[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
2
a very convenient point a very heavy goods traffic, more particularly in beans, which is now carried further on down the river in native craft, and does not touch the Northern Railway at all.
The Agreement with the Japanese is also a breach of the right reserved to us in the original Agreement, that, in the event of the Railway Administration requiring further financial assistance, they shall apply to the Corporation for it. This provision was obviously inserted in the Agreement not for the benefit of the Corporation, but for the protection of the bondholders, and to prevent, as is now intended, the introduction of foreign capital (other than British) into the undertaking,
Sir E. Grey will, we trust, realize that in making the foregoing representation our only object is to maintain the rights of the Railway Administration, and per se of the bondholders, which, for the reasons we have given, would, we consider, be adversely effected if the Agreement with the Japanese be carried into effect.
We are, &c.
The British and Chinese Corporation (Limited),
(Signed) C. S. ADDIS, Director.
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[17906]
[No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received June 3.)
(No. 185.) Sir,
304
[June 3.]
SECTION 8
C. 3
23671
RECE P 4 JUL CT Peking, April 16, 1907. I HAVE the honour to report that, according to reliable information which has reached me, an Agreement was signed yesterday between the Japanese Minister and the Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu respecting outstanding railway questions in Manchuria.
The two main points settled by this instrument are, I understand, the redemption by China of the light railway line from Hsin Min Ting to Mukden for a sum of 1,660,000 yen (166,0001.), and a preliminary arrangement for the joint construction of a line from Kuan Chiêng-tzu to Kirin, a distance of about 80 miles.
It will be remembered that at the Portsmouth Conference the Plenipotentiaries of Russia agreed to declare that they had no objection to the Japanese constructing a branch line to Kirin from Kuan Chiêng-tzu
The Japanese Minister, who has promised to give me a copy of the Agreement in a few days, informs me that it is modelled to some extent on the Canton-Kowloon and Northern Railway Agreements, and that China and Japan will each contribute one-half of the required capital.
In the course of conversation a few days ago, his Excellency Tong Shoa-yi, who is shortly going to Mukden as Governor of the lower Province of Manchuria, expressed a hope that British capital would be attracted to that region for construction of railways and other undertakings.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
P.S.-Since the above was written, I have received the Agreement, copy of which, in translation, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith.
J. N. J.
(Translation.)
Inclosure in No. 1.
Agreement respecting Railways in Manchuria.
HAYASHI, His Imperial Japanese Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, and Na, Ch'ü, and Tang, Ministers of the Imperial Chinese Board of Foreign Affairs, being severally appointed by their respective Governments for the purpose, have agreed upon and concluded the following Articles :-
I.
The Chinese Government being now desirous of purchasing the railway constructed by Japan from Asin Min-fu to Mukden, agrees to fix the purchase price at 1,660,000 yen to be paid over at Tien-tsin to the Yokohama Specie Bank. This railway shall be converted by the Chinese Government into a line constructed by themselves, and it is agreed that of the funds necessary for this purpose on the east side of the Liao River 50 per cent. shall be raised by loan from the South Manchuria Railway Company.
IL
The Chinese Government, being now about to undertake herself (the construction of) a railway from Kirin to Chang Ch'un-fu, agrees to borrow 50 per cent. of the funds necessary for the undertaking also from the above-named Company.
[2525 c-8]
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.