[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[23383]
No. 1.
C.O
[July 28491
FO AUG 07
RECO SECTION IREGE
&
531
霄
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Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey,~(Received July 15.)
(No. 251.) Sir,
Peking, May 29, 1907. SINCE writing my despatch No. 238 of the 16th instant, I have on two occasions discussed the question of the Soochow-Ningpo Railway with the Ministers of the Wai- wu Pu.
Your telegram No. 55 of the 18th instant informed me that the British and Chinese Corporation concurred in the proposal which the Wai-wu Pu had made with regard to entrusting the question to his Excellency Wang on his return from London, and added that they did not press their representative's opinion that the stoppage of work on the Soochow Kashing section should be made a condition precedent to the acceptance of this offer.
upon
I interpreted your telegram as giving me some latitude of action in the matter, and although I felt sure that the condition would not be accepted, I considered it wise to press it the Ministers in order to show them that we reluctantly agree to a proposal which entailed considerable delay. His Excellency Wang, I pointed out, was almost certain to apply for leave to visit his native place before returning to Peking, and it would probably be three or four months before serious negotiations could be commenced. If construction work were to be carried on in the meantime without check, the solution of the question would become increasingly difficult, and if the Central Government were really in earnest in the matter, they should at once take steps to prevent the Kiangsu people from following the example of the Chekiangese.
The Ministers replied that any overt action on their part at the present moment would defeat the object in view, and only stimulate the local initiative. They would, however, work through the Kiangsu gentry in Peking, two of whom were members of the Wai-wu Pu, and do all they could in an unofficial way to overcome the opposition of the people in both provinces.
I reverted to the subject yesterday in an interview which I had with the Grand Secretary Na Tung. His Excellency gave me his personal assurance that he would make every effort in his power to expedite the settlement of the question, and in accepting the proposal, I reserve the right of reopening the question at any time should the arrival of his Excellency Wang be delayed, or there be any indication of increased activity in the work of construction. It was agreed that if Wang Ta jên decided to pay his native place a visit before coming here, the opportunity should be utilised of bringing his influence to bear upon his fellow provincials. His Excellency Na thought that if the Chekiang opposition could be overcome the Kiangsu people would come into line without much trouble.
As the reports of the amount of construction actually done were rather con- flicting, I recently asked the British and Chinese Corporation to obtain authentic information on the subject, and their Engineer-in-chief made a visit to the locality. The accompanying Memorandum embodies the result of his investigations.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 1 în No. 1.
MEMORANDUM on the Progress of Construction of the Railways from Hangchow to Kashing, Soochow to Kashing, and Shanghae to Kashing, being built by Chinese Companies with Chinese capital, known locally as the Chekiang Railway Company, the Soochow Railway Company, and the Kiangsu Railway Company,
THE writer recently paid a visit to Hangehow with the object of inspecting the progress made on the railway work in that neighbourhood.
He found that a line of railway was being constructed commencing near the south-east gate of Hangchow city, with the terminus on the foreshore of the Tsien
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