2
Chinese Government should instruct the Viceroy at Canton to open negotiations with the Representatives of the British and Chinese Corporation.
I have the honour to state, in reply, that the desire of the Chinese gentry and merchants to raise funds, and themselves undertake the line within Kuangtung territory corresponds exactly with the idea that the line within the British leased territory is to be constructed by the Hong Kong Government themselves. On receiving your Excel- lency's note under acknowledgment, the Board communicated it to the Viceroy at Canton for his consideration; but we must state clearly that we are bound to await the Viceroy's Report as to what plan he proposes before we can inform your Excellency, In the meantime I have the honour to make this preliminary reply.
Your Highness,
I avail, &c.
(Seal of the Board of Foreign Affairs.)
Inclosure 2 in No.
Sir E. Satow to Prince Ch'ing,
Peking, September 19, 1905. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Highness' note of the 16th instant, with reference to the Canton-Kowloon Railway, in which you state that the desire of the Cantonese Notables and merchants to raise funds and build the Kuangtung section of the line themselves corresponds with the method of the Hong Kong Govern- ment in regard to the section in British territory; that my note of the 11th September has been communicated to the Viceroy of Canton for his consideration; but that you must await his Excellency's report before your Highness can reply to my note.
I am obliged to point out once more, in order that there may be no misunder- standing, that whatever the desire of the Cantonese gentry and merchants in regard to this matter, and whatever the plans of the Viceroy, Ilis Majesty's Government look to the Chinese Government and your Highness to see that the terms and conditions of the preliminary Agreement of the 28th March, 1899, are faithfully carried out.
As the matter is of serious importance, and I have received telegraphic inquiries in regard to it from His Majesty's Government, I shall be glad of an early reply to the request contained in my note of the 11th September, that the instructions of the Imperial Chinese Government may be sent forthwith to his Excellency the Viceroy of Canton to enter into negotiations with a Representative of the British and Chinese Corporation.
I avail, &c. (Signed)
3
Inclosure 4, in No. X
Consul-General Scott to Viceroy of Canton.
Sir,
Canton, August 14, 1905. RECENTLY I received a telegram from His Majesty's Minister in Peking to the effect that important negotiations were in progress with Viceroy Chang Chih-tung in regard to the Canton-Hankow Railway, involving considerations in connection with the construction of the Canton-Kowloon line, in which it was important to secure your friendly co-operation; and His Majesty's Minister directed me to consult you personally and arrange matters.
I regret, however, that, owing to the unsatisfactory state of your health, I was unable to obtain an interview,
I accordingly wrote to your Private Secretary, Mr. Kao, inclosing copies of the Canton-Kowloon Railway draft Agreement, and also of the proposed working Agreement for communication to your Excellency.
Shortly afterwards I had the honour of a visit from Mr. Kao, conveying the assurance of your friendly co-operation; and this assurance I duly transmitted to His Majesty's Minister.
and
Of the two draft Agreements, one dealt with the section within Chinese territory. was practically identical with the Shanghae-Nanking Railway Agreement concluded in 1903 with Shông Kung Pao. The other covered the necessary arrange- ments for the joint working of the whole line including the section within the British territory.
His Majesty's Minister desired me to assure you that, in the settlement of the various details, every consideration would be shown to the views and wishes of your Government.
I am now in receipt of a further telegram from His Majesty's Minister, informing me that he has received my report, and had duly noted your Excellency's assurance of friendly co-operation. I am also instructed to request your Excellency to record in reply hereto the above assurance, and also your willingness to take early steps to carry out the Agreement of 1899 with Shêng Kung Pao for the construction of the Canton- Kowloon Railway.
ERNEST SATOW.
(Translation.)
Sir,
(No. 48.) Sir,
frclosure 3 in Ne
Consul-General Scott to Sir E. Sutow.
Canton, August 24, 1905.
IN accordance with the instructions conveyed in your telegram No. 13 of the 7th August, I placed myself in communication with his Excellency the Viceroy.
I now beg to inclose copy of my letter of the 14th instant, requesting him to record his assurance of friendly co-operation in carrying out the Agreement of 1899 for the construction of the Canton-Kowloon Railway.
I also inclose copy and translation of the Viceroy's reply of the 22nd instant, from which you will see that the Viceroy refuses to hold himself bound by the above Agree- ment, and declares that all negotiations are at present premature.
I have, &o.
(Signed)
JAMES SCOTT.
Inclosure 5 in-No
Viceroy of Canton to Consul-General Scott.
August 22, 1905. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your commanication of the 14th instant, with reference to the question of the Canton-Kowloon Railway,
Some days ago Mr. Kao, the foreign deputy, translated for my benefit the copies of the draft and proposed working Agreements which you had forwarded. After careful consideration of these documents, I would point out that, in this draft Agreement which was concluded with Commissioner Shêng, Director-General of Railways in 1899, it is clearly stated that if, in the negotiations with the Viceroy and Governor of this province, difficulties should arise locally, the Agreement should be amended accordingly, the meaning of which is undoubtedly that the Viceroy and Governor shall have absolute control of all matters connected with the administration of the line.
I would further draw your attention to the fact that the present situation is entirely different from the state of affairs obtaining in 1899, and a rigid adherence to the terms of the draft Agreement as concluded by the railway administration is still less feasible now than it was then.
In short, if the construction of this line is desirable from the point of view of the commercial advantages that would accrue to both countries, then it can only be brought about on these terms, namely, that each Government should undertake the construction of that section of the line which lies within its own clearly-defined boundary. That the section within Kowloon territory should be constructed by the British Government, and the section from Canton to the Chinese frontier of Kowloon by funds raised for the purpose in the province of Kuangtang, each Government to have exclusive and independent control of its own line.
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