[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[18892]
No. 1.
[June 2.]
SECTION 3.
Sir E. Satow to Sir Edward Grey.~(Received June 2.)
(No. 160.) Sir,
Peking, April 9, 1906.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 816 of the 22nd September last, I have the honour to forward herewith copy of a despatch which I have received from His Majesty's Consul-General at Hankow, inclosing an extract from the Memorial of the Viceroy of the Hukuang Provinces, as published in the "Universal Gazette," on his redemption last autumn of the China Development Company's Concession for the construction of the Canton-Hankow Railway.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ERNEST SATOW.
(No. 12.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul-General Fraser to Sir E. Satow.
Hankow, March 22, 1906.
I HAVE the honour to forward, in Chinese, with an English translation, an extract from the Viceroy Chang's Memorial on his redemption last autumn of the China Development Company's Concession for the construction of the Canton-Hankow Railway, as published in the "Universal Gazette" of the 15th instant.
This account of the negotiations is far from agreeing with the facts established in our telegraphic correspondence, these facts being probably garbled to make a better defence against the attacks which have been made on him for borrowing from England to pay off America, instead of freeing the enterprise from all foreign shackles.
His Excellency's omissions seem to me serious. Thus, besides keeping silence as to the Wai-wu Pu's communication to you of the Decree approving the loan, he implies that the loan was absolutely unconditional.
His Excellency's despatch of the 9th September, which was inclosed in my despatch No. 45 of the following day, can be construed to make the privileges given us dependent on China's having to borrow for the construction of the railways mentioned. I think that his Excellency at the time thought such borrowing would be indispensable. Now that the opposition to foreign loans has become so virulent, he hastens to disclaim any intention, and he has left unanswered my suggestion, in accordance with your telegram No. 1 of the 29th January, that the consulting engineer for the whole trunk-line should, in fairness, be British.
His Excellency, in his Memorial, shows no sense of obligation to His Majesty's Government for the extraordinarily good terms given him, and in his actions since the loan was granted, one perceives no trace of gratitude for British support at a crisis in his career concerning the gravity of which the Memorial is frank enough.
In the "Universal Gazette" of the 15th March is a Report (copy and translation inclosed) which proves the Canton Viceroy to be equally insensible of English claims to consideration.
I have, &c.
(Signed) E. H. FRASER.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from the “Universal Gazette" of March 15, 1906,
Extract from Memorial by Viceroy of Hukuang Provinces on his Action in recovering the Canton-Hankow Railway. (Translation.)
AFTER being honoured with your Majesty's instructions to devise measures as to the Canton-Hankow Railway question, I sent several telegrams to the officials and
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Page 379
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20890
[This Document is the Property of His Britannig Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[18892]
No. 1."
[June 2.]
SECTION 3.
Sir E. Satow to Sir Edward Grey.~(Received June 2.)
(No. 160.) Sir,
Peking, April 9, 1906. WITH reference to my despatch No. 816 of the 22nd September last, I have the honour to forward herewith copy of a despatch which I have received from His Majesty's Consul-General at IIankow, inclosing an extract from the Memorial of the Viceroy of the Hukuang Provinces, as published in the "Universal Gazette," on his redemption last autumn of the China Development Company's Concession for the construction of the Canton-Hankow Railway.
I have, &c. (Signed)
(No. 12.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul-General Fruser to Sir E. Satow.
ERNEST SATOW.
Hankow, March 22, 1906. I HAVE the honour to forward, in Chinese, with an English translation, an extract from the Viceroy Chang's Memorial on his redemption last autumn of the China Development Company's Concession for the construction of the Canton-Hankow Railway, as published in the "Universal Gazette" of the 15th instant.
This account of the negotiations is far from agreeing with the facts established in our telegraphic correspondence, these facts being probably garbled to make a better defence against the attacks which have been made on him for borrowing from England to pay off America, instead of freeing the enterprise from all foreign shackles.
His Excellency's omissions seem to me serious. Thus, besides keeping silence as to the Wai-wu Pu's communication to you of the Decree approving the loan, he implies that the loan was absolutely unconditional.
His Excellency's despatch of the 9th September, which was inclosed in my despatch No. 45 of the following day, can be construed to make the privileges given us dependent on China's having to borrow for the construction of the railways mentioned. I think that his Excellency at the time thought such borrowing would be indispensable. Now that the opposition to foreign loans has become so virulent, he hastens to disclaim any intention, and he has left unanswered my suggestion, in accordance with your telegram No. 1 of the 29th January, that the consulting engineer for the whole trunk-line should, in fairness, be British.
such
His Excellency, in his Memorial, shows no sense of obligation to His Majesty's Government for the extraordinarily good terms given him, and in his actions since the loan was granted, one perceives no trace of gratitude for British support at a crisis in his career concerning the gravity of which the Memorial is frank enough.
In the Universal Gazette" of the 15th March is a Report (copy and translation inclosed) which proves the Canton Viceroy to be equally insensible of English claims to consideration.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
E. H. FRASER.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from the “Universal Gazette" of March 15, 1906,
Extract from Memorial by Viceroy of Hukuang Provinces on his Action in recovering the Canton-Hankow Railway. (Translation.)
AFTER being honoured with your Majesty's instructions to devise measures as to the Canton-Hankow Railway question, I sent several telegrams to the officials and
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379
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