42
8
by Shantung, Honau, Anhui, and Chekiang, and its connection with the other provinces makes it a flourishing trade centre for native products, and the province is really a great centre in the south-east.
At present the benefit of the railway is recognized by all. Like the Provinces of Anhui and Chekiang, whose gentry have applied to build their own railways, and which has been duly memorialized for them, and their prayer granted. Now, the Kiangsu gentries Yuu Su Ting and others are applying for the same privilege, and in the future they hope to connect their railways with Anhui, Chekiang, and other provinces, for the purpose of trade, and the safeguarding of the interests of their province; it is really an important scheme. Their electing the members of our Board, viz., Vice-Chancellor Wong Ching Moh and First Secretary Chang Ch'ien to take charge of the said Railway Company, we find Vice-Chancellor Wong possesses great ability, is careful in thought, and his character is widely known. For instance, last year, under Imperial orders to inquire into trade and the revenue of the railways and mines, touring by sea and rivers to different ports, his proposal to deal with the different railway revenue was properly dealt with and he gave great help to our Board. Though he has his post in Peking, by means of letters and telegrams he will be able to direct the business to the benefit of the railway. The Kiangsu gentry having jointly selected him, we therefore beg the Throne to consider the importance of the railway and sanction their request, and that the Vice-Chancellor Wong Chih Moh, a member of our Board, be allowed to take up the position of Chief Director of the Kiangsu Railway Company (Limited), and Chang Ch'ien, who is well educated, broad-minded, and an energetic worker, and known to have great knowledge in trade and railway matters, be given the post of Assistant Director, since the Kiangsu gentry desires it to be so. The issuing of shares, surveying, purchasing of land, the starting of construction work and other important matters will be undertaken by the said gentry, who will report from time to time to us, and we will in turn report the same to the Throne, so that the railway may be properly managed and in accordance with their united desire.
Besides the Shanghae-Nanking Railway which is at present being built by a foreign loan, and who has a high official appointment by the Throne in charge of it, the said gentry now state that their reason for building the railway is for the promotion of trade in the interior, and for the safeguarding of the interest of the province.
As we have found this scheme of theirs in order, we pray that they should be allowed to register their Company beforehand, and when the shares are collected to a certain amount, we shall hasten them to make a start.
The working of this railway will be in strict accordance with the Regulations set down by us, and which have already been sanctioned by the Throne.
When the gentries have decided on their regulations, how the line will run, &c., they will forward the same to us, and we will again memorialize the Throne on the subject.
With regard to the above scheme of Kiangsu gentry to build their own railways, establishing a Company, electing officials, and the registering of their Company beforehand, we, in duty bound, respectfully beg to lay this Memorial for your Majesty's consideration and instructions.
Your Highness,
Inclosure 5 in No. 1.
Mr. Carnegie to Prince Ching.
Peking, August 4, 1906. SIR E. SATOW had the honour to address your Highness three notes of the 14th and 16th March and the 19th April, on the subject of the Soochow-langchow-Ningpo Railway. In the note of the 19th April he inclosed copy of a Proclamation issued by the Governor of Chekiang on the 14th March which showed that his Excellency was continuing to press on the construction of a railway by the Chekiang people along the same route as that mentioned in the British and Chinese Corporation's Preliminary Agreement of October 1898. Sir Ernest pointed out that the Governor of Chekiang, relying on the Decree of the 23rd September, 1905, was ignoring the earlier objections of the Chinese Government which your Highness had admitted to be valid, and as regards which your Highness had informed Sir Ernest that the Governor should negotiate with the Corporation, and warned your Highness that the situation was one which the Chinese Government could not allow to continue without danger of international complications and serious damage to both British and Chinese interests. Sir Ernest therefore repeated the requests made in his note of the 14th March, that your Highness should inform the Governor of Chekiang that, as the Preliminary Agreement must be faithfully carried out, it was unnecessary to consider the separate proposals of the Chekiang people, and that the definite instructions of the Imperial Chinese Government should be sent to his Excellency to receive the Corporation's representative for the purpose of negotiating a Final Agreement, in accordance with the terms of the Preliminary Agreement.
9
On the 12th May I had the honour to remind your Highness in a note that no reply had been received to Sir Ernest's communication, and to suggest that as Mr. Bland, the representative of the British and Chinese Corporation, had arrived in Peking, and as it was clear that the Governor of Chekiang had no intention of carrying out the negotiations which your Highness stated in a letter of the 1st January would be continued by him, the terms of the Final Agreement should be considered here. Since then the matter has been discussed at the Wai-wu Pu. I have been asked to represent to His Majesty's Government the difficult position in which the Wai-wu Pu is placed by the popular feeling in Chekiang, and to allow time for this to subside. In reply I have explained that, though willing to recognize difficulties, I must look to the Chinese Government to secure the fulfilment of solemn agreements in spite of local agitations.
