This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[7881]
(No. 37.) Sir,
No. 1.
[March 7.]
SECTION 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received March 7.)
Peking, January 22, 1908.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 597 of the 26th December last, and in confirmation of my telegram No. 16 of yesterday, I have the honour to inclose a copy of the Agreement between the Peking Syndicate and the Shansi Bureau of Trade for the full surrender of the Syndicate's Concessions in Shansi in consideration for an indemnity of 2,750,000 taels, equivalent approximately to £400,000.
As reported in my telegram No. 10 of the 10th January, I felt that the Provincial representatives were unlikely to increase their offer, and that there was a risk that the labours of the past few months would be wasted if an agreement was not soon made.
In order to do all in my power to assist Mr. Brown, I urged the Wai-wu Pu, on the 10th January, in the Memorandum, copy of which is inclosed, to bring pressure to bear on the Provincial Judge, and I supported this by verbal representations.
Owing to the Syndicate's readiness to yield, negotiations proceeded expeditiously, and it was arranged on the 18th January that the document of settlement should be signed on the 21st. On that date Mr. George Brown, Agent-General of the Syndicate, accompanied by the Provincial Judge Ting, and the Director of the Shansi Bureau of Trade, Liu, proceeded to the Wai-wu Pu. In the haste with which the documents had to be prepared, insufficient time was allowed for comparing the English and Chinese texts, and a revision of the former was undertaken then and there, at the Board, by Mr. Liang Tun-yen.
His Excellency insisted on various alterations, which accounts for the manuscript additions in the inclosed copies. A printed copy of the document will be furnished later.
The only clause calling for special comment is Article 7, by which the Syndicate secures a preferential right, in the event of foreign capital being required in the future, to quote terms for a loan. The wording of this clause was the utmost that could be obtained, and it cost Mr. Brown a long struggle to get even that.
While it is evident that this form of settlement is a disappointing end to the expectation of seeing Shansi developed by the Peking Syndicate, it will, I think, be generally recognized as the only solution possible in view of all that has passed during the last two years.
If one can believe the protestations of the Provincial Judge, a serious attempt will be made by the Chinese to work the mines themselves, with British engineers and British machinery; in which case the Syndicate may yet find business to be done in the province from which they are now expelled.
As regards the Agreement of yesterday's date, I need only add that I was present at the Wai-wu Pu when it was signed, and that it bears the seal of that Board.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Memorandum communicated by Sir J. Jordan to Prince Ch'ing.
SIR JOHN JORDAN has the honour to call the attention of His Highness Prince Ching and the Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu to his two notes of the 15th November and the 2nd December on the subject of the Peking Syndicate, which still remain unanswered.
In these communications and in repeated conversations with the Ministers of the Board, Sir John Jordan has urged that since the Province of Shansi has determined to redeem the Syndicate's Concession, and the Provincial Judge Ting has been summoned to Peking by Imperial command to settle this matter with the Agent-
Page 239
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
}
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[7881]
(No. 37.) Sir,
No. 1.
[March 7.]
SECTION 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received March 7.)
Peking, January 22, 1908. WITH reference to my despatch No. 597 of the 26th December last, and in confirmation of my telegram No. 16 of yesterday, I have the honour to inclose a copy of the Agreement between the Peking Syndicate and the Shansi Bureau of Trade for the full surrender of the Syndicate's Concessions in Shansi in consideration for an indemuity of 2,750,000 taels, equivalent approximately to 400,0007.
As reported in my telegram No. 10 of the 10th January, I felt that the Pro- vincial representatives were unlikely to increase their offer, and that there was a risk that the labours of the past few months would be wasted if an agreement was not
soon made.
In order to do all in my power to assist Mr. Brown, I urged the Wai-wu Pu, on the 10th January, in the Memorandum, copy of which is inclosed, to bring pressure to bear on the Provincial Judge, and I supported this by verbal representations.
Owing to the Syndicate's readiness to yield, negotiations proceeded expeditiously, and it was arranged on the 18th January that the document of settlement should be signed on the 21st. On that date Mr. George Brown, Agent-General of the Syndicate, accompanied by the provincial Judge Ting, and the Director of the Shansi Bureau of Trade, Liu, proceeded to the Wai-wu Pu. In the haste with which the documents had to be prepared, insufficient time was allowed for comparing the English and Chinese texts, and a revision of the former was undertaken then and there, at the Board, by Mr. Liang Tun-yen.
His Excellency insisted on various alterations, which accounts for the manuscript additions in the inclosed copies. A printed copy of the document will be furnished later.
The only clause calling for special comment is Article 7, by which the Syndi- cate secures a preferential right, in the event of foreign capital being required in the future, to quote terms for a loan. The wording of this clause was the utmost that could be obtained, and it cost Mr. Brown a long struggle to get even that."
While it is evident that this form of settlement is a disappointing end to the expectation of seeing Shansi developed by the Peking Syndicate, it will, I think, be generally recognized as the only solution possible in view of all that has passed during the last two years.
If one can believe the protestations of the provincial Judge, à serious attempt will be made by the Chinese to work the mines themselves, with British engineers and British machinery; in which case the Syndicate may yet find business to be done in the province from which they are now expelled.
As regards the Agreement of yesterday's date, I need only add that I was present at the Wai-wu Pu when it was signed, and that it bears the seal of that Board."
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Memorandum communicated by Sir J. Jordan to Prince Ch'ing.
SIR JOHN JORDAN has the honour to call the attention of His Highness Prince Ching and the Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu to his two notes of the 15th November and the 2nd December on the subject of the Peking Syndicate, which still remain unanswered.
In these communications and in repeated conversations with the Ministers of the Board, Sir John Jordan has urged that since the Province of Shansi has determined to redeem the Syndicate's Concession, and the Provincial Judge Ting has been summoned to Peking by Imperial command to settle this matter with the Agent-
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