(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
616
13726
[March 18.]
SECTION 12 19 APR 07,
[8873]
No. 1.
The British and Chinese Corporation, Peking, to the British and Chinese Corporation, London.--(Communicated by Mr. Addis, March 18.)
Gentlemen,
HANKOW-CANTON Railway, &c.
Peking, January 17, 1907.
I have the honour to inclose copy of letter addressed yesterday to the Board of Communications by M. Casenave and myself, in regard to railway undertakings in Hupeh and other central provinces. You will observe that in this letter M. Casenave is described as joint representative of the British and Chinese Corporation, Limited, a description not strictly accurate, since I have no instructions to that effect, but requisite, under the circumstances, to conform with the arrangements made by the Corporation with the French group for the Hankow-Cantou Railway. I have explained to M. Casenave that this arrangement, necessary for our present purposes, is of its nature provisional, and terminable upon the formation hereafter of a new Company in the event of our proposals being accepted. I hope that the Board will approve my action in this matter.
A copy of our letter to the Board of Communications is also being forwarded to the Chinese Central Railways, Limited, as its subject-matter concerns that Company.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. O. P. BLAND,
Representative in China.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Letter addressed by M. Casenave and Mr. Bland to the Board of Communications,
Your Excellencies,
Peking,
Peking, January 16, 1907. WE have the honour, as joint representatives of the British and Chinese Corpora- tion, Limited, and the Chinese Central Railways, Limited, to address your Excellencies in regard to the questions of railway construction in Hupeh, &c., which formed the subject of conversation at our meeting at the Yuan Chuan Pu on the 12th instant, and we now confirm the proposals which we submitted on that occasion.
As stated at that interview, it is the desire of the British Companies which we represent to enter into negotiations with the Chinese Government, or its duly authorized representatives, for the construction of several railways projected in the central provinces, and more especially of the lines from Wuchang to Changsha (a section of the Yueh-han trunk line) and from Hankow to Ichang and Hsiang Yang, Your Excellencies are aware that on the 12th ultimo Mr. Bland had the honour of an interview with his Excellency Chang Chih-tung, when his Excellency expressed his earnest wish to proceed with these undertakings, essential to the commercial and administrative development of the territory within his jurisdiction, and intimated his readiness to construct the railways by means of foreign loans, should the Central Government authorize him to do so. As regards the Yueh-han trunk line, his Excel- lency was of opinion that under existing conditions it would not be advisable to consider the question of construction beyond Changsha, but for that section he would be glad to see a loan negotiated under conditions approved by the Central Government, and he anticipated no opposition from the gentry of Hupeh. He was not disposed to memorialize on the subject, however, without an intimation from the Central Govern- ment to the effect that a loan would be authorized.
As the result of our interview with your Excellencies, we understand that the Board of Communications is prepared to support the construction of provincial railways in general, and the above-mentioned lines in particular, provided that loans can be negotiated under conditions acceptable to the Chinese Government and conforming to
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