CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907 — Page 56

55

2

Ting Yen, to be Directors of the railways, and to call for subscriptions to the shares, that the work may the more speedily be begun :

Now the British engineer, Mr. Lei Li, otherwise A-pai (Abram Lilley), is desirous of proceeding to Tengyueh and other places in the interior, to travel, and to make reconnaissance of the roads; and Consul-General Wu (Wilkinson), resident in Yünnan, has on several occasions written to request that orders might be sent down for efficient protection.

And whereas railways and international intercourse are both matters of grave importance, so that unless a man be well acquainted with foreign relations and capable of enduring hardships he would be unequal to the task:

Now it is found that Chang Kuei-tsu, Major on the roll for employment, aforetime sent to conduct students beyond the seas, who has visited Japan, and has in all ways proved trustworthy and circumspect, not only well versed in foreign relations and capable of enduring hardships, but also conversant with the English language, and courteous in the conduct of affairs, one who may be sent to aid in the work.

Instructions have accordingly been severally issued, and it is proper that orders be given for the mission.

It is therefore directed that the said Major do at once pack up his baggage and proceed to Tengyueh, where, in conjunction with Ting Taotai and the local Brigadier- General Intendant and Sub-Prefect, he shall amicably negotiate, heedfully taking such steps as occasion may require and submitting reports from time to time. First of all. will he report the date of his arrival at Tengyueh.

Special instructions of importance.

The above instructions are addressed to the Associate Manager of International Relations for the Tengyueh Railway, the Major first on the roll for employment, Chang Kuei-tsu.

Kuang Hsü, 32nd year, 11th moon (December 1906).

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

CHINA RAILWAYS.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[11392]

No. 1.

16523

[April 10.]

SECTION 9 MAY 07;

Sir F. Bertie to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received April 10.)

(No. 186.) Sir,

Paris, April 8, 1907. WITH reference to my despatch No. 103 of the 25th February last, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith, extracted from the "Journal Officiel " of yesterday's date, copy of a law approving the Convention and Arrangement concluded on the 15th February last between the Minister of the Colonies and the French Railway Company of Indo-China and Yunnan for the continuation of the construction of the Railway from Laokay to Yünnansen and the settlement of differences between the Colony of Indo-China and the Company holding the Concession, together with copies of two reports presented to the Chamber of Deputies by the Committees charged with the examination of the Bill*

I have, &c. (Signed) FRANCIS BERTIE.

* Not printed.

[2449 -1]