266
2
but insisted that the local feeling and circumstances had to be considered, and that the Chinese Government were not prepared to say to the Chekiangese that they must not build railways in their own country. He again hinted, with a laugh, that the Chekiang provincials were not likely to be very successful, and evidently meant me to understand that there was so little prospect of the local project coming to fruition that it was negligible.
I expressed my inability to see matters in the same light, and finally asked his Highness to tell me what explanation he wished me to send to His Majesty's Government. He begged me to say that the preliminary Agreement was recognized, but that further consideration of the Soochow Hangchow-Ningpo Railway must wait until the Chinese Government were ready.
When I said that I felt sure that His Majesty's Government would not be satisfied by that statement, his Highness urged me to inform His Majesty's Government in any case.
I have, &c.
(Signed) LANCELOT D. CARNEGIE.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[36987]
No. 1.
[November 3]
SECTION 5. C 0.
45805
Mr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey-(Received November 3.)
KEC(No.376.)
Red 27 NOV DE
Sir,
Peking, September 9, 1906.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 368, I have the honour to state that at an interview with Prince Ch'ing yesterday I pressed for an answer to my last two notes of the 13th August and the 5th September on the subject of the Whampoa Railway project.
His Highness said that the scheme to construct a railway from Canton to Whampoa originated many years ago, before the Canton-Kowloon preliminary Agreement was concluded, and was thought of in consequence of the plague epidemic in the 'nineties. The idea was to diminish the congestion of Canton city, and, by means of a railway, to induce residence at Whampoa when the river offered better facilities. He refused to admit that this short line of some miles had anything to do with the Canton-Kowloon Railway.
I reminded his Highness that under the Corporation's Agreements the latter were entitled to object to rival railways, pointed out that this Whampoa line would run for a part of its course along the route of the Canton-Kowloon Railway, and insisted that it must detract from the value of the Corporation's Concession. The Prince refusing to admit this, I urged that after all the Canton-Kowloon Railway was partly Chinese, and that it was only rational from the point of view of economy and efficiency, apart from the stipulations of the Agreements, that an important branch line connecting with the Chinese section should be constructed and managed by the same administration as the main line.
His Highness turned a deaf ear to all arguments, and merely repeated that he could not interfere with the Whampoa scheme, which was a separate matter altogether from the Canton-Kowloon Railway.
I will bring this question to the attention of Sir John Jordan as soon as possible after his arrival in Peking.
I have, &c.
(Signed) LANCELOT D. CARNEGIE.
[2226 c-5]
266
2
but insisted that the local feeling and circumstances had to be considered, and that, the Chinese Government were not prepared to say to the Chekiangese that they must not build railways in their own country. He again hinted, with a laugh, that the Chekiang provincials were not likely to be very successful, and evidently meant me to understand that there was so little prospect of the local project coming to fruition that it was negligible.
ment.
I expressed my inability to see matters in the same light, and finally asked his Highness to tell me what explanation he wished me to send to His Majesty's Govern- He begged me to say that the preliminary Agreement was recognized, but that further consideration of the Soochow Hangchow-Ningpo Railway must wait until the Chinese Government were ready.
When I said that I felt sure that His Majesty's Government would not be satisfied by that statement, his Highness urged me to inform His Majesty's Government in any case.
I have, &c.
(Signed) LANCELOT D. CARNEGIE.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[36987]
No. 1.
[November 3.J
SECTION 5. C 0.
45805
Mr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey-(Received November 3.)
KEC (No. 376.)
Red 27 NOV DE Sir,
Peking, September 9, 1906. WITH reference to my despatch No. 368, I have the honour to state that at an interview with Prince Ch'ing yesterday I pressed for an answer to my last two notes of the 13th August and the 5th September on the subject of the Whampoa Railway project.
His Highness said that the scheme to construct a railway from Canton to Whampoa originated many years ago, before the Canton-Kowloon preliminary Agreement was concluded, and was thought of in consequence of the plague epidemic in the 'nineties. The idea was to diminish the congestion of Canton city, and, by means of a railway, to induce residence at Whampoa when the river offered better facilities. He refused to admit that this short line of some miles had anything to do with the Canton-Kowloon Railway.
I reminded his Highness that under the Corporation's Agreements the latter were entitled to object to rival railways, pointed out that this Whampoa line would run for a part of its course along the route of the Canton-Kowloon Railway, and insisted that it must detract from the value of the Corporation's Concession. The Prince refusing to admit this, I urged that after all the Cantou-Kowloon Railway was partly Chinese, and that it was only rational from the point of view of economy and efficiency, apart from the stipulations of the Agreements, that an important branch line connecting with the Chinese section should be constructed and managed by the same administration as the main line.
His Highness turned a deaf ear to all arguments, and merely repeated that he could not interfere with the Whampoa scheme, which was a separate matter altogether from the Canton-Kowloon Railway.
I will bring this question to the attention of Sir John Jordan as soon as possible after his arrival in Peking.
I have, &c.
(Signed) LANCELOT D. CARNEGIE.
[2226 c-5]
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