[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C. O.
71
9519
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
17 MAR 02
[January 25.]
SECTION 4.
(2710)
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 25, 1908.)
(No. 576. Confidential.)
Peking, December 10, 1907. Sir,
WITH reference to my despatch No. 559 of the 27th November and my telegram No. 210 of the 4th December, regarding the draft Agreement entered into by Messrs. Pauling and Co. and the British and Chinese Corporation with the Viceroy of Manchuria for extending the Northern Railway from Hsinminting to Fakumen, I have the honour to report that Lord Ffrench has represented to me the importance of obtaining from the Wai-wu Pu some statement of their intended line of action in this matter, as the survey could be carried out with greater advantage during the winter months.
As stated in my telegram No. 210, I was not in favour of taking any action until some further move was made, either by the Wai-wu Pu or the Japanese Government, and you were pleased to concur in this view in your telegram to me of the 6th December, No. 132.
The opposition of the Japanese Minister to the construction of such a line is based, I presume, upon the Agreements between the Japanese and Chinese Governments in December 1905, which were partially communicated to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tôkiô in the spring of 1906 by Mr. Kato, and which formed the subject of Sir Claude MacDonald's despatch to the Foreign Office, No. 72 of the 10th April, 1906.
According to Article 3 of Mr. Kato's Memorandum, inclosed in that despatch, China engaged, for the purpose of protecting the interest of the South Manchurian Railway, not to construct any main line in the neighbourhood of, or parallel to, that railway, or any branch line prejudicial thereto.
The further extension of the Northern Railway was contemplated by the Anglo-Chinese Loan Agreement of the 10th October, 1898, Article 3, and I think we can reasonably hold that subsequent engagements in the interest of a railway which is now purely Japanese cannot be constructed to block a legitimate extension of the Chinese railway system on this side of the Liao River, and to exclude British enterprise from the development of Manchuria. The region which would be tapped by the proposed extension is at present entirely lacking in adequate means of communication, and the line at its most eastern point would be, I understand, over 30 miles to the west of the South Manchurian Railway.
With these considerations in mind, I came to the conclusion that if an opportunity presented itself I might sound the Wai-wu Pu as to their intentions, since they showed no inclination to mention the subject to me.
I accordingly touched upon the question to-day in conversation with the Grand Secretary Na Tung and Mr. Lien Fang, representing that the contractors, Messrs. Pauling and Co., would be glad to get to work while the season of the year was in their favour.
The Grand Secretary stated that the Wai-wu Pu had not yet memorialized the Throne for a Decree. The Viceroy of Manchuria was now travelling in the northern provinces, so they had received no recent communication from him on the subject. They would consult with Yuan Shih-k'ai and the Board of Communications, and would reply later to my inquiry.
I am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tôkiô, with a paraphrase of my telegram No. 210.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
[2815 66-4]
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C. 0.
71
9519
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
17 MAR 02
[January 25.]
SECTION 4.
(2710]
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 25, 1908.)
(No. 576. Confidential.)
Peking, December 10, 1907. Sir,
WITH reference to my despatch No. 559 of the 27th November and my telegram No. 210 of the 4th December, regarding the draft Agreement entered into by Messrs. Pauling and Co. and the British and Chinese Corporation with the Viceroy of Manchuria for extending the Northern Railway from Hsinminting to Fakumen, I have the honour to report that Lord Ffrench has represented to me the importance of obtaining from the Wai-wu Pu some statement of their intended line of action in this matter, as the survey could be carried out with greater advantage during the winter months.
As stated in my telegram No. 210, I was not in favour of taking any action until some further move was made, either by the Wai-wu Pn or the Japanese Government, and you were pleased to concur in this view in your telegram to me of the 6th December, No. 132.
The opposition of the Japanese Minister to the construction of such a line is based, I presume, upon the Agreements between the Japanese and Chinese Govern- ments in December 1905, which were partially communicated to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tôkid in the spring of 1906 by Mr. Kato, and which formed the subject of Sir Claude MacDonald's despatch to the Foreign Office, No. 72 of the 10th April, 1906.
According to Article 3 of Mr. Kato's Memorandum, inclosed in that despatch, China engaged, for the purpose of protecting the interest of the South Manchurian Railway, not to construct any main line in the neighbourhood of, or parallel to, that railway, or any branch line prejudicial thereto.
The
As Sir Claude MacDonald observed in his despatch, the importance of this engagement depends upon the construction put upon it by the parties. further extension of the Northern Railway was contemplated by the Anglo- Chinese Loan Agreement of the 10th October, 1898, Article 3, and I think we can reasonably hold that subsequent engagements in the interest of a railway which is now purely Japanese cannot be constructed to block a legitimate extension of the Chinese railway system on this side of the Liao River, and to exclude British enter- prise from the development of Manchuria. The region which would be tapped by the proposed extension is at present entirely lacking in adequate means of com- munication, and the line at its most eastern point would be, I understand, over 30 miles to the west of the South Manchurian Railway.
With these considerations in mind, I came to the conclusion that if an oppor- tunity presented itself I might sound the Wai-wu Pu as to their intentions, since they showed no inclination to mention the subject to me.
I accordingly touched upon the question to-day in conversation with the Grand Secretary Na Tung and Mr. Lien Fang, representing that the contractors, Messrs. Pauling and Co., would be glad to get to work while the season of the year was in their favour.
The Grand Secretary stated that the Wai-wu Pu had not yet memorialized the Throne for a Decree. The Viceroy of Manchuria was now travelling in the northern provinces, so they had received no recent communication from him on the subject. They would consult with Yuan Shih-k'ai and the Board of Communications, and would reply later to my inquiry.
I am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tôkiô, with a paraphrase of my telegram No. 210.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
[2815 66-4]
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