[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
D. 61509
# CHINA RAILWAYS
## CONFIDENTIAL
January 8, 1908
SECTION 1.
[2857]
(No. 26.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir F. Lascelles to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 27.)
Berlin, January 20, 1908.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 21 of the 14th instant, I have the honour to report that the "Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung" refers with satisfaction to the fact that an agreement has been arrived at in regard to the Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze Railway. The semi-official organ says that this news is of particular interest to Germany owing to the circumstance that the line will touch Tsinan-fu, and thus connect with the German Shantung Railway. The importance of this lies in the fact that Tsingtau will become, through this railway and its own natural advantages as a harbour, the principal port of entry for North China. Hitherto the entrance to North China has been by way of the Pei-ho. Owing to the frequent sandstorms and the difficulties of navigation, caused by sandbanks, of the waters in the neighbourhood of the estuary of the Pei-ho, a great expenditure of time and money is necessary in order to render navigation secure. Goods have to be transported up the river in lighters. In winter the river is useless for commercial purposes owing to the ice. All these disadvantages will cease when the sand- and ice-free port of Tsingtau is connected with the Tsingtau-Tien-tsin Railway and North China can be supplied with foreign goods throughout the year, and thus the German Colony in China will be raised to the rank of one of the most important places in the Far East.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
FRANK C. LASCELLES.
[2815 dd-1]
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government. D.
61509
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
Januar
EL 08
SECTION 1.
[2857]
(No. 26.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir F. Lascelles to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 27.)
Berlin, January 20, 1908. WITH reference to my despatch No. 21 of the 14th instant, I have the honour to report that the "Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung" refers with satisfaction to the fact that an agreement has been arrived at in regard to the Tien-tsin-Yang-tsze Railway. The semi-official organ says that this news is of particular interest to Germany owing to the circumstance that the line will touch Tsinan-fu, and thus connect with the German Shantung Railway. The importance of this lies in the fact that Tsingtau will become, through this railway and its own natural advantages as a harbour, the principal port of entry for North China. Hitherto the entrance to North China has been by way of the Pei-ho. Owing to the frequent sandstorms and the difficulties of navigation, caused by sandbanks, of the waters in the neighbourhood of the estuary of the Pei-ho, a great expenditure of time and money is necessary in order to render navigation secure. Goods have to be transported up the river in lighters. In winter the river is useless for commercial purposes owing to the ice. All these disadvantages will cease when the sand- and ice-free port of Tsingtau is connected with the Tsingtau-Tien-tsin Railway and North China can be supplied with foreign goods throughout the year, and thus the German Colony in China will be raised to the rank of one of the most important places in the Far East.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
FRANK C. LASCELLES.
[2815 dd-1]
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