This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
# CHINA RAILWAYS.
**CONFIDENTIAL.**
254
[March 7.]
## SECTION 3.
[7877]
(No. 33.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.(Received March 7.)
Peking, January 22, 1908.
IN continuation of my despatch No. 21 of the 9th instant, regarding the Suchow-Ningpo Railway question, I have the honour to inclose a translation of a letter received from Prince Ch'ing on the 10th instant,* stating that no advantage could be derived from a meeting between us until safe means had been found of settling this difficulty. To this I replied on the 10th instant in the letter, copy of which is also inclosed, that the only way of settling the matter was to sign the Agreement without further delay.
Various indications showed me that the Wai-wu Pu were feeling genuinely anxious to conclude this case, and that further pressure on my part would be inopportune. I therefore left them alone for a few days, in the hope that their own efforts would bring about a settlement.
During this interval telegrams reached me from the Acting British Consul at Hangchow and His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghae, reporting the outbreak of riots at Chekiang, which resulted in the destruction of the railway station outside Hangchow, a post office, and some Catholic mission buildings. At an interview with the Acting Consul the Governor gave an assurance that every possible precaution was being taken to prevent the disorders spreading.
Indications of trouble were also not wanting at Shanghae.
On the 11th instant Sir Pelham Warren reported the issue of handbills by a small but reputable native bank advocating a boycott against the Hong Kong and Shanghae Bank and Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co., if the loan negotiations were not annulled within a month.
The press extracts which I have the honour to inclose will show that the Taotai at once took energetic steps to check the movement. The offender was brought before the Mixed Court, and was handed over—with the concurrence of the British Assessor—to the Taotai for trial.
During the past week all reports which have reached me from various unofficial sources tend to show that the agitation has greatly subsided. Some excitement was occasioned in Peking on the 14th instant by the news that some 6,000 troops of the "Lu Chun" (modern army), under General Chiang Kuei Ti, were to be sent to Chekiang, and inquiries showed that this step had been intended for some time past as a precaution, and was only being accelerated owing to the actual outbreak which had occurred.
From private inquiries at the Wai-wu Pu I have also learnt that the Government does not anticipate any difficulty in restoring order at an early date.
In previous despatches I have frequently alluded to the part played by Sheng Hsuan Huai in supplying a foundation for provincial agitation by his assertion that he cancelled the British and Chinese Corporation's Preliminary Agreement for the Suchow-Ningpo Line. The publication by a Shanghae newspaper of Sheng's recent Memorial upon this point and his admission therein of his failure to cancel the Agreement will doubtless contribute towards convincing the provincials that their leaders have withheld the material facts of the case.
I have the honour to inclose a summarized translation of this document.
The first intimation from the Wai-wu Pu that negotiations are to be resumed was furnished on the 19th instant, in the form of a letter, in English, from Liang Ta-jên to Mr. Bland, copy of which is inclosed, informing him that the writer had no further concern with the question, but that the Wai-wu Pu had appointed three other negotiators in his place, from whom Mr. Bland would hear when they had fixed a date to meet him.
Of these, Wang Ta-hsieh will be remembered as the original negotiator of last summer; while Hu Wei-tô, ex-Minister to Russia, is at present a Councillor of the Wai-wu Pu; and the third, Kao Erh-ch'ien, is a Secretary in the Board of Communications.
* Not printed.
[2880 g-3]
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
254
[March 7.]
SECTION 3.
}}
[7877]
(No. 33.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.(Received March 7.)
Peking, January 22, 1908. IN continuation of my despatch No. 21 of the 9th instant, regarding the Suchow-Ningpo Railway question, I have the honour to inclose a translation of a letter received from Prince Ch'ing on the 10th instant,* stating that no advantage could be derived from a meeting between us until safe means had been found of To this I replied on the 10th instant in the letter, copy of settling this difficulty. which is also inclosed, that the only way of settling the matter was to sign the Agreement without further delay. Various indications showed me that the Wai-wu Pu were feeling genuinely anxious to conclude this case, and that further pressure on my part would be inopportune. I therefore left them alone for a few days, in the hope that their own efforts would bring about a settlement.
*
During this interval telegrams reached me from the Acting British Consul at Hangchow and His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghae, reporting the outbreak of riots at Chekiang, which resulted in the destruction of the railway station outside Hangchow, a post office, and some Catholic mission buildings. At an interview with the Acting Consul the Governor gave an assurance that every possible precaution was being taken to prevent the disorders spreading.
Indications of trouble were also not wanting at Shanghae.
On the 11th instant
Sir Pelham Warren reported the issue of handbills by a small but reputable native bank advocating a boycott against the Hong Kong and Shanghac Bank and Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co., if the loan negotiations were not annulled within a month.
The press extracts which I have the honour to inclose will show that the Taotai at once took energetic steps to check the movement. The offender was brought before the Mixed Court, and was banded over--with the concurrence of the British Assessor-to the Taotai for trial.
During the past week all reports which have reached me from various unofficial sources tend to show that the agitation has greatly subsided. Some excitement was occasioned in Peking on the 14th instant by the news that some 6,000 troops of the "Lu Chun" (modern army), under General Chiang Kuei Ti, were to be sent to Chekiang, and inquiries showed that this step had been intended for some time past as a precaution, and was only being accelerated owing to the actual outbreak which had occurred.
From private inquiries at the Wai-wu Pu I have also learnt that the Government does not anticipate any difficulty in restoring order at an early date.
In previous despatches I have frequently alluded to the part played by Sheng Hsuan Huai in supplying a foundation for provincial agitation by his assertion that he cancelled the British and Chinese Corporation's Preliminary Agreement for the Suchow-Ningo Line. The publication by a Shanghae newspaper of Sheng's recent Memorial upon this point and his admission therein of his failure to cancel the Agreement will doubtless contribute towards convincing the provincials that their leaders have withheld the material facts of the case.
I have the honour to inclose a summarized translation of this document. The first intimation from the Wai-wu Pu that negotiations are to be resumed was furnished on the 19th instant, in the form of a letter, in English, from Liang Ta-jên to Mr. Blard, copy of which is inclosed, informing him that the writer had no further concern with the question, but that the Wai-wu Pu had appointed three other negotiators in his place, from whom Mr. Bland would hear when they had fixed a date to meet him.
Of these, Wang Ta-hsieh will be remembered as the criginal negotiator of last summer; while Hu Wei-tô, ex-Minister to Russia, is at present a Councillor of the Wai-wu Pu; and the third, Kao Erh-ch'ien, is a Secretary in the Board of Com- * Not printed.
[2880 g-3]
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