Under the circumstances above stated, it was with no little astonishment that I read in a recent issue of the "Yu Che Hui Ts'un" (collection of Decrees and Memorials) a Memorial of the Board of Commerce submitting certain rules drawn up by the gentry of Chekiang for the construction of railways in that province. According to this Memorial, which received the Imperial approval by Rescript on the 4th July last, and appended rules, a concern called "The Limited Company for the Construction of all the Railways of Chekiang Province" has been authorized to survey and undertake lines from Hangchow northwards to Soochow and Shanghae, through Ho-shu and Chia-hsing (Kashing); and from Hangchow eastwards to Ningpo, through Chiang-kan and Shao-shing. The authority thus given to the above Company is in direct violation of the Agreements entered into by the Chinese Government with the British and Chinese Corporation.
I have also seen in the "Pei Yang Kuan Pao" ("North China Official News") a Memorial of the Board of Commerce in regard to the establishment of a Company by the gentry of Kiangsu for the construction of railways in that province, which Memorial was approved by an Imperial Rescript of the 25th May, and I gather from a Declaration of his Excellency Chang Ch'ien, the Assistant Director of that Company (which was published in the "Nan Fang Pao" of the 19th and 20th June), that a railway from Soochow to Chia-hsing (Kashing) stands in the forefront of the undertakings contemplated by his Company. It is unnecessary to remind your Highness that such an enterprise, if seriously contemplated by the Kiangsu Railway Company under the authority of the Imperial Rescript of the 25th May, would also be a direct infringement of the obligations of the Chinese Government towards the British and Chinese Corporation.
In view of the importance of this matter to the reputation and credit of the Imperial Chinese Government, I have the honour to request your Highness to memorialize the Throne without delay, with a view to such action as may be necessary to obviate a charge of breach of faith, and to secure the due fulfilment of the obligations of the Chinese Government under their Agreements with the British and Chinese Corporation.
The favour of an early reply is requested.
(Signed)
0
I avail, &c.
LANCELOT D. CARNEGIE.
42
8
by Shantung, Honau, Anhui, and Chekiang, and its connection with the other provinces makes it a flourishing trade centre for native products, and the province is really a great centre in the south-east.
At present the benefit of the railway is recognized by all. Like the Provinces of Anhui and Chekiang, whose gentry have applied to build their own railways, and which has been duly memorialized for them, and their prayer granted. Now, the Kiangsu gentries Yuu Su Ting and others are applying for the same privilege, and in the future they hope to connect their railways with Anhui, Chekiang, and other provinces, for the purpose of trade, and the safeguarding or the interests of their province; it is really an important scheme. Their electing the members of our Board, viz., Vice-Chancellor Wong Ching Moh and First Secretary Chang Ch'ien to take charge of the said Railway Company, we find Vice-Chancellor Wong possesses great ability, is careful in thought, and his character is widely known. For instance, last year, under Imperial orders to inquire into trade and the revenue of the railways and mines, touring by sea and rivers to different ports, his proposal to deal with the different railway revenue was properly dealt with and he gave great help to our Board. Though he has his post in Peking, by means of letters and telegrams he will be able to direct the business to the benefit of the railway. The Kiengsu gentry having jointly selected him, we therefore beg the Throne to consider the importance of the railway and sanction their request, and that the Vice- Chancellor Wong Chih Moh, a member of our Board, be allowed to take up the position of Chief Director of the Kiangsu Railway Company (Limited), and Chang Ch'ien, who is well educated, broad-minded, and an energetic worker, and known to have great knowledge in trade and railway matters, be given the post of Assistant Director, since the Kiangsu gentry desires it to be so. The issuing of shares, surveying, purchasing of land, the starting of construction work and other important matters will be undertaken by the said gentry, who will report from time to time to us, and we will in turn report the same to the Throne, so that the railway may be properly managed and in accordance with their united desire.
Besides the Shanghae-Nanking Railway which is at present being built by & foreign loan, and who has a high official appointment by the Throne in charge of it, the said gentry now state that their reason for building the railway is for the promotion of trade in the interior, and for the safeguarding of the interest of the province.
As we have found this scheme of theirs in order, we pray that they should be allowed to register their Company beforehand, and when the shares are collected to a certain amount, we shall basten them to make a start.
