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acting under Imperial orders, did all they could to help in the difficulty. As to the engineer question, in a Loan Agreement it would not have looked well to set forth a specific demand as to the contingent employment of engineers, and so the point was not specially mentioned in the loan correspondence.
The China Development Company's time limit was almost expired, and had it not been that our Government, out of regard for their established friendship with your Excellency came forward with the loan to assist you, the three provinces would never have had another chance of redeeming the Railway Concession. So vast a favour should surely entail recompense even though there be no formal promise.
Canton is now in possession of three-sevenths of the whole line, and, although it has been handed over to merchants' control, whose action it was that rendered its recovery possible (?), even the merchants who have undertaken the control of the line can hardly fail to understand this. Mr. Chan also requested me to enter into direct negotiations with the Canton Railway Company and the Wai-wu Pa. But at the time of the loan your Excellency had special Imperial orders, and were solely responsible for the negotiations and the Agreement, and it is impossible for my Government to look anywhere else. I have therefore the honour to request your Excellency to be kind enough to advise the Viceroy Chou to instruct the Railway Company to carry out this business.
As there are also Hou Ho land and railway siding questions, which I should like to discuss in a personal interview with you, I would request your Excellency to notify me what day would be suitable for me to come and see you.
(Translation.) Sir,
I have, &c. (Signed)
E. H. FRASER,
Inclosure 9 in No. 1.
Viceroy Chang to Consul-General Fraser.
Wuchang, March 8, 1907. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge your note of yesterday. As to the engage- ment of engineers for Canton, ever since the winter before last there have been constant bickerings over railway affairs among the Cantonese officials and merchants, and several times Imperial Rescripts have been issued appointing Viceroy Chou to deal with the matter. Hupei was not consulted at all, and since then Hupei has ceased to have a voice in the Canton line. But having now received a number of communica- tions from you I have sent a telegraphic inquiry to Viceroy Chou as you suggest. When I get a reply I will notify you.
As for the engagement of a British engineer for Hunan, this is quite in accordance with my wishes. Therefore, last year I often discussed the matter with you. Just now there is immediate necessity for a resurvey and starting construction, and a man is urgently required, so I ask you, in accordance with what we agreed last year, to make haste and engage one for me. It will have to be first ascertained how much he requires for his monthly salary, and I will then consider and discuss the question with him. All the minor details I have told Mr. Chan to convey to you orally.
As to Chi Kung Shan, I have deputed the Customs Taotai Sang, Prefect Chou, and Mr. Chan to discuss the affair with you. But, as Sang Taotai is still on the sick list, I have ordered Messrs. Chou and Chan to interview you first. I should be very grateful if you would first let me know your own views on the Hou Hu and railway siding ques- tions, when I will put them on record and do myself the honour to reply.
My cough is not yet well, and I am unable to hold any long conversations.
(Translation.)
Sir.
I have, &c.
(Card of Viceroy Chang.)
Inclosure 10 in No. 1.
Viceroy Chang's Secretary to Consul-General Frøser.
Wuchang, March 20, 1907. I RECEIVED your note of yesterday and handed a translation to the Viceroy, who tells me tha he has received å reply telegram from Shông Kungpao stating that
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Mr. Ross is by no means a specialist;* while General Manager Ch'en replied in a (colourless way.
The Viceroy's proposal now is to engage Mr. Ross as Assistant Engineer at 700 dollars a-month with an allowance of 90 dollars, and asks you to be so good as to hasten to find for him in England a man of the highest qualifications, perfectly trustworthy, and competent to undertake the post of Chief Engineer, and to engage him to come promptly to China to act in that capacity. Mr. Ross would be under his direction and would obey his orders. We now request you to kindly telegraph to Mr. Ross and tell him if he consents to act as Assistant Engineer to come to Wuchang and negotiate bis Agreement, but that if he does not care to act as Assistant, then there is no object in his coming here. I should be much obliged if you would kindly do as we ask.
I have, &c.
(Translation.)
Inclosure 11 in No. 1.
Viceroy Chang to Consul-General Fraser.
(Card of Mr. Chan.)
But his
Sir,
Wuchany, March 27, 1907. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your notes of the 25th instant and to-day and am very grateful for your kindness in writing to Mr. Bourne in London t find and engage for me a Chief Engineer of the highest qualifications.
Mr. Ross' willingness to qualifications must be supported by unimpeachable evidence. act as Assistant Engineer is very satisfactory. The salary offered in my former note, viz., 700 dollars a-month is equal to 500 taels, and I cannot make it any higher. If Mr. Ross is willing to take this post, we can now arrange the Agreement, and he must come here and forego his home journey. His forfeited passage ticket is Mr. Ross' own affair and there is no reason for refunding him his half-fare of 300 dollars, but I am willing to defer to your suggestion. Please telegraph to Mr. Ross and tell him to come here quickly. The Kiang-si telegram, the Nan-hsun Agreement, and Mr. Collinson's letter I am keeping for record.
I have, &c.
Sir,
Inclosure 12 in No. 1.
(Card of Viceroy Chang.)
Consul-General Fraser to Mr. T. J. Bourne.
Hankow, March 19, 1907. HIS Excellency Chang, Viceroy at Wuchang, has for some time been endeavouring to get Mr. C. W. Kinder or one of his assistants to resurvey the Hankow-Cantou Railway trace hence to the southern border of Hunan.
Mr. Kinder, being unable to oblige his Excellency, suggested his applying to you to find a man, and after some delay his Excellency has now begged me to ask your aid.
His first
His Excellency Chang wants an engineer to work with a Japanese engineer, Mr. Haraguchi, on equal footing, both being under his Excellency's orders, on a two or three years' engagement at 1,090 dollars a-month (or, if that is insufficient, up to 1,200 dollars a-month) inclusive of all charges for travelling, &c., in China.
His position will be duty will be the resurvey and later the construction of the line. Deputy Chief Engineer, no Chief Engineer being employed, and he will of course have whatever assistance is needed.
I agree with Mr. Kinder that two engineers of different nationalities and of equal rank on the same job with no technical chief to apply to when opinions diverge is likely to lead to many difficulties, though the situation may be improved by their being allotted alternative sections of the line; but the Viceroy is under Agreement to use one-half Japanese engineers, and in China at present it is hopeless to ask for tull powers and independence for a foreign employé.
*This seems to be the meaning conveyed to Viceroy, but to me the more natural sense is, is no mere specialist in one branch," ie., is an all-round man.
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