CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905 — Page 74

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satisfactory assurances.

I next asked what truth there was in the report

that the Americans were going to construct a line

from Canton to Whampoa. His Excellency replied that

such a report was quite erroneous, that the line was

to be built by the Chinese themselves under the direc-

tion of Ch'ang, member of the Board of Commerce sta-

tioned at Canton, and that the rumour I referred to

had probably arisen from the fact that an American

engineer had been engaged to survey the country. I

said that I had heard that the American concession-

aires of the Hankow-Canton line claimed, under their

Agreement, the right to connect their railway with a

deep-water port. Mr. Wen, however, absolutely denied

this and said that he knew the Agreement well. A11

they might claim was the right to prolong the exist-

ing branch line to Samshui on to Wuchow.

As Mr. Wen

is head of the railway department here, he speaks with

authority.

Before bidding His Excellency farewell I said I

was glad to hear what excellent relations existed be-

between Mr. Scott and the Chinese Authorities.

There

was, however, one exception, the Magistrate at Hsun-

tak, who was most dilatory in performing his duties.

I asked Mr. Scott to explain matters himself to the

Viceroy and the nature of the cases which required

settlement. Mr. Scott having done this the Viceroy

promised to make an enquiry. I then took leave of

His Excellency, who said he would return my call the

same day in the afternoon. The interview lasted

about an hour and a half.

At three o'clock Viceroy Teen appeared at His

Majesty's Consulate General, accompanied by the same

officials whom I had seen in the morning. He ap-

peared to be in an excellent humour and carried on a

brisk conversation throughout the interview which

lasted upwards of an hour. He asked me to convey

to Sir Matthew Nathan his thanks for the kind mes-

sages he had sent. He said he would be delighted to

welcome His Excellency to Canton whenever he liked

to come, but begged that due notice should be given

of his visit so that a suitable reception might be

tween

accorded