This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
C. O.
4855
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
(7876)
No. 1.
182 [March 7, 20 APR 08
SECTION 2.
352
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.(Received March 7.)
**
(No. 32.) Sir,
Peking, January 21, 1908.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 435 of the 17th September last, in which I inclosed a Report by the Captain of His Majesty's ship Woodcock on the desirability of an improved type of gun-boat for service on the Upper Yang-tsze, I have the honour to forward to you herewith copy of a despatch from the Acting British Consul-General at Chengtu reporting the result of the recent visit, paid under the instructions of the Viceroy of Szechuan, by Chou Taotai, the capable and intelligent Chinese official who is Director of the Bureau of Commerce at Chengtu, to Chungking, with the object of inspecting His Majesty's ship "Woodcock" and inquiring into the question of steam navigation on the Upper Yang-tsze.
The practical result of the visit as regards British interests has been that the Viceroy has given an order to Messrs. Yarrow and Co. for a tug-boat and flat, which, if that firm consent to undertake, and to the satisfaction of the provincial authorities, may lead to further and more important orders being given.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
(No. 58.) Sir,
Acting Consul-General Fox to Sir J. Jordan.
Chengtu, December 20, 1907.
IN my Intelligence Report for the September quarter, 1907, I stated that Chou Taotai had proceeded to Chungking on the 23rd September in order to inquire into the question of steam navigation on the Upper Yang-tsze, and that I had arranged for him to make a trip to Wanhsien and back on one of His Majesty's gun-boats.
This arrangement the naval authorities, as reported in Mr. Bristow's despatch No. 27 to Chengtu of the 19th October, copy of which was forwarded to you, were unfortunately unable to carry out in its entirety. However, His Majesty's ship "Woodlark" took Chou Taotai and Mr. Bristow a two days' journey down the river to Fuchou and back. This did not allow of Mr. Chou's seeing what one of these vessels could do in a rapid—the principal object I had in view when arranging the journey—but it enabled him to form some idea of the conditions under which steam navigation is conducted on the Upper Yang-taze. His experience was apparently satisfactory, for on his return to Chungking he called a meeting of merchants, at which it was decided to form a Chinese Company, with a capital of 100,000 dollars, to run steam-boats between Ichang and Chungking.
I have the honour to inclose copy of a letter addressed by Mr. Bristow to the Commercial Intelligence Department of the Board of Trade, giving an account of the proceedings at this meeting.
On Mr. Chou's return to Chengtu he informed me that he had asked Captain Plant to draw up plans and specifications for a shallow-draught tug-boat, with passenger and cargo flat, the order for which the new Company proposed to place with Messrs. Yarrow and Co.
On the 20th November I received a letter from Captain Plant stating that he did not see his way to placing his plans at the disposal of the Chinese unless the undertaking could be postponed until the end of the year 1909, at which date his contract with the French naval authorities would expire, and he would be free to devote himself to the superintendence of the new craft. He explained that his scheme of tug-boats and lighters had been drawn up on the understanding that he himself would be in charge, and he did not feel justified in his own interests in committing the results of his labour to other, and probably less competent, hands, as by so doing the scheme ran a serious risk of turning out a failure, and the
[2895 g--2]
B
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
C. O.
4855
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
(7876)
No. 1.
182 [March 7, 20 APR 08
SECTION 2.
352
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.(Received March 7.)
**
رو
(No. 32.) Sir,
Peking, January 21, 1908. WITH reference to my despatch No. 435 of the 17th September last, in which I inclosed a Report by the Captain of His Majesty's ship Woodcock on the desirability of an improved type of gun-beat for service on the Upper Yang-tsze, I have the honour to forward to you herewith copy of a despatch from the Acting British Consul-General at Chengtu reporting the result of the recent visit, paid under the instructions of the Viceroy of Szechuan, by Chou Taotai, the capable and intelli- gent Chinese official who is Director of the Bureau of Commerce at Chengtu, to Chungking, with the object of inspecting His Majesty's ship "Woodcock" and inquiring into the question of steam navigation on the Upper Yang-tsze.
The practical result of the visit as regards British interests has been that the Viceroy has given an order to Messrs. Yarrow and Co. for a tug-boat and flat, which, if that firm consent to undertake, and to the satisfaction of the provincial authorities, may lead to further and more important orders being given.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
}
(No. 58.) Sir,
Acting Consul-General Fox to Sir J. Jordan.
Chengtu, December 20, 1907. IN my Intelligence Report for the September quarter, 1907, I stated that Chou Taotai had proceeded to Chungking on the 23rd September in order to inquire into the question of steam navigation on the Upper Yang-tsze, and that I had arranged for him to make a trip to Wanhsien and back on one of his Majesty's gun-boats.
This arrangement the naval authorities, as reported in Mr. Bristow's despatch No. 27 to Chengtu of the 19th October, copy of which was forwarded to you, were unfortunately unable to carry out in its entirety. However, His Majesty's ship "Woodlark'
took Chou Taotai and Mr. Bristow a two days' journey down the river to Fuchou and back. This did not allow of Mr. Chou's seeing what one of these vessels could do in a rapid-the principal object I had in view when arranging the journey but it enabled him to form some idea of the conditions under which steam navigation is conducted on the Upper Yang-taze. His experience was apparently satisfactory, for on his return to Chungking he called a meeting of merchants, at which it was decided to form a Chinese Company, with a capital of 100,000 dollars, to run steam-boats between Ichang and Chungking.
I have the honour to inclose copy of a letter addressed by Mr. Bristow to the Commercial Intelligence Department of the Board of Trade, giving an account of the proceedings at this meeting.
On Mr. Chou's return to Chengtu he informed me that he had asked Captain Plant to draw up plans and specifications for a sballow-draught tug-boat, with passenger and cargo flat, the order for which the new Company proposed to place with Messrs. Yarrow and Co.
On the 20th November I received a letter from Captain Plant stating that he did not see his way to placing his plans at the disposal of the Chinese unless the undertaking could be postponed until the end of the year 1909, at which date his contract with the French naval authorities would expire, and he would be free to devote himself to the superintendence of the new craft. He explained that his scheme of tug-boats and lighters had been drawn up on the understanding that he himself would be in charge, and he did not feel justified in his own interests in committing the results of his labour to other, and probably less competent, hands, as by so doing the scheme ran a serious risk of turning out a failure, and the
[2895 g--2]
B
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