161
sign has been given, nor word spoken, on the subject, either by the Corporation or by the Government, and the time seems to have arrived when it would not be unreasonable to ask the cause of the apparent new delay.
I cannot doubt that this delay must be as unsatisfactory to His Excellency as it is to the Association, and I do not think he will consider the Committee unduly importunate in begging for some assurance that this vital question has not again been temporarily shelved on the representations of the concessionaires.
It cannot well be pleaded that the negotiations in connection with the Shanghai-Nanking Railway block the way, for the final agreement with the Chinese Government was signed in July last, and the loan for the prosecution of that enterprise has since been floated. On the other hand, events having a somewhat sinister bearing on the interests of Great Britain in Central and South China have transpired in the interval, strongly accentuating the need for prompt action. The American interest in the Hankow-Canton Railway, never very large, has been purchased and the entire line is now nominally under Belgian control. Here, if it really were under Belgian control, it would perhaps not matter so much; but occasion has been taken, there is good reason to believe, by other Powers, more influential and less friendly to Great Britain, to secure practical control of a trunk Railway through the British sphere of influence in China, by which they hope to effectively neutralise that influence. If that line be made by Franco-Russian Agents, working through Belgian nominees, we may be very certain that the clause in Article II of the Agreement with the American Syndicate giving them "the right of an extension to the sea", if thought advisable, will be availed of to the injury of Hongkong.
Unless, therefore, the British Government insist, as I respectfully submit they have a right to insist, upon the cancellation of the concession
161
sign has been given, nor word spoken, on the subject, either by
the Corporation or by the Government, and the time seems to have
arrived when it would not be unreasonable to ask the cause of the
apparent new delay.
I cannot doubt that this delay must be as
unsatisfactory to His Excellency as it is to the Association, and
I do not think he will consider the Committee unduly importunate
in begging for some assurance that this vital question has not
again been temporarily sheived on the representations of the
concessionaires.
It cannot well be pleaded that the negotia-
tions in connection with the Shanghai-Nanking Railway block the
way, for the final agreement with the Chinese Government was signed
in July last, and the loan for the prosecution of that enterprise
has since been floated. On the other hand, events having a some-
what sinister bearing on the interests of Great Britain in Central
and South China have transpired in the interval, strongly accentua-
ting the need for prompt action. The American interest in the
Hankow-Canton Railway never very large has been purchased and
the entire line is now nominally under Belgian control. Here it
really under Belgian control it would perhaps not matter so much;
but occasion has been taken, there is good reason to believe, by
other Fowers, more influential and less friendly to Great Britain,
to secure practical control of a trunk Railway through the British
sphere of influence in China by which they hope to effectively
neutralise that influence. If that line be made by Franco-Russian
Agents, working through Belgian nominees, we may be very certain
that the clause in Article II of the Agreement with the American
Syndicate giving them "the right of an extension to the sea", if
thought advisable, will be availed of to the injury of Hongkong.
Unless, therefore, the British Government insist, as I respectfully
submit they have a right to insist, upon the cancellation of the
concession
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.