CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908 — Page 671

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

664

C. O.

CHINA RAILWAYS.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[15943]

No. 1.

20024

[May 9.]

TREAD

SECTION 1.

GE 6 JUN 08

1

(No. 112.) Sir,

Sir Edward Grey to Sir C. MacDonald,

Foreign Office, May 9, 1908.

The Japanese Ambassador informed me on the 5th instant that Count Hayashi hoped an arrangement might be made by which the Chinese would give up the idea of making a railway from Sinmuntun to Fakumen, and the Japanese would agree that a Chinese railway should be constructed from Fakumen to join the Manchurian Railway.

In this way the Province of Fakumen would be developed as the Chinese desired, and a contract for a railway could be given to the British contractors by the Chinese.

I replied that it was hardly for me to express an opinion about such an arrangement. I had already explained the position of the Japanese Government to Parliament in a way which I thought must be satisfactory to the Japanese. Baron Komura said this was the case. The proposal now made seemed to me to be one rather for agreement between the Japanese and the Chinese. We would not raise objections to any arrangement they might make, as our interest in the matter was merely that of the contractors, who had been disappointed at not getting the business they had expected.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

E. GREY,

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.] 664 C. O. CHINA RAILWAYS. CONFIDENTIAL. [15943] No. 1. 20024 [May 9.] TREAD SECTION 1. GE 6 JUN 08 1 (No. 112.) Sir, Sir Edward Grey to Sir C. MacDonald, Foreign Office, May 9, 1908. The Japanese Ambassador informed me on the 5th instant that Count Hayashi hoped an arrangement might be made by which the Chinese would give up the idea of making a railway from Sinmuntun to Fakumen, and the Japanese would agree that a Chinese railway should be constructed from Fakumen to join the Manchurian Railway. In this way the Province of Fakumen would be developed as the Chinese desired, and a contract for a railway could be given to the British contractors by the Chinese. I replied that it was hardly for me to express an opinion about such an arrangement. I had already explained the position of the Japanese Government to Parliament in a way which I thought must be satisfactory to the Japanese. Baron Komura said this was the case. The proposal now made seemed to me to be one rather for agreement between the Japanese and the Chinese. We would not raise objections to any arrangement they might make, as our interest in the matter was merely that of the contractors, who had been disappointed at not getting the business they had expected. I am, &c. (Signed) E. GREY,
Baseline (Original)
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.] 664 C. O. CHINA RAILWAYS. CONFIDENTIAL. [15943] No. 1. 20024 [May 9.] TREAD SECTION 1. GE 6 JUN 08 } 1 (No. 112.) Sir, Sir Edward Grey to Sir C. MacDonald, THE Japanese Ambassador informed me on the 5th instant that Count Hayashi Foreign Office, May 9, 1908. hoped an arrangement might be made by which the Chinese would give up the idea of making a railway from Sinmuntun to Fakumen, and the Japanese would agree that a Chinese railway should be constructed from Fakumen to join the Manchurian Railway. In this way the Province of Fakumen would be developed as the Chinese desired, and a contract for a railway could be given to the British contractors by the Chinese. I replied that it was hardly for me to express an opinion about such an arrange- ment. I had already explained the position of the Japanese Government to Parliament in a way which I thought must be satisfactory to the Japanese. Baron Komura said this was the case. The proposal now made scemed to me to be one rather for agreement between the Japanese and the Chinese. We would not raise objections to any arrangement they might make, as our interest in the matter was merely that of the contractors, who had been disappointed at not getting the business they had expected. ! [2972 i-1] I am, &c. (Signed) E. GREY,
2026-06-06 08:48:07 · Baseline
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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

664

C. O.

CHINA RAILWAYS.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[15943]

No. 1.

20024

[May 9.]

TREAD

SECTION 1.

GE 6 JUN 08

}

1

(No. 112.) Sir,

Sir Edward Grey to Sir C. MacDonald,

THE Japanese Ambassador informed me on the 5th instant that Count Hayashi

Foreign Office, May 9, 1908. hoped an arrangement might be made by which the Chinese would give up the idea of making a railway from Sinmuntun to Fakumen, and the Japanese would agree that a Chinese railway should be constructed from Fakumen to join the Manchurian Railway.

In this way the Province of Fakumen would be developed as the Chinese desired, and a contract for a railway could be given to the British contractors by the Chinese.

I replied that it was hardly for me to express an opinion about such an arrange- ment. I had already explained the position of the Japanese Government to Parliament in a way which I thought must be satisfactory to the Japanese. Baron Komura said this was the case. The proposal now made scemed to me to be one rather for agreement between the Japanese and the Chinese. We would not raise objections to any arrangement they might make, as our interest in the matter was merely that of the contractors, who had been disappointed at not getting the business they had expected.

!

[2972 i-1]

I

am, &c.

(Signed)

E. GREY,

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