[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[26889]
C 0.
32446
Gr 10 SEP 07
[August 12.]
SECTION 4.
No. 1.
(No. 299.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received August 12.)
Peking, June 20, 1907. WITH reference to my despatches Nos. 505 and 520 of the 27th November and 11th December, 1906, and your reply No. 74 of the 16th February last, forwarding copy of a communication from the Admiralty stating their concurrence in the view that the Iron Barrier at Canton should not be removed and that a fog signal was a sufficient remedy, I have the honour to report the steps which are being taken to give effect to this suggestion.
I should first mention that, in a despatch dated the 5th February last, Sir Matthew Nathan, the late Governor of Hong Kong, stated that if the Chinese authorities would undertake to place a seventh-order light and a reliable fog signal upon the southern end of the northern section of the Iron Barrier he would be prepared to accept the opinion of the Customs' advisers that the removal of that section of the Barrier was unnecessary.
I lost no time in forwarding this despatch to Sir Robert Hart, and in a letter dated the 23rd February (copy of which I have the honour to inclose) he informed me that he would communicate with the Coast Lights Department. Some little time having elapsed without my receiving further information, I recently reminded the Inspector- General of the matter, and he telegraphed to Canton, with the result described in the inclosed letter.
It will be seen that steps are being taken to provide the light and a continuous sounding fog-bell,
I have, &c. (Signed)
Dear Sir John,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Sir R. Hart to Sir J. Jordan.
J. N. JORDAN.
February 23, 1907.
I NOW return the Governor of Hong Kong's despatch concerning the Iron Barrier in the Canton River.
I shall communicate with our Coast Lights Department and afterwards let you know what they purpose doing. It will be easy enough to put up a seventh-order light, but I fear the "reliable fog signal" would be an expensive item and seldom wanted.
Yours sincerely, (Signed)
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
ROBERT HART,
Sir R. Hart to Sir J. Jordan.
Dear Sir John,
June 13, 1907.
THE departure of Mayers and arrival of King probably delayed Canton Customs* action in the matter of the Iron Barrier. After you left me on the 10th I wired to inquire, and Canton replied that the proposal had been passed on to the Engineer-in- chief for consideration. I then wired to the Engineer-in-chief to ask how the matter stands, and his answer is---
"Will recommend Canton light and continuous sounding fog-bell.”
From this you can see that the work is in hand and will in due course be put through. When fuller details arrive by mail I shall communicate them. Sincerely yours, (Signed) ROBERT HART.
[2623 m-4]
59
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.