CO882-6 — Page 702

360 ·

had received, in reply to his memorial to the Throne, an Imperial Edict directing him to appoint delegates to meet and negotiate. He asked that His Majesty's Minister and myself should be informed of this and added that he would delegate Messrs. Wei, Wen, and Kung, his Foreign Secretaries, to meet the Consul-General and the representative of the Corporation in friendly conference. This message had been communicated by telegram to Sir Ernest Satow (XXI.).

4. I at once saw Mr. C. H. Ross with regard to his going to Canton, but was informed that Mr. Bland at Shanghai was now the special representative of the British and Chinese Corporation, and that it would be convenient if he nego- tiated from the outset. As, however, it appeared that Mr. Bland was not imme- diately available, I arranged with Mr. Dickson, Managing Director of Messrs. Jar- dine, Matheson and Company, that Mr. Ross should, at any rate, commence the negotiations, and I telegraphed yesterday (XXII.) to Mr. Scott to arrange for an early meeting between Mr. Ross and the Viceroy's deputies.

5. The issue of an Imperial Ediot to the Viceroy directing him to negotiate marks a step in advance, and I trust that in my next despatch I shall be able to report that the negotiations are actually in hand.

6. I take this opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your Lordship's secret despatch of the 15th February, 1906, forwarding copies of correspondence with the Foreign Office on the subject of the Canton Kowloon Railway Loan Agreement.

7. Since the date of my last despatch to your Lordshipt I have also received from Sir Ernest Satow a copy of his despatch of March 3rdt to Sir Edward Grey on the same subject. This has doubtless been communicated by the Foreign Office to the Colonial Office.

361

XVIII.

HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S CONSUL-GENERAL, Canton, to HIS BRITANNIC Majesty's

MINISTER, Peking.

(March 16, 1906.)

Your telegram No. 15. The Viceroy writes that he has telegraphed to the Chinese Foreign Office the following two proposals for your consideration:-

First. China to borrow money from the Corporation and to employ English engineers, but the construction of the railway is to be the security for the loan, and any failure is to give the Corporation control over the

accounts.

Secondly. The Canton Province is to raise the money and build the railway itself, and is to purchase, through the Corporation, such material as China is unable to provide.

These proposals were forwarded to the Chinese Foreign Office on March 3rd, and the Viceroy writes that he is awaiting the result of their submission to you. He denies having received any communication from the Chinese Foreign Office since February 23rd.-SATow.

XIX..

Enclosure 1 in No. 241.

XVI.

I have, &c.,

M. NATHAN,

Governor

HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S MINISTER, Peking, to GOVERNOR, Hong Kong.

(March 10, 1906.)

Your telegram of yesterday. At an interview yesterday the Chinese Foreign Office promised to telegraph and press the Viceroy to act on their telegram of February 23rd. I am ending instructions to Scott. If these do not advance matters, I would concur in the telegram you proposed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Foreign Office replied on January 20th to the Chinese Minister that the Viceroy's pretensions as to the Preliminary Agreement being a private one between two parties could not be entertained.-SATOW.

XVII.

HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S MINISTER, Peking, to Consul-General Scorr. (March 10, 1906.)

With reference to the Canton-Kowloon Railway and your telegram No. 7, at an interview yesterday the Wai-Wu-Pu undertook to instruct the Viceroy by tele- gram to carry out their telegram to him of 23rd February. You should write officially to the Viceroy, basing your letter on this information and the contents of the Wai-Wu-Pu's telegram of the 23rd February, requesting him to take steps for the immediate renewal of negotiations with the Corporation. You should also inform the Viceroy that if he neglects to resume negotiations as required by the Wai-Wu-Pu, I shall seriously consider the advisability of submitting, for the con- sideration of His Majesty's Government, a proposal that instructions be sent to His Majesty's Consul General at Canton, to suspend all relations with the Viceroy.

Please communicate this to Governor of Hong Kong.-SATOW.

XX.

GOVERNOR, Hong Kong, to HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S MINISTER, Peking. (Despatched 7.40 p.m., March 18, 1906.)

With reference to your telegram No. 8 to the Consul-General. The Viceroy is again making an attempt to transfer the negotiations to Peking, and Scott is quite convinced that he has no desire to be friendly. In these circumstances, I have telegraphed to London as proposed to you.-NATHAN.

XXI.

GOVERNOR, Hong Kong, to HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S MINISTER, Peking. (March 19, 1906.)

(No. 10.)

With reference to your telegram regarding Canton-Kowloon Railway, the Vice- roy writes to me to-day that he has received an Imperial Edict to appoint delegates and negotiate. He asks that you and the Governor of Hong Kong be informed and that the Corporation send their representatives to meet his delegates Wei, Won, and Kung. SCOTT.

XXII.

GOVERNOR, Hong Kong, to HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S CONBUL-GENERAL, Canton. (Despatched 3.30 p.m., March 22, 1906.)

Your letter of March 19th. Will you please arrange for an early meeting between the Viceroy's deputies and the Corporation representatives and inform me by telegram of the time and date!—NATHAN.

• No. 216.

† No. 238.

Enclosure in No. 245.

18868

D

• No. 226.

17

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

PLEC.O. 882

6

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO