}
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.Ţ
467
!
2
Two of the new armed launches passed through Samshui on their way to Shuching on Monday, and I submit the following particulars for your information :--
Length (approximately)
Beam
Draught Speed
31
43
65 feet.
10 "
3
Armament
21
8 to 9 koots.
10 Mauser rifles only.
They have flat bottoms, and appear well found, and I was informed that there are to be ten of this kind placed on the river.
I will submit further information after I have made inquiries at Canton.
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[19877]
No. 1.
[June 17.]
SECTION 8.
C. C. 26320
REC:
Red 23 JUL 07,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received June 17.)
(No. 193.) Sir,
Peking, April 27, 1907. REFERRING to my despatch No. 93 of the 19th February, have the honour to inclose copies of further correspondence with Prince Ch'ing on the subject of the Bhamo-Tengyueh Railway.
His Highness' note of the 16th instant is not altogether clear, but I take it to imply that our interpretation of the engagement of 1902 is forced or unreasonable. My reply of the 20th instant refers his Highness once more to the plain language of his note of the 16th March, 1902, and restates the claim which we are entitled to base on it.
A copy of this despatch has been sent to the Government of India.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. N, JORDAN,
Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Prince Ching to Sir J. Jordan.
April 16, 1907. IN a note dated the 31st January on the subject of the Bhamo-Tengyueh Railway, your Excellency stated that the engagement contained in my note of the 12th Marchi, 1902, was not open to doubt of any kind; that this engagement was to the effect that, as regards railway connection between Burmah and Yunnan and measures for the advancement of trade, whatever privileges were conceded to French enterprise in Yunnan, similar privileges should also be accorded to British enterprise. Further, your Excellency added that His Britannic Majesty's Government do not consider a Concession for this short line to be fully equivalent to the Concession granted to the French.
In reply, I have the honour to state that a full explanation was given in my recent note of the 24th January of the meaning which should be attached to the Board's reply to Sir E. Satow of the 12th March, 1902. The Province of Yunnan has already raised funds itself for the construction of this line of railway, which can be connected with the Burmese system, in accordance with the Convention, and which cannot be otherwise characterized than as a measure for the advancement of trade. As regards the commercial enterprises of British and French merchants in the Province of Yunnan, the Chinese Government has no wish to treat them differentially, but the various Treaties have special Articles between which forced comparisons cannot be drawn. It is my duty therefore to again inform your Excellency that we still find it difficult to agree to your demand,
I avail, &c.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Your Highness,
Sir J. Jordan to Prince Ch'ing.
April 20, 1907. IN reply to your Highness' note of the 16th April on the subject of the Bhano- Tengyueh Railway, I have the honour to state that there is no question of forced comparisons between special Articles of the Treaties in the present instance. Your Highness' note of the 16th March, 1902, speaks for itself, and the plain purport of it is, in letter as in spirit, that, in respect of railway connections between Burmah and
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