The working of this railway will be in strict accordance with the Regulations set down by us, and which have already been sanctioned by the Throne.
When the gentries have decided on their regulations, how the line will run, &c., they will forward the same to us, and we will again memorialize the Throne on the subject.
With regard to the above scheme of Kiangsu gentry to build their own railways, establishing a Company, electing officials, and the registering of their Company before- hand, we, in duty bound, respectfully beg to lay this Memorial for your Majesty's consideration and instructions.
Your Highness,
Inclosure 5 in No. 1.
Mr. Carnegie to Prince Ching.
Peking, August 4, 1906. SIR E. SATOW had the honour to address your Highness three notes of the 14th and 16th March and the 19th April, on the subject of the Soochow-langchow- Ningpo Railway. In the note of the 19th April he inclosed copy of a Proclamation issued by the Governor of Chekiang on the 14th March which showed that his Excellency was continuing to press on the construction of a railway by the Chekiang people along the same route as that mentioned in the British and Chinese Corporation's Preliminary Agreement of October 1898. Sir Ernest pointed out that the Governor of Chekiang, relying on the Decree of the 23rd September, 1905, was ignoring the earlier objections of the Chinese Government which your Highness had admitted to be valid, and as regards which your Highness had informed Sir Ernest that the Governor should negotiate with the Corporation, and warned your Highness that the situation was one which the Chinese Government could not allow to continue without danger of inter- national complications and serious damage to both British and Chinese interests. Sir Ernest therefore repeated the requests made in his note of the 14th March, that
9
your Highness should inform the Governor of Chekiang that, as the Preliminary Agreement must be faithfully carried out, it was unnecessary to consider the separate proposals of the Chekiang people, and that the definite instructions of the Imperial Chinese Government should be sent to his Excelleney to receive the Corporation's representative for the purpose of negotiating a Final Agreement, in accordance with the terms of the Preliminary Agreement.
On the 12th May I had the honour to remind your Highness in a note that no reply had been received to Sir Ernest's communication, and to suggest that as Mr. Bland, the representative of the British and Chinese Corporation, had arrived in Peking, and as it was clear that the Governor of Chekiang had no intention of carrying out the negotiations which your Highness stated in a letter of the 1st January would be continued by him, the terms of the Final Agreement should be considered here. Since then the matter has been discussed at the Wai-wu Pu. I have been asked to represent to His Majesty's Government the difficult position in which the Wai-wu Pu is placed by the popular feeling in Chekiang, and to allow time for this to subside. In reply I have explained that, though willing to recognize difficulties, I must look to the Chinese Government to secure the fulfilment of solemn agreements in spite of local agitations.
Under the circumstances above stated, it was with no little astonishment that I read in a recent issue of the "Yu Che Hui Ts'un" (collection of Decrees and Memorials) a Memorial of the Board of Commerce submitting certain rules drawn up by the gentry of Chekiang for the construction of railways in that province. According to this Memorial, which received the Imperial approval by Rescript on the 4th July last, and appended rules, a concern called "The Limited Company for the Construction of all the Railways of Chekiang Province" has been authorized to survey and undertake lines from Hangchow northwards to Soochow and Shanghae, through Ho-shu and Chia-hsing (Kashing); and from Hangchow eastwards to Ningpo, through Chiang-kan and Shao-shing. The authority thus given to the above Company is in direct violation of the Agreements entered into by the Chinese Government with the British and Chinese Corporation.
I have also seen in the "Pei Yang Kuan Pao" ("North China Official News") a Memorial of the Board of Commerce in regard to the establishment of a Company by the gentry of Kiangsu for the construction of railways in that province, which Memorial was approved by an Imperial Rescript of the 25th May, and I gather from a Declaration of his Excellency Chang Ch'ien, the Assistant Director of that Company (which was published in the "Nan Fang Pao" of the 19th and 20th June), that a railway from Soochow to Chia-hsing (Kashing) stands in the forefront of the undertakings con- templated by his Company. It is unnecessary to remind your Highness that such an enterprise, if seriously contemplated by the Kiangsu Railway Company under the authority of the Imperial Rescript of the 25th May, would also be a direct infringement of the obligations of the Chinese Government towards the British and Chinese Corporation.
In view of the importance of this matter to the reputation and credit of the Imperial Chinese Government, I have the honour to request your Highness to memorialize the Throne without delay, with a view to such action as may be necessary to obviate a charge of breach of faith, and to secure the due fulfilment of the obligations of the Chinese Government under their Agreements with the British and Chinese Corporation.
The favour of an early reply is requested.
(Signed)
0
I avail, &c.
LANCELOT D. CARNEGIE.
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