This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
23756
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
! JUL 08
[June 15.]
SECTION 1.
(No. 173.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.(Received June 15.)
Peking, April 23, 1908. WITH reference to my despatches Nos. 82 and 97 of the 17th February and the 2nd March respectively, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch from the Acting Consul-General at Mukden, inclosing an Agreement alleged to have been signed in 1901 between the Chinese Eastern Railway Company and the Chinese authorities.
This Agreement is of interest, as indicating that in that year the Russian authorities were not so disposed to advance the claims to exclusive administrative rights which they have since put forward; and Mr. Willis gathers from Mr. Gröne, the Commissioner of Customs at Harbin, that their present attitude in the question is due not so much to their own convictions as to the persistent solicitations of the Japanese Consul-General, whose Government have claimed similar rights within the sphere of Japanese influence.
The question is one which the late Russian Minister, M. Pokotilow, felt bound to press in the interests of the Railway Company, with which he had been so long connected, and it is possible that a change of Minister may bring with it a modification of the Russian attitude, which depended largely for its success upon the active co-operation of the Japanese.
Tong Shoa Yi, the Governor of Mukden, tells me that if the Governments of Japan and Russia persist in their claim, the Chinese Government, as a counter-move, will tacitly authorize foreigners to acquire land anywhere at the open marts in Manchuria within a defined radius of, say, 10 miles at each place.
(Confidential.)
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
P.S. April 27, 1908.-Since the above was written I have received from my American colleague two interesting papers bearing upon this subject, copies of which are inclosed herewith.
The first is a despatch from the American Consul at Harbin to the State Department at Washington, which throws considerable light upon the attitude of the Japanese, and tends to confirm the view I have expressed that the Russian policy is susceptible of modification.
The second document is a paraphrase of a telegram from the Secretary of State at Washington to the American Ambassador at Tôkió, in which the views of the American Government are expressed on the subject.
Mr. Root holds that the Russian claim to territorial rights of administration in the Railway Settlements is inconsistent with the sovereignty of China and the Treaty rights of foreign Powers, and considers that a remedy for the existing state of things would be found in the action of the exterritorial rights ordinarily exercised by the Powers in China.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
J. N. J.
(No. 37.) Sir,
Acting Consul-General Willis to Sir J. Jordan.
Mukden, April 16, 1908. WITH reference to my despatches Nos. 9, 13, and 16, of the 11th, 17th, and 19th February last, I have now the honour to forward in original Chinese and translation copy of an Agreement between the Chinese Eastern Railway Company and the Chinese authorities.
Page 700
[1819-1
B
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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.],
23756
[B]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[20519]
No. 1.
! JUL 08
[June 15.]
SECTION 1.
(No. 173.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.(Received June 15.)
Peking, April 23, 1908. WITH reference to my despatches Nos. 82 and 97 of the 17th February and the 2nd March respectively, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch from the Acting Consul-General at Mukden, inclosing an Agreement alleged to have been signed in 1901 between the Chinese Eastern Railway Company and the Chinese authorities.
This Agreement is of interest, as indicating that in that year the Russian authorities were not so disposed to advance the claims to exclusive administrative rights which they have since put forward; and Mr. Willis gathers from Mr. Gröne, the Commissioner of Customs at Harbin, that their present attitude in the question is due not so much to their own convictions as to the persistent solicitations of the Japanese Consul-General, whose Government have claimed similar rights within the sphere of Japanese influence.
The question is one which the late Russian Minister, M. Pokotilow, felt bound to press in the interests of the Railway Company, with which he had been so long connected, and it is possible that a change of Minister may bring with it a modification of the Russian attitude, which depended largely for its success upon the active co-operation of the Japanese.
Tong Shoa Yi, the Governor of Mukden, tells me that if the Governments of Japan and Russia persist in their claim, the Chinese Government, as a counter-move, will tacitly authorize foreigners to acquire land anywhere at the open marts in Manchuria within a defined radius of, say, 10 miles at each place.
(Confidential.)
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
P.S. April 27, 1908.-Since the above was written I have received from my American colleague two interesting papers bearing upon this subject, copies of which are inclosed herewith.
The first is a despatch from the American Consul at Harbin to the State Depart- ment at Washington, which throws considerable light upon the attitude of the Japanese, and tends to confirm the view I have expressed that the Russian policy is susceptible of modification.
The second document is a paraphrase of a telegram from the Secretary of State at Washington to the American Ambassador at Tôkió, in which the views of the American Government are expressed on the subject.
Mr. Root holds that the Russian claim to territorial rights of administration in the Railway Settlements is inconsistent with the sovereignty of China and the Treaty rights of foreign Powers, and considers that a remedy for the existing state of things would be found in the action of the exterritorial rights ordinarily exercised by the Powers in China.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
J. N. J.
(No. 37.) Sir,
Acting Consul-General Willis to Sir J. Jordan.
Mukden, April 16, 1908. WITH reference to my despatches Nos. 9, 13, and 16, of the 11th, 17th, and 19th February last, I have now the honour to forward in original Chinese and trans- lation copy of an Agreement between the Chinese Eastern Railway Company and the
[1819-1
B
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