to prejudice the position of the Corporation.

I am to state, for the confidential information of the Corporation, that a tele- gram was received on the 30th ultimo from His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking to the effect that on pressing the Wai-wu-pu for the appointment of negotiators for these railways, he had been informed on the previous day by Tang Shao-Yi that in Prince Ching's view the two railways must be negotiated separately, and that the Canton-Kowloon line should be taken first, as it offered less local difficulty.

• No. 255.

British and Chinese Corporation,

22, Abchurch Lane, E.C.

(Confidential.) (No. 123.)

Enclosure 3 in No. 264.

Mr. CARNEGIE to Sir EDWARD GREY. (Received June 11, 11.40 a.m.)

Peking, June 11, 1906. Your telegram, No. 112 [of 8th June: Canton-Kowloon and Suchow-Ningpo Railways].

Two railways were again pressed for at Wai-wu Pu in interview of 5th June. Kowloon. Tang said that Prince was considering appointment of negotiator. I objected to further delay, and he promised to remind Prince that appointment was

necessary.