This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.j
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
(34305]
No. 1.
533
144707 [October 16.
SECTION 1 24 DEC 07
Sir J. Jordun to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received October 16.)
(No. 179.) (Telegraphic.) P.
SOOCHOW-NINGPO Railway.
Peking, October 16, 1907.
In reply to your telegram No. 109 of yesterday's date, I have the honour to state that from the outset. I have always insisted on the signature of the Soochow-Ningpo Agreement taking place before or simultaneously with that of the Tien-tsin--Chinkiang Agreement, and the Wai-wa Pu have given me repeated assurances in this sense.
We had agreed that when the draft of the Tien-tsin--Chinkiang Agreement had been finally settled it should be copied out and form mutatis mutandis the text of the Soochow-Ningpo Agreement.
A recrudescence of the opposition in Chekiang is now put forward by the Wai-wu Pu as a reason for delaying the signature of the Soochow-Ningpo Agreement.
The German Minister is disposed to question my attitude, and I have reminded him that it was on the understanding that the Soochow-Ningpo negotiations should have precedence (see your note to German Ambassador, dated the 17th April) that our co-operation was given. I have also informed him that I must hold the Chinese Government to their engagement.
I am of the opinion that an indefinite delay in the conclusion of Soochow-Ningpo Agreement and a revival of all our previous difficulties would result from our releasing the Chinese Government from this engagement.
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