524
Agreement might be expected, we have to-day received from Mr. Bland the following telegram :-
"Referring to your telegram of the 14th. Canton-Kowloon Railway under- taking given to the British Minister by Tang Shao Yi to this effect: Memorial would be submitted 12th instant; issue Imperial Edict expected to follow immediately, but, in consequence of Imperial Edict Sunday very severely censuring Chang Po Hsi, Tang Shao Yi situa- tion has become difficult; you may expect there will be some delay British and Chinese Corporation business.
"I have seen Tang Shao Yi to-day, states he cannot move in the matter in the present state of affairs.
"Situation is serious; caused partly on account of keen opposi- tion Canton to Loan Contract, partly on account of reactionaries, Peking."
We beg leave to request that you will be so good as to submit this information to Sir Edward Grey, who will remember that, as stated in our letter to you of the 3rd instant, Tang Shao Yi requested that the Corporation would consent to the term of the loan being reduced to 30 years on the understanding that the Imperial Edict would be applied for at once and no further changes in the Agreement would be suggested; that Tang Shao Yi gave an undertaking to His Britannic Majesty's Minister to that effect; and that the Corporation, in order to facilitate the conclu- sion of the business, complied with Tang Shao Yi's request and agreed to the term of the loan being reduced.
Sir F. Campbell, K.C.M.G.,
Foreign Office, S.W.
We are, &c.,
THE BRITISH AND CHINESE CORPORATION, LIMITED,
per W. KESWICK,
Chairman.
Name and Data.
525
REFERENCE TO PREVIOUS LETTER.
Colonial Office, January 30*
DESCRIPTION OF ENCLOSURE.
Paraphrase of Telegram No. 29 from Sir J. Jordan,
His Majesty's Minister at Peking, dated Feb. 10.
(Paraphrase.)
Bubject.
Ratification of Canton-Kowloon Railway Agree-
ment.
Enclosure in No. 328.
Sir J. JORDAN, Peking, to FOREign Office.
TELEGRAM.
February 10, 1907. No. 29. Canton-Kowloon Railway Loan Agreement. Please see my telegram, No. 26, of the 8th instant.
Agreement has been ratified by an Imperial rescript, dated February 7th, which has been communicated to me by the Wai-wu-pu.
7527
No. 329.
(Paraphrase.)
Enclosure 2 in No. 327.
Sir E. GREY to Sir J. JORDAN.
(January 19, 1907.) TELEGRAM.
No. 10. Canton-Kowloon Railway Loan. On the understanding that applica- tion would at once be made for Imperial Edict and no further changes be suggested, the British and Chinese Corporation had agreed to a reduction to thirty years of the term of the loan for the Canton-Kowloon Railway at the request of Tong.
According to telegraphic information sent to the Corporation by Mr. Bland, Edict censuring Tong, which was issued recently, prevents the latter according to his own statement from moving in the matter.
Is serious delay likely to occur and can matters be in any way expedited?
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received February 28, 1907.)
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 paper.
Foreign Office,
February 27, 1907.
DESCRIPTION OF ENCLOSURE.
Name and Dato.
Subject.
Sir J. Jordan, Peking, No. 19, January 8 ...
Canton-Kowloon Railway.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:→→→
TPLIC.O. 882
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
5879
No. 328.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received February 15, 1907.)
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 copies of the under-mentioned paper.
Foreign Office,
February 14, 1907.
(No. 19.) SIR,
Enclosure in No. 329.
Peking, January 8, 1907. ALTHOUGH there has been considerable agitation against the acceptance of the terms of the Canton-Kowloon Railway Agreement, the signature of which I had the honour to report in my despatch, No. 464, of the 12th November last, the delay which has occurred in the ratification of the instrument is largely due to other causes, one of which was the absence in Shanghai of Mr. Bland, the Agent of the British and Chinese Corporation.
On his return here His Excellency Tong Shoa-yi, who had shown considerable firmness in rejecting the demands of his fellow provincials for a reconsideration
• No. 325.
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