CO129-314 - Public Offices - 1902 — Page 283

No. 2.

[Acting Consul-General Scott to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received April 12.)

(No. 20. Confidential.) My Lord,

Canton, March 8, 1902.

IN continuation of my despatch No. 9 of the 21st January last, I bave the honour to inclose herewith copy of my despatch No. 19, Confidential, of the 4th instant, to His Majesty's Minister in Peking, reporting that the French Consul in Canton is still active in the matter of railway Concessions in this Province between Samshui and Wuchow.

I have also the honour to inclose a further report to His Majesty's Minister in Peking, No. 21, Confidential, of the 8th instant, from which it will be seen that the French Consul is insistent in his application for a tramway Concession in the Island of Hainan.

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I have, &c. (Signed) JAMES SCOTT.

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Inclosure 1 in No. 2.

(No. 19. Sir,

Acting Consul-General Scott to Sir E. Satow.

Confidential.)

Canton, March 4, 1902.

I BEG to refer to my despatch No. 4 of the 21st January last regarding the claims by the French Consul for railway Concessions in Canton Province. I now learn that the Viceroy has received instructions by telegraph from the Chinese Foreign Office to the effect that there are grave objections to the grant of any such Concession for a railway as now demanded by the French Consul between Samshui and Wuchow.

I further learn that the instructions to the Viceroy from the Central Government go on to state that, in the event of the French Consul proving insistent on the grant of a railway Concession and of his Excellency proving unable to

these oppose demands, he is directed to offer to agree to a railway Concession on terms and conditions exactly similar to those of the Hankow-Canton line.

I have, &c. (Signed) JAMES SCOIT.

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